And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
If - i:e., 'seeing that ye call on;' for all the regenerate pray as children of God, "Our Father," etc.
The Father, х Patera (G3962) epikaleisthe (G1941) ton (G3588) ... krinonta (G2919)] - 'call upon as Father Him who without acceptance of persons (Acts 10:34, not accepting the Jew above the Gentile; 2 Chronicles 19:7, a judge not biassed by respect of persons) judgeth,' etc. The Father judgeth by His Son, His Representative, exercising His delegated authority (John 5:22). This marks the unity of the Trinity.
Work. Each man's work is one whole, whether good or bad. The particular works of each are manifestations of his general life-work, whether it be of faith and love, whereby alone we please God and escape condemnation.
Pass, х anastrafeete (G390)] - 'conduct yourselves during.'
Sojourning. The state of the Jews in their dispersion typifies the sojourner-like state of believers in this world, away from our fatherland.
Fear - reverential, not slavish. He who is your Father is also your Judge: this may well inspire reverential fear. Theophylact, A double fear is mentioned:
(1) elementary, causing one to become serious;
(2) perfective, the motive by which Peter urges them as sons of God to be obedient.
Fear is not opposed to assurance, but to carnal security: producing vigilant caution lest we offend God and backslide. 'Fear and hope flow from the same fountain: fear prevents our falling away from hope' (Bengel). Though love has no fear IN it, yet our present imperfect love needs fear to go ALONG WITH it as a subordinate principle. This fear drowns all other fears. The believer fears God, so has none else to fear. Not to fear God is the greatest baseness. The martyrs' more than human courage flowed from this.