1 Peter 4:3

For the time past of our life may suffice The language is that of grave irony. Enough time, and more than enough, had been already given to the world. Was it not well to give some time now to God? The general line of thought runs parallel to that of Romans 13:11-12.

to have wrought the will of the Gentiles The question meets us whether these words imply that the writer was, here at least, contemplating converts from heathenism, or still thinking only of the Jews of the dispersion. On the one hand, it may be said that it was more natural for a Jew writing to Jews to speak of "the heathen" or "the Gentiles." If the reading "may suffice us" be the right one, the fact that the Apostle joins himself with those to whom he writes strengthens that conclusion. The better MSS., however, omit the pronoun. The "abominable idolatries," on the other hand, may seem decisive in favour of the supposition that this part of the Epistle was intended for Gentile readers: but here also the word of warning would be as applicable to lax and licentious Jews, or to those who had been proselytes to Judaism, and who had not given up their attendance at idol-feasts or eating things sacrificed to idols (comp. 1 Corinthians 8:10; Revelation 2:14; Revelation 2:20).

lasciviousness The Greek word is in the plural as expressing the manifold forms or acts of impurity. The word is always applied to the darker forms of evil (Mark 7:22; Romans 13:13; 2 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 2:7; 2 Peter 2:18).

excess of wine The Greek word is found in the LXX. of Deuteronomy 21:20; Isaiah 56:12, but not elsewhere in the New Testament.

banquetings Literally, drinking-parties. The word went naturally as in other Greek writers with "revellings."

abominable idolatries The Greek adjective means, as in Acts 10:28, simply "unlawful:" but as in the Latin nefas, nefanda, nefarius, the idea of that which is at variance not merely with human but with natural law tends to pass into that of a guilt which makes men shudder. It has been suggested above that even here the Apostle may have present to his thoughts the lives of licentious Jews falling into heathen ways rather than of Gentiles pure and simple. The Books of Maccabees (Malachi 1:13; Malachi 1:13-14; 2Ma 4:13-14) shew that there had been a strong drift to apostasy of this kind under the Syrian Monarchy. The Temples, Gymnasia and Theatres built by the Herods had recently shewed a like tendency. At the very time when St Peter wrote there were Jews hanging about the court of Nero and Poppæa, taking part as actors in the imperial orgies (Joseph. Life, c. 3). It has been suggested that St Peter may have meant to refer to the old worship of Baal and Moloch and Ashtoreth and the groves and the calves which had prevailed in the history of Israel and Judah, so that the words "the time past may suffice" call on them to turn over a new leaf in their national existence, but the explanation of the words just given seems more natural and adequate.