I've Been Thinking About This…

Some thoughts on chapter 4 as promised:

(v 1-2) Suffer: Because Jesus suffered on Earth for the will of God, assume that you may well be asked to suffer for His sake as well. The verse does not mean that you quit all sin once having been made to suffer; nor does it imply that subsequent sin will be overlooked. Rather you yourself have changed. Once having suffered for Christ and for God’s will, you have made a high personal investment in what is right and will certainly continue in that vein.

(v 3-5) Rejected: You used to do all those things, but now you’ve put them behind you. However, your old cronies have not, and they resent your moving away into ‘Holier than thou’ status. They know what’s right; they see you doing what’s right; but because they like what’s wrong they put you down in order to feel you are somehow lacking (where they are not). However, at the end, they will have to pay for their unbelief.

(v 6) Preached to the dead: This is a bit tricky. There are apparently some who hold that, on the strength of this verse, when you are dead you get a second chance. But there is no Scriptural backing for that thought, and in fact it is quite contrary to the evident intent. Then there are some (for instance, the ESV study notes) who hold that ‘dead’ refers to those who have become Christians and then died by the time of writing – i.e., converts between Christ’s death and around 63AD when this letter was written. But that doesn’t explain the sense that the word ‘even’ brings to the verse. I think we have to see this as linked to v 19 of the previous chapter – it’s always wise to consider the context! – and see it as Jesus having preached to those faithful dead from before His death (cf 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:22; Psa 66:18; Eph 4:8; Isa 61:1; Luke 4:18). As such, they anticipated the coming Messiah, and this preaching completes their salvation (in the same sense with which today we use the expression ‘A completed Jew).

(v 7-11) The end is near: Not just an expression for sandwich boards and Hyde Park Corner! If the end is near, we must be vigilant over ourselves. There follows a list of areas to focus on: love, hospitality, using one’s gifts (prophecy and services are mentioned here) to the glory of God.

(v 12-14) And … back to suffering: Talk about the gift of prophecy! Peter was truly prophetic here (vv 12-19). The first persecution was a year away, started by Nero as an excuse for excess (the fire in Rome, 64AD); but it was coming! (And in view of the reason for the persecution, the adjective ‘fiery’ seems peculiarly apt!)

(v 15-16) Suffer for the right reasons, though: This thought too has already been put forth – suffering that you deserve is nothing to boast of or wish for; nor does it bring glory to God or His praise to you. Suffer for being a Christian is the only reason to be proud.

(v 17-19) If God’s children will suffer, what will happen to those who don’t have that protection to trust in? (v 18 is quoting Prov 11:31)

See you tomorrow!

   Send article as PDF