Lesson 62

Study of First Peter Chapter 4

 

 

 

4:4 in regard to which (failure to return to a previous pattern of life) they consider it strange that you do not run together toward the same excess of riotous living and they blaspheme you.

 

 

Observations:

1. Once again we have here the basis of Peter's writing to these believer's in Asia minor:  exhortation to stand firm, keep on doing what is right, applying the Word even though they are being slandered and blasphemed.

- 2:12;  3:16

 

2. As we have seen in the previous context these  believers have done nothing to warrant such an attack therefore what they are undergoing here is UNDSF.

 

3. What has happened here is that their pagan neighbors and friends have  judged the life of these believers and found them to be out of line with their own standards and respond by blaspheming them.

 

4. A changed life often invokes hostility from the cosmos, that is those you deal with out in the culture because it is an indictment of them and their rejection of the gospel as unbelievers or their negative volition to truth as a reversionistic believer.

 

5. Peter now reminds these believers that those who pagans who are blaspheming them will themselves be judged (vs:5) so let God handle it.

 

Peter viewed those who slander Christians for their lifestyles as really slandering God who called us out of darkness into the light.

 

4:5 The judgment of the blasphemers

but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

 

- future tense of the verb tells them and us that all unbelievers these pagans will give an account

 

to Him who is ready to judge 

 

- Peter's words in Acts 10:42, and Paul's statement in 2 Timothy 4:1, leave no reasonable doubt that the judge is Jesus Christ.

 

 

- know that His judgment whether at the JSC or GWTJ or any other is not arbitrary, but is according to integrity; established by His +R/J

 

Who is judged? 

- the living and the dead.  zw/ntaj kai. nekrou,   no definite article with either therefore is qualitative,  those who are living and such as are dead

 

Peter's point here is that whether these unbelievers, the ones blaspheming them, persecuting them are living or are dead they are not going to escape judgment.

 

When are the living to be judged? 

 

4:5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

 

4:6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

 

 

Peter was reminding his readers of the Christians who had already died and some martyred for their faith.

 

What must be recognized here is that those described as "dead" were members of the Christian churches addressed but had died before the writing of 1 Peter.

 

The death of those members, whether from natural causes or martyrdom, would naturally bring a matter of some spiritual perplexity and concern in the churches.

 

The true purpose of that preaching of the gospel is stated in a twofold balanced way: " they may live in the spirit according to the will of God."

 

 

There is a clear contrast in the two main verbs used: the aorist subjunctive "might be  judged" (kri,nw) denotes a definite occurrence of judgment, and the present subjunctive tense, "may live" (za,w), which pictures the continuity of the spiritual life they had received.

 

Here first its "According to men" (kata. avnqrw,pouj) indicates that the judgment that they endured was in harmony with the standards that characterize human behavior.  (persecution by the pagans)

 

"According to God" (kata. qeo.n) indicates that the life they had received was a life in harmony with the nature of God, or a life in harmony with His will.

 

Their death also did not terminate their life in Christ; their union with Him, they continue to live even as He lives. Now face to face!

 

In the eyes of their pagan opponents, they seemed to have gained nothing.

 

Peter is assuring them that though the other believers had died, they would fully share in the life brought by the Savior.

 

The realization of coming judgment should be a motivating force in the lives of believers now, prompting them to appropriate the necessary provision for living a life honoring Christ.

 

The believer's anticipation of Christ's return should have an impact on present Christian conduct.

 

4:7  The end of all things is near;

 

- "of all things" (panton), standing emphatically forward, underlines the comprehensive nature of the end in view.

- "the end" (to te,loj), the consummation of the present course of history, the Church age, implies not merely cessation of, but also the goal toward which the present age moves.

What's the first order of business on God's timetable at the end of the Church age? 

 

- is near  perfect active indicative of  evggi,zw means to be near, to be at hand, to draw near

- this is a proleptic perfect - used in anticipation of a future event,  one that is sure

- it expresses a state of completion in the future that is so real to the individual with a F/O/R of truth it is viewed as if already having taken place.

Examples where this type of construction with the verb evggi,zw

Matt 3:2  Have here the message of John the Baptist, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

 

 

We noted this construction in James 5:8 with a similar thrust as here in 1 Pet 4

5:8  You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

 

Because of the close parallels between James 5:8 and our passage lets review what is here, believe it is important.  Will give us some insight into our passage in 1 Pet 4:7f.

Both contexts the believers are dealing with UNDSF and were being given the DOA's and encouragement to press on and handle the tests to the glory of God.

1. James here marks the importance of the application of patience in the lives of his readers.

 

2.  Even in the midst of their own experiences of oppression and injustice they must cultivate a mental attitude of patience.

 

3. They must always keep before them the fact that God cannot deal with them unfairly.

 

4. Certainly God has the ability to remove their sufferings and judge their oppressors.

 

5. But God desires divine good and the maturation of every believer, this will only come with the refining of ones faith through tests - CHP's etc.  which would be negated if the heat was lifted.

 

6. The 2nd imp - "to strengthen your hearts" - calls for them to put iron in their souls.

 

7. Rather than allowing themselves to slip into reacting to the circumstances  and soul   fainting they need to adopt a mental attitude of tenacity and toughness.

 

8. The single most important thing that they can do is to be consistent in face to face teaching. God's means of providing the DOA's.

 

9. The inner life is strengthened by BD known coupled with your willingness to apply it.

 

10. The BD of the parousia - the sure return of Christ should be a major factor in the ph-2 motivation of the Believer.