4:1 Christ suffered in the flesh Refers to Christ’s physical suffering and His bodily crucifixion. See 1 Pet 3:18 and note.

suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin The suffering person in view here is likely a believer. If this is the case, Peter either means that when believers suffer for Christ, they overcome the power of sin, or that when people become believers and join Christ in His baptism, they prevail over the enslaving power of sin (see 3:21 and note; compare Rom 6:1–12; 1 John 5:18).

4:3 what the Gentiles desire Peter metaphorically uses the Greek term for Gentiles to refer to nonbelievers and the various types of immoral behavior associated with them. Although the audience of 1 Peter likely included both Jews and Gentiles, here Peter uses the term for Gentiles in a negative sense to dissuade his readers from behaving like non-believing Gentiles.

Gentiles

having lived Peter includes a second vice list (see 1 Pet 2:1 and note) to remind his audience that sinful behavior is unfit for Christians—who have been set apart for God (as holy people; 1:2, 15; 2:9).

4:4 so they revile you Nonbelievers do not understand the transforming power of Christ’s atonement and the response that comes with it—a desire to live a godly life.

4:5 one who is ready to judge Refers to God the Father. Peter frequently invokes the reality of God’s future judgment to remind his audience that good and evil actions in the present will not remain unnoticed (see 1:17; 2:12, 23).

4:6 to those who are dead May refer to those who are spiritually dead (that is, nonbelievers), but more likely refers to those who are physically dead, as the use of the same Greek term (nekros) in v. 5 suggests.

4:7 Now the end of all things draws near Peter is certain of Jesus’ return (see 1:5, 7). Believers are called to live in confidence and anticipation of the consummation of God’s work in Christ (this is referred to as eschatological hope).

4:8 because love covers a large number of sins Peter draws on Prov 10:12 to affirm the power of Christian love; it can result in forgiveness and reconciliation when people have been harmed or wronged (Jas 5:20). In this way, love overcomes sin.

4:9 hospitable Peter may have urged his audience to show hospitality to one another in light of the unfriendly and even hostile treatment they experienced from non-believers (compare Heb 13:2; 3 John 5–8).

4:10 a gift This is the only use of the Greek word charisma in the nt outside of Paul’s writings (see Rom 12:6; 1 Cor 12:28–31). Elsewhere, Paul discusses spiritual gifts in detail (see 1 Cor 12:4–11 and note), emphasizing their purpose to serve and build up the body of Christ (Eph 4:11–12). Peter’s exhortation reflects the same concern here, though he may also have in mind God’s gift of salvation (see Rom 5:15–16; 6:23).

4:11 speaks May refer to the gift of prophecy (see note on 1 Cor 12:10) or to any type of speaking about God and the truth of the gospel. However the next line seems to imply that Peter is referring to speaking and serving gifts in a broad sense, not to specific gifts (compare 1 Cor 12:1–11). Either way, Peter urges believers to act with extreme care when speaking on God’s behalf and conveying truths about His will.

serves This verse likely addresses the manner in which believers offer service to each other, since the same Greek word is used in 1 Pet 4:10 to speak of serving others in a general sense. Peter’s point is that God will supply the strength to serve and act hospitably toward other people.

Diakonos Word Study

4:12 do not be surprised Peter urges his readers to expect suffering since they are Christ-followers in a world that does not share their values (vv. 3–4). Likewise, Jesus said that suffering would come to His followers (Matt 5:11–12; 10:24–25).

fiery ordeal A reference to suffering and the refinement it brings to a believer’s life (compare 1 Pet 1:6–7).

4:13 you share in the sufferings of Christ By experiencing suffering for being Christians, believers identify with Jesus. Believers demonstrate their faith by sharing in Jesus’ sufferings; they learn what it means to be like Him in their anguish. They can have joy because they honor God through their suffering and know that God will vindicate their faithfulness one day (vv. 18–19).

Suffering

the revelation of his glory Refers to Jesus’ second coming. Peter often appeals to Christ’s future return to ground his teaching in a real event (e.g., 1 Pet 1:5, 7, 13; 5:1).

rejoice and be glad Peter calls believers to find joy in their suffering and trials. The response to suffering Peter demands is counterintuitive to the natural human desire to avoid difficulty, but ultimately demonstrates the believers’ trust in the power of Christ’s sufferings and God’s judgment.

4:14 reviled on account of the name of Christ Refers to insults or mockery experienced because of the believer’s association with Christ (see Matt 5:11–12). Christians living throughout the Graeco-Roman world in the first century likely experienced discrimination and varying degrees of ostracism because of their faith.

4:15 suffer as a murderer or a thief Peter identifies a wrong kind of suffering: suffering for the sake of evil criminal activity. He discourages this kind of suffering, which comes as a consequence of sin.

evildoer or as a meddler Peter mentions two sins that can result in social persecution, but not necessarily criminal prosecution. Believers should avoid behavior that is dishonoring to other people in general.

4:16 as a Christian The Greek term used here rarely occurs in the nt despite its later popularity as a designation for people who follow Jesus and trust in His saving work (see Acts 11:26). Here Peter probably uses the term to affirm believers’ identification with Christ and His sufferings (see 1 Pet 4:13).

4:17 time for the judgment to begin out This phrase likely refers to future judgment at Jesus’ return rather than present sufferings. Those who suffer for Christ’s sake can be confident that God’s judgment will validate their hardship. Peter lives in the era between Jesus’ resurrection and return—thus, relatively speaking, the judgment is imminent and has in many ways begun, since the time to choose Jesus is now (compare 2 Pet 3:8 and note).

household of God This evokes the building metaphor from 1 Pet 2:4–5 and refers to the family of believers in Jesus. Peter maintains that God will judge all people impartially, but also stresses that He will begin with His own people. All people will be held accountable for their actions, even though God will grant mercy to those who chose the path of faith in Jesus (compare note on Jude 21).

if the righteous are saved with difficulty Just as Jesus faced suffering—being mocked, beaten, and crucified—to make the gift of salvation possible, believers must faithfully follow their Lord until the end of their lives or Jesus’ return. This is not because their salvation depends on it—Jesus alone saves them (1 Pet 1:3–12)—but because others may come to Jesus due to their model of faithfulness.

ungodly and the sinner Those who do not walk the path of faith will experience the full ramifications of their sin when God judges all of humanity.

4:19 suffer according to the will of God Peter asserts that God desires for Christians in the Roman Empire—including himself and the churches to which he writes—to consider their suffering as a means of becoming more like Christ. They suffer according to God’s will by suffering as Jesus would.

in doing good Although they are experiencing overwhelming evil, believers should continue to do good, as a means of honoring God and demonstrating that they trust Him with their entire lives (see 2:12 and note).