Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Peter 4

1 FOrasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh , arm your selves likewise with the same mind ; for he that hath suffered in the flesh , hath ceased from sin .

The Apostle having in the former Chapter exhorted Believers to patient bearing of Afflictions by the Example of Christ, v. 18. proceeds in this to perswade them to improve the Crosses they bore outwardly to inward Mortification. Christ's Death is proposed to us in Scripture as an Exemplar both of external Mortification in bearing Reproaches, Persecutions, &c. This the Apostle prosecutes in the former Chapter, and of internal in the destroying the Body of Sin; this he exhorts to in this Chapter, and indeed draws his Argument from Christ's Death, not only as the exemplary, but efficient and meritorious Cause of our Mortification, and which hath a real Influence upon it, in that Christ by his Death did not only merit the Pardon of Sin, but the giving the Spirit, whereby Corruption might be destroyed, and our Natures renewed.

Viz. not only as an Exemplar of Patience and Submission to the Will of God, but for the taking away of Sin, both in the Guilt and Power of it, and that he might be the Procurer as well as Pattern of our Mortification.

In his human Nature, as chap. 3.18.

Strengthen, and fortifie your selves against all Temptations, and unto the Mortification of your Lusts with the Consideration of these Ends, and the mighty Efficacy of Christ's Death, he suffering in his Flesh, i. e. in his human Nature, that you might suffer in your Flesh, i. e. in your sinful corrupt Nature: Or, (which comes to the same) with the same mind which Christ had, who, in his Death, aimed not only at the Pardon of your Sin, but the Destruction of it, and the Renovation of your Natures: Or, arm your selves with the same Mind, viz. a purpose of suffering in the Flesh, i. e. of dying spiriritually with Christ in the Mortification of your Flesh, Rom. 6.6, 7. as Christ died, and suffered in the Flesh, so reckon that you, by the Virtue of his Death, must die to Sin, and crucifie your Flesh, with its Affections and Lusts, Gal. 5.24. or else what the same Mind is, he declares in the following clause.

Or rather that the Greek word here seems rather to be explicative than causal.

i. e. The Old Man, his corrupt Flesh, (Flesh being taken here in a different sense from what it was in the former part of the Verse) he that is spiritually dead with Christ, whose Old Man is crucified with him.

From sinning willingly and delightfully, and yielding himself up to the Power of Sin; comp. Rom. 6. which explains this: what Peter here calls suffering in the Flesh, Paul there calls a being dead to Sin, v. 2, 11. and what Peter calls a ceasing from Sin, Paul calls a living no longer in Sin, v. 2. and a being free from it, v. 7. And this may be the Mind, or Thought with which they were to be armed, that they being dead with Christ to Sin, should not live any longer in it; having their Flesh crucified, should not indulge its Affections and Lusts.

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh , to the lusts of men , but to the will of God .

i. e. In the Body, meaning his natural Life. Flesh is here taken, in a third sense different from the two former; so Gal. 2.20. Phil. 1.22.

By the Lusts of Men, he means the corrupt Desires, and sinful ways of carnal Men, to which they were not to conform themselves, or make them the Rule of their living, Rom, 12.2. 1 Cor. 3.3. and Col. 2.8. Tit. 1.14.

The holy Will of God revealed to us in his Law, (which is the Rule by which we are to walk) in opposition to the Lusts of Men; we are to live not as Men would have us, but as God commands us.

Marginal references: Rom. 14.7.

3 For the time past of our lives may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles , when we walked in lasciviousness , lusts, excess of wine, revellings , banquetings , and abominable Idolatries :

The Apostle doth not mean by this Expression meerly that they should forbear their former Lusts, out of a Saciety and Weariness, as having had their fill of them, but stir them up to Holiness by minding them of their former sinful life, q. d. ye are concerned to run well now, when ye have for so great a part of your time run wrong. It is a Figure whereby he mitigates and lenifies the sharpness of his Reproof for their former sinful life: See the like, Ezek. 44.6. and 45.9. Mark 14.41.

