1 Peter 4:12-19 Suffering with Christ

Context

1 Peter 4:12-19 concludes Peter’s teaching on the topic of suffering for the sake of Christ. The key application is given in verse 19: “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” The rest of this passage leads us to this conclusion. 

First, Peter normalizes the “fiery ordeal” (v12). 

Second, he reminds them that, in their suffering, they are participating with Christ (v13) and bearing God’s name (v14). 

Third, he reminds them of their present (v14) and future (v13) blessings. 

Finally, he sets their present suffering within the context of God’s judgment, which both refines the people of God and vindicates those who remain faithful. 

All of these lines of reasoning lead to Peter’s final exhortation containing two parts: (1) Commit yourselves to your faithful Creator and (2) continue to do good.

The fiery ordeal

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

It would be tempting for Peter’s readers to come to the conclusion that the persecution that they were facing was strange or unique, or even possibly a sign of God’s displeasure. Such ways of looking at the world could lead to feelings of isolation and despair. Peter encourages them by “normalizing” their experience. After all, by following Christ, they are also following the example of Christ. The pattern of Christ’s life is one of suffering, followed by exaltation. Since exaltation came only came after suffering, present rejection and suffering should come as no surprise.

Peter calls this source of suffering a “fiery ordeal.” This should remind us of Chapter 1 where he says that they will experience “grief in all kinds of trials” which will prove the genuineness of their faith, which is of greater worth than gold refined in fire (1:6-7). In other words, this “trial” is a refining fire intended to prove the genuineness of our faith. It is a fire that refines, not consumes, the people of God. 

We can see this refinement in either a personal or a corporate sense. Trials can strengthen our faith as individuals. They can also refine communities. During times of persecution, some people will fall away – or their faith will have proven false – while a remnant of believers will remain. In that sense, this fiery ordeal could be seen as a warning, as we will see in verse 17. But, here, Peter simply wants to encourage his readers to see that their suffering is neither surprising nor purposeless. Instead, it should be expected, and will lead to a more refined faith, should they pass the test. 

Participating in Christ’s Sufferings

Peter tells his readers to “rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ” and that in their suffering, they bear the name of “Christian.” In other words, in their suffering, they identify with Christ.

What it means to “participate with Christ” is a big theological question, but at least one way to understand it is through the lens of “story.” Christ took on the story of humanity. He was born of a woman in a sinful world. He was tempted, just as we are. He became of victim of human mockery and violence. He suffered. He bore our sins and died.

Because He entered into our story, we can enter into His. We enter at the point of suffering death. His death becomes our death such that we die to sin. But, since we participate in his death, we also participate in his life. Just as Jesus’ story moves from death to life to exaltation, so our story (when we are in Christ) follows the same path. We move from death (to sin) to life (for righteousness) (see 2:24) to exaltation (at Christ’s return).

While Paul sees this participation primarily in terms of death and resurrection (see Romans 6), Peter frames this primarily as suffering and glorification. The two parallel one another, but it’s clear that Peter is driven by the pastoral challenge of helping this vulnerable community interpret and process their suffering. How can they do this? One way is by seeing their suffering as simply following the path of Christ’s suffering. In this way, they can identify closely with their Savior. It becomes part of their identity as Christians, as Christ-like-ones. To be a Christian, to bear the name “Christian,” is to be one who experiences some level of suffering and rejection. 

Present and Future Blessings

Peter links participation in Christ’s suffering with participation in his glorification: “Rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (4:13). Peter holds out a future hope: Christ’s glorification. This glorification will lead to the faithful’s overwhelming joy. This future eternal hope would certainly encourage his readers to persevere through present and momentary trials. 

However, Peter also offers present blessings: “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” Peter describes the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of glory and of God.” While they are experiencing shame from a human perspective they are simultaneously experiencing glory from a heavenly perspective. The world, and those in power, may have viewed these early believers as nobodies or objects of ridicule. But God has placed on them His Spirit of glory. This is the indwelling of the Spirit within the believer and within the community which bears his name. This Spirit directs, comforts, and strengthens those under the weight of the trial. 

God’s judgment 

Within this context, Peter says: “It is time for judgment to begin with God’s household.” Why would God judge his own household and how would such a statement encourage this congregation to continue in the faith? 

First, God’s judgment of his own people is a theme found throughout Scripture. As is the case for much of 1 Peter, we can understand this statement best in the context of the Old Testament. Israel was the most common object of warning for the prophets. Yes, they would sometimes warn the nations around Israel, but most of the time they warned Israel herself to remain faithful to the covenant. When Israel failed to heed God’s warnings God would bring judgment. This judgment was intended to correct Israel and lead her away from idolatry and back toward genuine faith. It was intended to lead to repentance and repentance to restoration. A restored Israel would, in turn, be the proper conduit by which God could direct his blessings to the nations. 

Peter sees the same being true for God’s household, this early family of Christians. The fiery trial, while carried out by wicked humans, can be seen as having a divine purpose. As said before, it is a test that is intended to create genuine faith. It is a judgment, of a sort, though it is one that is intended to lead to ultimate restoration.

Then Peter goes on: “If it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God.” Now the judgment is turned against those who “do not obey the gospel of God.” These are the same who stumble over the Cornerstone. While such judgment could lead to repentance, that isn’t Peter’s primary focus. Instead, I believe that behind Peter’s statement here is once again the hope of vindication, that justice will finally be done in the end, even if it seems to be far removed from day-to-day experience.

Both forms of judgment – one that refines and one that vindicates – would bring encouragement to Peter’s readers. In light of God’s judgment, they can persevere through humanity’s unjust judgment. 

Commitment of obedience

We come, finally, to Peter’s conclusion: “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” This is a two-part command. 

Commit yourselves to your faithful Creator: When suffering, Peter wants his readers to entrust themselves to God. God is faithful and has proven himself to be so. One source of evidence for Peter was, of course, the resurrection. Jesus committed himself to the Father and the Father raised him from the dead, something to which Peter was an eyewitness. Peter had also witnessed the outpouring of the Spirit, the miracles which accompanied it, and the rapid expansion of the Church. Peter understood clearly that God was faithful and that we could commit ourselves to Him.

Continue to do good: If commitment is an internal reality, it is one with external implications. Once we have decided within our hearts that God is trustworthy no matter what happens,  we are free to simply do the good that we know to do, even if we know that doing that good will lead to suffering and persecution. In doing good, we may even win over those who view themselves as our enemies. Even if we do not, we can know that suffering for the sake of Christ is commendable before God and will result both in His glorification and in ours.

Application

Not much more needs to be said by way of application. We can simply repeat Peter’s commands:

• Do not be surprised when you face a fiery ordeal
• Rejoice when you participate in Christ’s sufferings
  • Don’t confuse suffering for Christ as suffering because of your own sin
• Praise God that you bear the name of Christ
• Commit yourself to your faithful Creator
• Continue to do good