1 Peter 4:14

If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye ; rather, if ye are reviled in the -Name of Christ, blessed are ye. There is, again, a manifest quotation of our Lord's words in Matthew 5:11 . The conjunction "if" does not imply any doubt: the words mean "when ye are reviled." For "in the Name of Christ," camp. Mark 9:41 , "Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my Name, because ye belong to Christ." So here the meaning is, " When ye are reviled because ye belong to Christ, because ye bear his Name, because ye are Christians" (camp, Acts 5:41 ). For the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you . The form of the sentence in the Greek is unusual. Some regard the first clause, τὸ τῆς δόξης , as a periphrasis for δόξα , and translate, "For glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you." But there is no other instance of such a periphrasis in the New Testament; it is better to supply πνεῦμα . M en revile them, but God glorifieth them. The Spirit of glory, the Spirit which hath the glorious attributes of God, the Spirit which proceedeth from the Father who dwelleth in the glory, in the Shechinah,—that Spirit resteth upon them, and sheds on them the glory of holy suffering, the glory which hung around the cross of Christ. Two of the most ancient manuscripts, with some others, insert the words καὶ δυνάμεως , "the Spirit of glory, and of power, and of God." The Spirit is power from on high ( Luke 24:49 ). (For "resteth," comp. Isaiah 11:2 .) ἐπί with the accusative suggests the thought of the Spirit descending upon them and resting there (comp. John 1:32 , John 1:33 ). The Spirit abides upon those who patiently suffer for Christ. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. These words are not found in the most ancient manuscripts, and are probably a gloss, lint a true one. Those who reviled the suffering Christians really blasphemed the Holy Spirit of God, by whom they were strengthened; the Holy Spirit was glorified by their patient endurance.