Some Copies read ye, and that agrees with the following Verse, where the second Person is made use of: or if we read according to our Translation, us, it is a Figure called Anaco[illegible: 1 letter]nosis, whereby Peter assumes to himself in common with them what yet in his own Person he was never guilty of, as Isa. 64.6, 7. Dan. 9.5. &c. or else it may be an Enallagy of the Person, whereby the first is put for the second.

Viz. those that were profane and ignorant of God and Christ, and so it is the same as the Lusts of Men, v. 2.

Had our Conversation, as Eph. 2.3. walking being taken for the Course of Man's Life; and sometimes in an evil way, as 2 Pet. 2.10. and 3.3. Iude 16, 18. and sometimes in a good, as Luke 1.6.

Especially outward Acts here set in distinction from Lusts, which implies those inward motions from which those outward Defilements proceed.

Unseasonable and luxurious feasting, Rom. 13.13. Gal. 5.21.

Compotations, or meetings for Drinking, Prov. 23.30. Isa. 5.11, 22.

Quest. Why doth Peter charge the Iews with Idolatry, who generally kept themselves from it after the Babylonish Captivity? Ans. 1. Tho most did, yet all might not. 2ly. It is a sort of Idolatry to eat things sacrificed to Idols, which many of the Iews being dispersed among the idolatrous Gentiles, and being invited by them to their Idol-Feasts, might possibly do; and, being under the Temptation of Poverty, might too far conform themselves to the Customs of the Nations among which they were. 3ly. Probably this Idolatry might be the Worship of Angels, frequent among the Gentiles, particularly the Colossians inhabiting a City of Phrygia, which was a part of Asia where many Iews were, chap. 1.1. 4ly. The Churches to which he wrote might be made up of Iews and Gentiles, and the Apostle may, by a Synechdoche, ascribe that to all in common, which yet is to be understood only of a part.

Marginal references: Eph. 4.17.

4 Wherein they think it strange , that you run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.

Gr. Are Strangers, i. e. carry themselves as Strangers, wondring (as at some new thing) at the change the Gospel hath made in you, and your no more conforming your selves to their wicked Courses; they seem to be in another World, when among you.

This seems to signifie the eagerness and vehemency of these Gentiles in pursuing their Lusts, and may perhaps have some respect to the Feasts of Bacchus, to which they were wont madly to run, and there commit the Abominations mentioned v. 3.

Or, Profuseness, or Confusion of Riot or Luxury, and then it suites well with that heap of Sins before-mentioned, whereof this seems to be comprehensive.

Gr. Blaspheming, or speaking evil, of you is added by the Translators: This may therefore be understood not only of their speaking evil of Believers, as void of Humanity, and Enemies to civil Society, but of God and the Christian Religion, as a dull, morose, sower way, and which they could not embrace without renouncing all Mirth and Chearfulness.

5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead .

Of their evil-speaking as well as of other Sins, Iude 15. It is a Metaphor taken from Stewards giving account to their Masters, Matth. 18.23. Luke 16.2.

Not only prepared for it, but at hand to do it, Iames 5.9.

Those that shall be alive at Christ's coming, and those that died before, but then shall be raised, and brought to Judgment. Hereby he intimates, for their Comfort, that tho their Enemies, and ill-Willers might out-live them, yet they shall not escape God's Judgment.

Marginal references: Acts 10.42. 1 Cor. 15.51, 52.

6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead , that they might be judged according to men in the flesh , but live according to God in the spirit .

Either, 1. spiritually dead, i. e. dead in Sin, viz. then when the Gospel was preached to them: Or, 2ly. naturally dead, viz. when the Apostle wrote this Epistle. The Verb are, not being in the Greek, the words may be understood either way, by supplying were, according to the former Exposition, or are, according to the latter, which our Translators favour. See the like, Ruth 1.8.

