1 Peter 1:6 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Wherein In which living hope of such a glorious inheritance, and in being so kept to the enjoyment of it, ye, even now, greatly rejoice Αγαλλιασθε, ye are exceeding glad, or leap for joy, though for a season, ολιγον αρτε, now A little while: such is our whole life compared to eternity! if need be When God sees it needful, and the best means for your spiritual profit; ye are in heaviness Λυπηθεντες, grieved, or in sorrow; but not in darkness: for they still retained both faith and hope, 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:5; yea, and love, 1 Peter 1:8. From this we learn that the people of God are never afflicted except when it is either necessary for, or conducive to, their spiritual improvement. What a consolation is this to the afflicted! That the trial of your faith The trying whether it be genuine, or the proof of it upon trial; being much more precious Or much more important, or of greater consequence, than the trial of gold Or that your faith, being tried, and proved to be genuine upon trial, which is more precious than gold, (for gold, though it bear the fire, will yet perish with the world,) may be found, though it doth not yet appear, unto praise From God himself; or may be approved and commended by him; and honour From men and angels; and glory Assigned by the great Judge; at the appearing of Jesus Christ At the time of the restitution of all things, when he shall appear for the perfect and final salvation of his followers. One reason why the Christians, in the first age, were subject to persecution and death was, as Macknight observes, “that their faith being put to the severest trial, mankind might have, in their tried and persevering faith, what is infinitely more profitable to them than all the gold and silver in the world; namely, such an irrefragable demonstration of the truth of the facts on which the Christian religion is built, as will bring praise, and honour, and glory, to God, and to the martyrs themselves, at the last day. For what can be more honourable to God, than that the persons, whom he appointed to bear witness to the resurrection of Christ, and to the other miracles by which the gospel was established, sealed their testimony with their blood? Or what greater evidence of the truth of these miracles can the world require, than that the persons who were eye-witnesses of them, lost their estates, endured extreme tortures, and parted with their lives, for bearing testimony to them? Or what greater felicity can these magnanimous heroes wish to receive than that which shall be bestowed on them at the revelation of Jesus Christ, when their testimony shall be put beyond all doubt, their persecutors shall be punished, and themselves rewarded with the everlasting possession of heaven?”