1 Peter 4:4

ἐν ᾧ, wherein, in which respect

ξενίζονται. In the active the verb is used transitively of entertaining strangers, Acts 10:23; Acts 28:7; Hebrews 13:2, and once of “surprising doctrines,” Acts 17:20; cf. Polyb. 3. 114. 4; Joseph. Ant. 1. 1. 4. In the middle it generally means to lodge, Acts 10:6; Acts 10:18; Acts 10:32; Acts 21:16. But here and in 1 Peter 4:12 it is passive and means “are surprised,” cf. Polyb. 1. 23. 5, etc. The surprise here attributed to their heathen neighbours would be hardly intelligible if the readers were Jews, as there is no evidence that the Jews of the Dispersion had so generally taken part in heathen excesses that their abandonment of them would excite astonishment, whereas such new strictness on the part of the Gentile converts would provoke criticism.

συντρεχόντων probably denotes unrestrained indulgence, running headlong after, not merely concurrence.

ἀνάχυσιν, only here in Biblical Greek. Philo uses the word in a good sense of the out-pouring of the soul, but here it means the excess or flood of riot in which a dissolute life pours itself out.

ἀσωτίας from a privative and σώζειν, the spendthrift character which squanders itself and its goods recklessly. This is the definition adopted by Aristotle, Eth. Nic. iv. 1, 4 and it suits the description given of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:13 ζῶν�, so also Theophylact on Ephesians 5:18, but Clement Al. explains it as meaning the conduct of one who is ἄσωτος, i.e. one who cannot be saved, an abandoned reprobate. The substantive occurs again in Ephesians 5:18, οἶνος ἐν ᾧ ἐστὶν� and Titus 1:6. LXX. Proverbs 28:7; 2Ma 6:4.

βλασφημοῦντες, railing at you, reviling you, cf. Matthew 27:39 ff.; Romans 3:8. The word does not necessarily imply blasphemous language toward God (as in Matthew 9:3; Acts 19:37; Revelation 13:6, etc.), nor foul accusations against Christians, but might include taunts and reproaches against them as being gloomy, morose or fanatical.