September 16, 2014 1st Peter Chapter 4

1st Peter Chapter 4

Originally posted Monday November 10, 2008

1st Peter, Chapter 4:1-11 Good Stewards of God's Grace

There are two intertwined messages in 1st Peter. The more important one is innocent suffering because of one's Christian faith and how this is understood as the believer participating in Christ's innocent suffering. In both cases the abusive acts were perpetrated by non-believers. The second theme is how believers react to abuse and live their lives in the community in spite of suffering. For Peter both thematic messages are drawn from an abiding and sustaining faith in the imminent glory to come (Christ's return) and fate of those who have maligned God with malicious intent (judgment). In effect, Peter presents an exhortation to Christian living, even in the midst of suffering, and a warning for those who do not.

Because Christ suffered "in the flesh" the believer is to be armed with the same intention as Christ who did battle with and defeated the power of sin. The believers who suffer "in the flesh" have become, by choice of faith, part of the same battle. Having cast their lot with Christ, they are "done with sin" as an acceptable choice. By their allegiance to Christ they have openly acknowledged their intention to live according to the will of God "for the rest of [their] earthly lives." No doubt this is the intent that is called for and expected of anyone who becomes part of any church community. The concept of doing battle against sin (widely defined) "in the flesh" may be foreign to us. For Paul and others of his time the flesh was the place of temptation, where evil sought expression. Yet we know what temptation is and how easily we succumb to it. Sometimes we speak or act impulsively, without caution, as if it were part of our DNA. Perhaps it is an unkind word that hurts; the embellishment of the truth; negatively judging another's belief as inferior. These and more are all part of our battle to "do good and to be better." When they occur we would do well to remember with whom we have cast our lot.

Peter refers to "the rest of your earthly life" as the time to concentrate on doing God's will. This is set against the believers having spent "more than enough time" participating in the catalog of sins Peter presents. These sins characterize the Gentiles' (and non-believing Hellenistic Jews) sinful lives "in the flesh."  With sarcasm he uses the word "surprised" to define the Gentile reaction to Christian avoidance of such behavior. Here the word has a double meaning. The Gentiles are surprised by this sudden change of behavior of those who once "partied hearty" with them (a change which is at the heart of the abuse and suffering that followed the believer's conversion). Their surprise is more than in the present. They will also be surprised on the coming day of judgment when the deeds of the "living and the dead" will testify against them before God. It is important to recall that in Paul's and later theology both believers and non-believers are to be judged. The Christians have the advantage because of their confession of faith which has been "reckoned to [them] as righteousness."  Of course, this assumes their faith has continued "for the rest of [their] earthly lives."

Vs. 6 provides an elaboration of vs.5 which refers to God's judgment of the living and the dead. Note in vs. 6 that the Gospel had been proclaimed to the dead. Christ is not identified as the proclaimer. The proclamation of the Gospel is preaching about Christ not by Christ. To understand to whom the Gospel was preached we need to refer to 1 Thess. 4:13-18 in which Paul writes of the Parousia at which time the "dead in Christ" are raised first. With this passage in mind we can interpret vs. 6 as a proclamation of the Gospel to those who had died after Jesus death and resurrection but before his return. It is a proclamation of victory - affirming the truth of the hope in which they had believed when still alive "in the flesh."

The writer's previous words regarding judgment are critical because: "The end of all things is near." The time of living according to the Gentile's way of being driven by [immoral/sinful] desires is over. Now it is time to be serious about spiritual discipline. In counter point to the list of vices in vs. 3representing desires of the flesh, they are exhorted to follow a pattern of life in the spirit, according to the will of God. Several examples of such a life are provided and they are generally equivalent to what we have read in Paul's letters and those of his Disciples. They include mutual love in the community; un-begrudging hospitality; use of one's gifts to serve one another; speaking (teaching) the words of God; serving with a strength given by God. All things are to be done in Christ's name and for the glory of God. (The doxology in the last sentence of vs. 11 may indicate that this was the ending of a separate letter to which other material was later added.)

1st Peter, Chapter 4:12-19 Suffering as a Christian

Because the "end of all things is near" the believers should not be surprised by the testing through suffering they are already facing. Rather they should rejoice in sharing Christ's suffering. As they experience the "fiery ordeal" they know it is an indication of the approaching judgment and the joy at the "revealing" of Christ's glory (Parousia). Therefore, when they suffer as a Christian for the name of Christ it is not a disgrace, for they know they are blessed by God's Spirit resting on them. The coming judgment has already started within the "household of God" as evidenced by their suffering. (The last days were always associated with general suffering to which believers were not immune.) If the sufferings of God's household have begun, the sufferings of outsiders will be much worse as noted in the citation of Prov. 11:31, "If then the [righteous] are hardly delivered, the impious one and the sinner, where shall he appear" (LXX).

In a collective statement the writer encourages those who suffer because they are doing God's will to keep their trust in God and to continue to do good. Experiencing the trials and suffering of life is not the time to turn one's back on God or God's household, the Church.