Some concluding instructions
4
Pursue the will of God
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered on our behalf*Some 4.5% of the Greek manuscripts omit “on our behalf” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). in flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mentality (for the one who has ‘suffered in flesh’ has been made to cease from sin)†3:18 above says Christ was “put to death in flesh”, as the culmination of His suffering, and I take that to be the point of reference here. I take ‘suffer in flesh’ to be a euphemism for death, and when one dies he stops sinning [I suppose]. All during His earthly life Jesus knew He was going to die on account of sins and was totally committed to doing the Father's will. With the same mentality we too will be committed to doing God's will, and so will avoid sin. “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11). Verse two here agrees that this is not automatic—we must determine not to indulge the flesh. 2 so as not to live your remaining time in flesh for human lusts any longer, but for the will of God. 3 Because the time that has passed is plenty for you‡The Greek manuscripts are about evenly divided between “you” and ‘us’, but the best line of transmission has “you”, which jives with verse 4. to have performed the will of the pagans—having walked in lewdness,§All the nouns in this list are actually plural, emphasizing that their life was characterized by these things. The main ingredients would be alcohol and sex. lusts, drunkenness, revelries, carousings and disgusting idolatries— 4 in regard to which they are disagreeably surprised at your not running with them into the same flood of debauchery, reviling you;*Is that not precisely the way that people in the world react, when someone breaks out of their circle? They feel condemned, but do not want to admit that they are wrong. Or they know that they are wrong, but do not want to change. 5 they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge living and dead 6 (which is precisely why dead ones were once evangelized, that they should be judged as men in flesh, to be sure, but that they should live according to God in spirit).†This delightful verse has given commentators no end of exercise. Verse 5 ends with “judge living and dead”, but anyone who is dead was once alive, obviously, and the judgment will be based on what they did while alive, which is why everyone needs to be evangelized while in this life (including the people who are making fun of us). There is no definite article with “dead”, either in verse 5 or 6, so Peter is referring to the ones who were evangelized in this life—he is not saying that everyone has been or will be evangelized. Everyone will be judged, but to “live according to God in spirit” one must respond adequately to the Gospel.
Redeem the time
7 The end of all things has approached; therefore be serious and self-controlled in your praying.‡Haven't you heard a lot of ‘praying’ that would not qualify? 8 Above all things your love for one another should be constant, because love covers a multitude of sins.§Love overlooks sins, does not make a big deal out of them, in interpersonal relationships. The eternal consequence of sin is not in view here. 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.*Have you never heard anyone grumble? Recall that to be hospitable is commanded. 10 As each has received a gift, minister it to one another as good administrators of God's varied grace.†Does your church allow people to minister their gifts? 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as utterances of God. If anyone serves, let it be as from strength as God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion throughout the ages. Amen.
Suffering in the will of God
12 Dear ones, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you as a test, as though something strange was happening to you, 13 but to the extent that you share in Christ's sufferings, rejoice, so that at the revelation of His glory you also may rejoice a great deal more.‡Presumably the reference is to our rewards; the more we share in Christ's sufferings, the more we get. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of the glory and of God has come to rest upon you. On their part He is blasphemed,§If someone insults us because of the results of the Holy Spirit's working in our lives, they are blaspheming Him; but we should glorify God for the privilege of belonging to Him, both now and for eternity. but on your part He is glorified.*Perhaps 17% of the Greek manuscripts omit this whole sentence (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). 15 Now do not any of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a meddler in others' affairs; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.†Instead of “matter”, perhaps 11% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘name’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). 17 Because the time has come for judgment to begin at God's house;‡Dear me, does this mean that the more I call down judgment on the forces of evil at work in the society at large, the more God judges the church? If that is the price to be paid for doing our job (1 John 3:8), so be it. now if it starts with us, what will be the end of those who keep disobeying the Gospel of God? 18 Also, ‘If the righteous one is saved with difficulty, where will the godless and sinful person appear?’§See Proverbs 11:31 in LXX (Septuagint), which is quite different from the Hebrew Text. However, Peter does not claim to be quoting Scripture here, but used a statement that is true and served his purpose. “Saved with difficulty” does not sound automatic. 19 And so let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.*The bottom line when we are suffering is whether or not we are going to trust God's concern for us.

*4:1 Some 4.5% of the Greek manuscripts omit “on our behalf” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

†4:1 3:18 above says Christ was “put to death in flesh”, as the culmination of His suffering, and I take that to be the point of reference here. I take ‘suffer in flesh’ to be a euphemism for death, and when one dies he stops sinning [I suppose]. All during His earthly life Jesus knew He was going to die on account of sins and was totally committed to doing the Father's will. With the same mentality we too will be committed to doing God's will, and so will avoid sin. “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11). Verse two here agrees that this is not automatic—we must determine not to indulge the flesh.

‡4:3 The Greek manuscripts are about evenly divided between “you” and ‘us’, but the best line of transmission has “you”, which jives with verse 4.

§4:3 All the nouns in this list are actually plural, emphasizing that their life was characterized by these things. The main ingredients would be alcohol and sex.

*4:4 Is that not precisely the way that people in the world react, when someone breaks out of their circle? They feel condemned, but do not want to admit that they are wrong. Or they know that they are wrong, but do not want to change.

†4:6 This delightful verse has given commentators no end of exercise. Verse 5 ends with “judge living and dead”, but anyone who is dead was once alive, obviously, and the judgment will be based on what they did while alive, which is why everyone needs to be evangelized while in this life (including the people who are making fun of us). There is no definite article with “dead”, either in verse 5 or 6, so Peter is referring to the ones who were evangelized in this life—he is not saying that everyone has been or will be evangelized. Everyone will be judged, but to “live according to God in spirit” one must respond adequately to the Gospel.

‡4:7 Haven't you heard a lot of ‘praying’ that would not qualify?

§4:8 Love overlooks sins, does not make a big deal out of them, in interpersonal relationships. The eternal consequence of sin is not in view here.

*4:9 Have you never heard anyone grumble? Recall that to be hospitable is commanded.

†4:10 Does your church allow people to minister their gifts?

‡4:13 Presumably the reference is to our rewards; the more we share in Christ's sufferings, the more we get.

§4:14 If someone insults us because of the results of the Holy Spirit's working in our lives, they are blaspheming Him; but we should glorify God for the privilege of belonging to Him, both now and for eternity.

*4:14 Perhaps 17% of the Greek manuscripts omit this whole sentence (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

†4:16 Instead of “matter”, perhaps 11% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘name’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

‡4:17 Dear me, does this mean that the more I call down judgment on the forces of evil at work in the society at large, the more God judges the church? If that is the price to be paid for doing our job (1 John 3:8), so be it.

§4:18 See Proverbs 11:31 in LXX (Septuagint), which is quite different from the Hebrew Text. However, Peter does not claim to be quoting Scripture here, but used a statement that is true and served his purpose. “Saved with difficulty” does not sound automatic.

*4:19 The bottom line when we are suffering is whether or not we are going to trust God's concern for us.

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD