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Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

1 Peter 4:18

‘And if the righteous is scarcely saved (‘be saved with difficulty'), where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?'

This is a citation of Proverbs 11:31 LXX. The saving of the righteous is no easy task. They are ‘saved with difficulty'. Peter is very much aware of how great the cost of our salvation has been (1 Peter 1:18; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 4:1). Only God could have accomplished it. Salvation may be free for us but we must never forget the great effort and cost that God put into it on our behalf. It was by no means easy for Him. And if that be true, what hope is there for Christ-rejecters who do not have the benefit of His saving work? They will appear on the wrong side of God's judgments.

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See also 1 Peter 4:18 in other biblical comments:

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  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

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  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

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  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

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  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

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  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

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  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

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  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

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  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

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  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

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  • John Darby's Synopsis

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  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

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  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

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  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

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  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

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  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

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  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

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  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

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  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

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  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

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  • Summarized Bible Commentary

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  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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  • The Bible Study New Testament

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  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 4:17 In the OT, HOUSEHOLD OF GOD (literally, “house of God”) refers to the temple. Now God’s people are his temple (see 1 Peter 2:4). “

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

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  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

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  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 10:12; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 Samuel 15:18; 2 Peter 2:5; 2 P

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS 1 Peter 4:12 INTRODUCTORY WORDS There are several things about suffering for Christ which need to be emphasized. 1. CHRISTIANS ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM SUFFERING. Asaph said, "I was...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    If the righteous scarcely be saved — Escape with the utmost difficulty. Where shall the ungodly — The man who knows not God. And the open sinner appear — In that day of vengeance. The salvation here p...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    As if he had said, " When the day of visitation comes, which is verily at hand, and God shall begin to punish the Jews, his own people, called his HOUSE in the foregoing verse; if then the righteous a...

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