1 Peter 4:12.— St. Peter here returns to what he has often touched upon in this epistle; namely, to exhort the Christians to behave with patience and integrity under their present severe persecution. To which purpose he uses the following arguments: first, He insinuates that it was not a strange or unusual thing, for the people of God to be persecuted: secondly, Though they suffered here as Christ did, they should hereafter, if faithful, be glorified with him: thirdly, Besides the prospect of that future glory, they had at present the Spirit of God for their support and comfort: fourthly, That it was an honour for any one of them to suffer, not as a malefactor, but as a Christian: fifthly,Thoughafflictionsbegan with the Christians, yet the weight of the storm would fall upon the unbelievers.—From these considerations he exhorted them to persevere in their duty, and trusts all events with God, 1 Peter 4:12-19.
Think it not strange, &c.— See on 1 Peter 4:4. By serious and frequent meditations Christians should be prepared for the cross, and then they would not think persecution a strange thing: it would not then terrify or surprise them. See ch. 1 Peter 1:6 1 Peter 2:21. 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4. By πυρωσις, fire or burning, is meant that trial as it were by fire, or that hot and fiery persecution of the Christians, which had then proceeded chieflyfrom the unbelieving Jews. The image is the same here as in ch. 1 Peter 1:7 where see the note. This may help to explain Matthew 24:7-9. For this fiery trial was a literal and exact accomplishment of that part of our Lord's prophecy, then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, &c. This fiery persecution happened only for a trial of the Christians. It was not to burn them up, or a fire kindled to their destruction; but it was to prove them, whether they would conceal or deny the truth; whether they would give up Christianity, or continue true to their profession.