1 Peter 4:3

For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, reveling, carousings, and abominable idolatries:

Like other lists of sins given in the New Testament, this one is by no means exhaustive, Peter having linked together here a number of related sins typical of the whole conduct of the wicked. Here, "violence and lust are classed with drunkenness which fosters them."[7] Also, the climax of the list is "abominable idolatries," identifying the scandalous idol temples as the general source and encouragement of Gentile licentiousness. This verse, along with many others, is proof that 1Peter was not addressed to "Jewish Christians." After the Babylonian captivity, the Jews finally and totally rejected idolatry. "Will of the Gentiles" in this same verse is further indication of the Gentile character of the recipients.

For the time past ... This, along with "the rest of your time" in 1 Peter 4:2, comprises the whole earthly life of the people Peter was addressing.

The time past may suffice ... "Literally, for sufficient is the past. There is an irony in the word similar to that in 1 Peter 3:17."[8]

The primary thought here is that through their own experience those Christians who had forsaken Gentile debaucheries to obey the gospel already knew the frustration and emptiness of such a life. Peter's words here imply, "Surely you have already had enough of such things." We found Paul making exactly the same appeal, "What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for at the end of those things is death" (Romans 6:21).

[7] J. H. A. Hart, Expositor's Greek Testament, Vol. V (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 71.

[8] A. J. Mason, Ellicott's Bible Commentary, Vol. VIII (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1959), p. 424.