1 Peter 4:11

follows the primitive division of ministry into that of the word and that of tables (Acts 6:2-4); compare prophecy and ministry (in narrower sense like διακονεῖ here) of Romans 12:6. λαλεῖ covers all the speaking described in 1 Corinthians 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:10, to one by means of the spirit hath been given a word of wisdom, etc.… 1 Corinthians 14:6; 1 Corinthians 14:26. ὡς λόγια θεοῦ (perhaps echoes κατὰ τὴν ἀναλογίαν of Romans 12:6) as being God's oracles or as speaking God's oracles. The Seer is the model for the Christian preacher: Numbers 24:4, φησὶν ἀκούων λόγια θεοῦ. His message is the particular grace of God which he has to administer like the prophets and evangelists, 1 Peter 1:10-12. διακονεῖ includes all forms of the ministration of God's gifts other than those of speech primarily almsgiving, hospitality and the like. ἵνα, κ. τ. λ. A liturgical formula such as this is necessarily capable of many special meanings. ἐνπᾶσιν may refer particularly to the gifts or their possessors hardly to the Gentiles as Oec. suggests (Matthew 5:1) but so to limit it would be a gratuitious injustice to the author. The saying ἐν τούτῳ ἐδοξάσθη ὁ πατήρ μου ἵνα καρπὸν πολὺν φέρητε καὶ γενήσεσθε ἐμοὶ μαθηταί is sufficient to justify this appendix to the exhortation love one another in deed διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, through Jesus Christ through whom the spirit descended on each of you, Acts 2:33, through whom you offer a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15); cf. δοξαξέτω τὸν θεὸν ἐν ὀνόματι τούτῳ. ᾧ … The insertion of ἐστιν changes the doxology to a statement of fact and thus supports the interpretation of ᾧ as referring of the immediate antecedent Jesus Christ. Already He possesses the glory and the victory; realising this His followers endure joyfully their present suffering and defeat.