Either, 1. that they might be judged or condemned in the Flesh, i. e. that their Old Man, and carnal Conversation according to men walking in their carnal Lusts, might be destroyed and abolished; and then to be judged in the Flesh is of the same import as to suffer in the Flesh, v. 1. to be dead to Sin, Rom. 6.1, 2. that they might be judged or condemned in the Flesh, according to men; and so far as they could reach, not only by Censures, Reproaches, and evil-speeches, but even death it self, as it had fallen out already to Stephen, Iames, &c.

That they might live a spiritual Life in their Souls according to the Will of God, and an eternal Life with him. To live in the Spirit, to the Will of God, to walk in newness of Life, &c. are Phrases of a like import in the Language of the Apostles. According to the latter Exposition of the former clause, the Apostle seems in the whole to remove the Scandal of these Christians being reproached, and condemned by Unbelievers for their strictness in Religion, and Non-conformity to the World, by telling them, that their Condition was not singular, but so it had fared with others before them (tho now dead) to whom the Gospel was preached, with the same Event as to the Judgment of worldly men who censured and condemned them, and yet with the same hope of Fruit and Benefit, viz. that tho they were condemned by men in the Flesh, or as to their outward man, yet as to their Souls (meant here by Spirits) they might live a holy spiritual Life, a Life to God in this World, ending in a Life with him in the other.

Marginal references: Chap. 3.19.

7 But the end of all things is at hand : Be ye therefore sober , and watch unto prayer .

The last Judgment which will put an end to all the Evils as well as good things of this World.

See Iames 5.8, 9.

Both in mind, prudent, moderate, 2 Cor. 5.13. Tit. 2.6. and in Body, temperate in meats and drinks, &c.

The word signifies both Sobriety, i[illegible: 1 letter] opposition to Drunkenness, 1 Thess. 5.6, 8. and Watchfulness, 2 Tim. 4.5. and this signification agrees best with this place, the former being implied in the word sober.

The end for which they should be sober and vigilant, viz, that they might observe every season fit for Prayer, and might still keep themselves in a Praying frame.

Marginal references: Rom. 13.12. Phil. 4.5. 2 Pet. 3.9, 11.; Mat. 20.41. Col. 4.2. Chap. 5.8.

8 And above all things have fervent charity among your selves, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins .

See the like expression, Iam. 5.12. and on the same occasion, Col. 3.14.

Not only labour after Charity diligently and carefully, but let it be fervent, intense, strong.

Partly by preventing Anger, Railings, Revilings, Contentions, that they break not out, and partly by repressing, concealing, pardoning them when they do break out, 1 Cor. 13.7. see Iam. 5.20.

Marginal references: Prov. 10.12.; Or, will.

9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging .

Christian Hospitality in entertaining Strangers, those especially that are brought to need your kindness by suffering for the Gospel.

Or murmuring, either at the expence you make, or the carriage of those ye entertain, q. d. use Hospitality willingly, freely, cheerfully, Rom. 12.8. and 2 Cor. 9.7.

Marginal references: Rom. 12.13. Heb. 13.2.; Phil. 2.14.

10 As every man hath received the gift , even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Any gift, office, faculty, or ability, whereby he may be serviceable to the good of others, all which are received of God, 1 Cor. 12.11. Eph. 4.7.

Dispense and Communicate modestly and humbly, not lifting himself up above others upon the account of his Gifts, but remembring he hath received them, and is a Steward to dispense them.

And therefore faithful in distributing his Lord's goods.

By Grace he means the same as by Gift before, and so by manifold Grace, the various Gifts given to them of God, 1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6.

Marginal references: Rom. 12.6.; Matth. 25.14. Luke 12.42. 1 Cor. 4.1, 2. Tit. 1.7.

11 If any man speak , let him speak as the oracles of God ; if any man minister , let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ ; To whom be praise and dominion for ever, and ever. Amen.

Viz. Authoritatively, and by way of Office, as a publick Teacher in the Church; though this may be accommodated to private Christians in their charitative Instructions of others, yet it seems especially meant of teaching Officers.

