1 Peter 4:14

1. What is the cause of reproach in this verse? How does it compare to the cause functioning in v. 4?

1 Peter 4:15-18

1. In the context of these verses, what is “the judgment” activity for which it is time to occur? Note that in v. 18 the NASB asks the question, “What will become of the godless man and the sinner?” The phrase “what will become” should be translated, “where will appear”?

1 Peter 4:19

1. What is the message of this verse?

Lesson Answers

1 Peter 4:12, 13

1. To receive reward when Christ’s glory is revealed, is to rejoice. To receive a reward from Christ, one must have suffered for Him. Suffering that comes from evil doing brings no such reward. Because we hope to receive a reward from Him we know we will have Him provide us the opportunity to stand for Him; which standing, in the devil’s world brings suffering. Knowing these things we are not surprised when doing right causes us to suffer fiery ordeals. (See again 1 Peter 2:19-21; 1:7.)

   Without trials and difficulties we would have no opportunity to exercise faith, and by the exercise of faith be benefited by breathing grace, which brings salvation to our soul (1 Peter 1:9).

   Once we are baptized the only trials and difficulties that can reach us are those which God allows. Therefore, together with Paul, we glory in tribulation.

   But these tribulations must be met in the right spirit for Peter writes that we are to rejoice now in order that (hoti) we may rejoice then.

1 Peter 4:14

1. The cause of reproach is your being associated, by the one doing the reproaching, with Christ. (The Greek reads, “If you are reproached in name of Christ, blessed. . . .) The association with Christ is the result of someone recognizing the glory and the Spirit of God resting on you. Therefore that for which you are reproached, in this verse, is having the glory and spirit of Christ resting on you.

1 Peter 4:15-18

1. The now time of v. 17 is the time when God reveals that those suffering for righteousness are in fact suffering for righteousness. Such a revelation would also reveal that those who suffered because they had done evil were in fact suffering justly. For a claimer of Christ to be revealed as one whose sufferings were due to his evil deeds would be for him to appear among the wicked. Therefore the question of v. 18c; where will the wicked appear?

   It is this last phrase, “where will appear” that interprets the significance of verses 15-18b.

   This facet of judgment is to be distinguished from the other references to judgment Peter makes in his epistle, such as in 4:5, where the function of judgment is not to reveal who serves God, but is rather to give an account of oneself to God; for evils done (cf. 4:4).

1 Peter 4:19

1. The message of v. 19, building on vv. 15-18, says that because those who suffer for righteousness pass the judgment, and those who hurt them fail the judgment, the activities of the righteous were superintended by God, the One shepherding their souls (2:25)—for this reason they passed the judgment. Therefore they should, having under God’s guidance passed the judgment, be ready to commit their souls again to God— which commitment is shown by doing righteously (“well-doing”, v. 19c).

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