Verse 7
Trials do to faith what fire does to gold. They purify it and show it to be what it really is (cf. James 1:3). Peter anticipated his readers would respond to their trials properly. God purifies our faith with trials by helping us realize the inadequacy of anything but trust in Him in these situations. He shows that our faith is genuine by demonstrating that our joy in trials rests solely on confidence in Him and His promises. Both results bring praise, glory, and honor to God ultimately, though they also benefit us.
"Glory is never said to be the possession of humans except as we share God’s glory in the parousia (e.g., Romans 8:17; Colossians 3:4), although we contribute to this glory by our actions now (1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 1:12)." [Note: Davids, p. 58.]
The Greek word parousia means "presence" and, specifically, the presence of one coming, hence the coming of Christ. The "revelation" (uncovering, appearing, Gr. apokalypsis) of Jesus Christ to Christians will take place at the Rapture, and His revelation to the world will take place at the Second Coming. Both events seen as a whole seem to be in view here (cf. 1 Peter 1:13). Peter’s emphasis was not on when this would happen relative to other events yet future but on the fact that it would happen in the future rather than now.
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