This relates not only to the manner of speaking, that it be with Faith in that Word the Preacher speaketh, and a due reverence of it, but to the matter likewise, that he Preach nothing but the pure Word of God, and do not obtrude upon the Hearers, the Fancies, Figments, or Traditions of Men instead of the Oracles of God.

This may be understood either, 1. More particularly of the work of Deacons, Act. 6. who were to serve Tables, v. 2. distribute the Alms of the Church, and take Care of the Poor; Or, 2. More generally of any Ministry in the Church, distinct from that of Teaching (of which he spake before) as the dispensing of Sacraments, exercise of Discipline, &c.

i. e. Not remissly and coldly, but diligently and strenuously, and with his might, (as far as God enables him) this being to do it faithfully, which is especially required in a Steward, 1 Cor. 4.2.

In all your Gifts, and the Communications of them, q. d. God doth not adorn you with his Gifts so as to bereave himself of his Glory, but that you should give him the honour of them.

From whom ye have received the Gifts, Eph. 4.8. and by whom you are enabled to glorify God; and by whom alone what ye do, can be accepted of God. See Eph. 3.21.

Marginal references: Rom. 12.6, 7, 8. 1 Cor. 3.10.

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you , as though some strange thing had happened unto you.

Be not offended or troubled at Persecution, as at a thing unusual or never heard of; it implies that they should reckon upon it before-hand, that they might not be surprised with it when it comes. The same word is used v. 4.

The heat or burning, whereby he means great afflictions, especially those that are for righteousness sake, as appears v. 14. which are often compared to Fire, as being alike painful and grievous to them, as Fire is to Men's Bodies; and because Men are tried by them as Metal are by Fire, Psal. 66.10. Isa. 48.10.

This he adds as the reason why they should not think strange of Persecutions, viz. Because they were sent by God, not for their destruction, but for the trial and exercise of their Graces.

Marginal references: 1 Cor. 3.13. Chap. 1.7.

13 But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings , that when his glory shall be revealed , ye may be glad also with exceedingly joy .

Be so far from being offended at your Sufferings, as rather to reckon that there is great matter of rejoicing in them; their being tryals makes them tolerable, but your being in them partakers of Christ's Sufferings, makes them comfortable.

i. e. Ye suffer, 1. As Christ did, for the Confession of the Truth, and so ye are such kind of Sufferers as Christ was. 2. As Members of Christ, ye suffer those evils which are laid out for those that belong to Christ, 1 Thess. 3.3. 3. Ye are hereby conformed to Christ your Head. 4. Ye partake of the influence of what Christ suffered, for the sanctification of your Sufferings, see Phil. 3.10.

Viz. At his second coming, chap. 1.7. Col. 3.4. and 2 Thess. 1.7.

A Joy without any the least mixture of Pain or Grief. The rejoicing of the Saints here is mixed with pain and heaviness, but shall be pure hereafter; they rejoice in hope now, but in enjoyment then.

Marginal references: 2 Cor. 4.10. Col. 1.24. 2 Tim. 2.10. Rev. 1.9.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: On their part he is evil spoken of , but on your part he is glorified .

Viz. Because of the Spirit's dwelling in you, which is both the means and evidence of your Happiness.

i. e. The glorious Spirit of God, or that Spirit of God which is likewise a Spirit of Glory; as being not only glorious in himself, but a glory to them in whom he dwells, and the cause of their future Glorification. This he adds in counter-ballance to the reproaches they suffered for the Name of Christ, q. d. it is a greater Glory to you to have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you, (whereof your patient bearing Reproaches and Persecutions is an Argument) than all the Calumnies and Obloquies wherewith your Enemies load you, can be a shame to you.

In allusion to Isa. 11.2. dwells in you, and shall abide with you for ever. Joh. 14.16. Not leaving you in your Sufferings.

Either Christ, or rather the Spirit.

The Reproaches your Enemies cast upon you, reach that Spirit himself that dwells in you, when they revile that good Confession into which the Spirit led you, deride the Consolations he gives you, and speak evil of your persons, who are the Temples in which he dwells.

