1 Peter 4:12

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: STRANGE - they might think it strange that God should allow His chosen children to be sore tried. FIERY TRIAL - like the fire by which metals are tested and their dross removed. The Greek adds 'in the case.' WHICH IS TO TRY YOU - Greek, 'which is taking place for a trial to you.' Instead of its 'happening to you' as some strange chance, it 'is taking place' with tile gracious design of trying you: a consolatory reflection....

12_Beloved, think it not strange, _or, _wonder not_. There is a frequent mention made in this Epistle of afflictions; the cause of which we have elsewhere explained. But this difference is to be observed, that when he exhorts the faithful to patience, he sometimes speaks generally of troubles common to man’s life; but here he speaks of wrongs done to the faithful for the name of Christ. And first, indeed, he reminded them that they ought not to have deemed it strange as for a thing sudden and unexpected; by which he intimates, that they ought by a long mediation to have been previously prepared to bear the cross. For whosoever has resolved to fight under Christ’s banner, will not be dismayed when persecution happens, but, as one accustomed to it, will patiently bear it. That we may then be in a prepared state of mind when the waves of persecutions roll over us, we ought in due time to ha...

12-19 By patience and fortitude in suffering, by dependence on the promises of God, and keeping to the word the Holy Spirit hath revealed, the Holy Spirit is glorified; but by the contempt and reproaches cast upon believers, he is evil spoken of, and is blasphemed. One would think such cautions as these were needless to Christians. But their enemies falsely charged them with foul crimes. And even the best of men need to be warned against the worst of sins. There is no comfort in sufferings, when we bring them upon ourselves by our own sin and folly. A time of universal calamity was at hand, as foretold by our Saviour, Matthew 24:9; Matthew 24:10. And if such things befall in this life, how awful will the day of judgment be! It is true that the righteous are scarcely saved; even those who endeavour to walk uprigh...

Verse 12. _THINK IT NOT STRANGE CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL_] πυρωσει. _The burning_. The metaphor is old, but noble; it represents the Christians at Pontus as having _fire_ cast upon them for the _trying_ of their faith, as _gold_ is tried by fire, 1 Peter 1:7, to which the apostle alludes.-_Macknight_. St. Peter returns here to what he had often touched upon in this epistle, namely, to exhort the Christians to behave with patience and integrity under their present severe persecution; to which purpose he uses the following arguments:- _First_, He intimates that it was not a _strange_ or _unusual_ thing for the people of God to be persecuted. _Secondly_, That if they suffered here as _Christ did_, they should hereafter be glorified with him. _Thirdly_, Besides th

BELOVED, THINK IT NOT STRANGE - Do not consider it as anything which you had no reason to expect; as anything which may not happen to others also. CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY YOU - Referring, doubtless, to some severe persecution which was then impending. We have not the means of determining precisely what this was. The word rendered “fiery trial” (πυρώσει purōsei) occurs only here and in Revelation 18:9, Revelation 18:18; in both of which latter places it is rendered burning. It means, properly, a being on fire, burning, conflagration; and then any severe trial. It cannot be demonstrated from this word that they were literally to suffer by fire, but

EXPOSITIONS 1 PETER 4:1 FORASMUCH THEN AS CHRIST HATH SUFFERED FOR US IN THE FLESH. St. Peter returns, after the digression of 1 Peter 3:19, to the great subject of Christ's example. The words "for us" are omitted in some ancient manuscripts; they express a great truth already dwelt upon in 1 Peter 2:1. and 3. Here the apostle is insisting upon the example of Christ, not on the atoning efficacy of his death. Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. The word rendered "mind" (ἔννοια) is more exactly "thought" (comp. Hebrews 4:12, the only other place where it occurs in the New Testam

BELOVED, THINK IT NOT STRANGE CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL,.... By which may be meant either the destruction of Jerusalem, which was at hand, and of which the apostle may be thought to give the Jews he writes to notice of before hand; that they might be prepared for it, and not be overwhelmed with consternation and amazement when they should hear of it; who, though in other countries, must be affected with it, and would be a trying dispensation to them: or else the afflictions and persecutions which daily come upon them, for the sake of Christ and his Gospel; signified by "fire" or "burning", because grievous to the flesh, and gave great uneasiness, distress, and pain to it; and because of the fury of men, and the violence and fierceness of their rage, expressed thereby; as also because the people of God under them are sometimes ready to conceive that the wrath of God is poured out, like f...

1 Peter 4:1. _Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin:_ Brethren, we have a Saviour who suffered for us. As the Head was, such must the members expect to be. Let us, then, be resolutely determined that, suffer as we may, we will never turn aside from our Lord; for, inasmuch as we suffered in him, yea, and died in him, we ought to reckon that we are henceforth dead to sin, and that we have ceased from it, and can no longer be drawn into it. «He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin:» 1 Peter 4:2. _That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God._ The doctrine of substitution is

IV. THE COMFORT IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS AND SUFFERING CHAPTER 3:10-4:19 _ 1. The comfort in suffering (1 Peter 3:10)_ 2. Few saved as illustrated by Noah's preaching (1 Peter 3:18) 3. The new life in its transforming power (1 Peter 4:1) 4. Suffering and glory (1 Peter 4:12) 1 Peter 3:10 The words which stand in the beginning of this section are quoted from Psalms 34:12. It is interesting to note that the Spirit of

The section repeats ideas that have already appeared (1 Peter 2:18; 1 Peter 3:13), only they are emphasized by the imminence (1 Peter 4:17) of severe trial. 1 PETER 4:15. A MEDDLER: the original word seems to be a coinage of the writer, and its exact significance is difficult to define. It may be used politically as a revolutionary or as a stirrer up of strife in the home or society of the Christians. Again, it may be used of conformity to pagan practice, but this is unlikely in the context. 1 Peter 4:16. There may here be still the