Viz. by your patience and constancy in your Sufferings, which shews forth the power of that Spirit which resteth upon you, in that he works so mightily in you, as to enable you to bear what without the assistance of his Grace were intollerable.

Marginal references: Matth. 5.11. Chap. 2.20. and 3.14.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer , or as a busy body in other mens matters .

Keep clear of those Crimes which may expose you to suffering by the hand of Justice, and carry your selves so innocently, that you may never suffer from Men but unjustly.

Either this is a general term, denoting them that offend against any publick Law; or, it may signify those that are guilty of any offence against the Laws, tho less than Murder or Theft.

Either a Covetous Person that looks with an evil eye upon what others have, and is ready to catch it as he can; or, rather, one that goes beyond the bound of his own Calling, and invades the Callings of others, pragmatically intruding into their business, and making himself a Judge of those things which belong not to him. Some Nations are said to have punished those that were busy through Idleness, impertinently diligent in other Men's matters, and negligent of their own. However, if this pragmaticalness did not expose the Christians to the Laws of the Gentiles, yet it might make them odious, and expose them to their reproaches.

Marginal references: Chap. 2.20.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian , let him not be ashamed , but let him glorify God on this behalf .

If his Christianity be his only Crime, and the cause of his Sufferings.

See 2 Tim. 2.12.

i. e. On the account of his Sufferings; let him bless God for keeping him from suffering as an Evil-doer, and for counting him worthy to suffer for Christ's sake, Acts 5.41. as well as for giving him Patience and Courage under Sufferings.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God ; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Or Season; viz. that which is fixed by God: The Afflictions that befall God's People, come in the time appointed, and so are never unseasonable. Or, this may imply, that what the Prophets spoke in their time, Isa. 10.12. Ier. 25.29. doth especially agree to Gospel-times, viz. that Judgment begins at the House of God.

Viz. Temporary, and for good, in opposition to the destructive Judgment he implies in the latter part of the Verse; he means all those Afflictions God brings upon his Children for their Correction, Trial, Instruction, Mortification, 1 Cor. 11.31, 32.

The Church of God, and the Members of it, called here his House, as 1 Tim. 3.15. Heb. 3.6. and typified by the material House or Temple of God under the Old Testament.

How miserable? how dreadful will be the end of all those that would not obey the Gospel? implying, that they shall be in a much worse condition if God take them in hand. If he spare not his Children, much less will he his Enemies. If the one sip of the Cup of God's Wrath, the other shall wring out the Drigs and drink them, Psal. 75.8.

Marginal references: Mal. 3.5.; Luke 23.31.; Luke 10.12, 14.

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ?

With much labour and difficulty, through many Tri [illegible: 1 letter]ulations, Act. 14.22. as going in the Narrow way, and entring in at the Strait Gate, Matth. 7.13, 14.

Unbelievers and impenitent Sinners of all sorts; both words signify the same, in opposition to the Righteous before mentioned.

He shall not be able to stand in God's Judgment against the Sentence of Condemnation then to be pronounced, Psal. 1.5. q. d. If the Righteous scarcely be saved, the Wicked shall certainly perish.

Marginal references: Prov. 11.31.

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God , commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing , as unto a faithful Creator .

Viz. any manner of Affliction or Persecution for Righteousness sake.

According to that Will of God, whereby he hath appointed them to suffer such things, chap. 3.17. and 1 Thess. 3.3.

Commend into his hands, or lay up, or entrust with him as a Depositum, Psal. 31.5. and 2 Tim. 1. 12.

As the most precious things while they live, and most to be cared for when they die, that they may be kept from Sin under Afflictions, and from perishing in Death; or, rather their Souls here includes their Bodies, and so committing their Souls, is committing their whole selves to God.

Not being deterred from well-doing by the evils they suffer, but by persevering in Holiness notwithstanding their Afflictions, making it appear to the last, that they do not suffer as evil-doers.

One who as Creator, is able to keep what they commit to him; and being faithful in his Promises certainly will do it.

Marginal references: Luke 23.46.