Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
A Christian - the name given first at Antioch (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:27-28); the only three places where the term occurs. At first believers had no distinctive name, but were called among themselves "brethren," "disciples," 'those of the way' (Acts 6:1; Acts 6:3; Acts 9:2), "saints" (Romans 1:7); by the Jews (who denied that Jesus was the Christ, and so would never originate 'Christian' in contempt), Nazarenes.' At Antioch, where first idolatrous Gentiles (Cornelius, Acts 10:1-48, was not an idolater, but a proselyte) were converted, and wide missionary work began, they could be no longer looked on as a Jewish sect; so the Gentiles, perhaps first, designated them by the new name, 'Christians.' [But chreematizoo (G5537) is always used of a divine utterance: so Acts 11:26 probably means, the name was given by divine appointment, rather than by the nicknaming wit for which the people of Antioch were notorious.] The new name marked a new epoch in the Church's development-namely, its missions to the Gentiles. The date of this letter must have been when this had become the generally recognized designation among Gentiles (for its common use among believers was not until subsequently) - an undesigned proof that the New Testament was composed when it professes, and when the name exposed one to reproach and suffering, though not yet to systematic persecution.
Let him not be ashamed - though the world is ashamed of shame. To suffer for one's faults is no honour (1 Peter 4:15; 1 Peter 2:20) - for Christ, is no shame (1 Peter 4:14; 1 Peter 3:14).
But let him glorify God - not merely glory in persecution. Peter might have said, 'but let him esteem it an honour;' but the honour is to be given to God, who counts him worthy of it, involving exemption from the coming judgments on the ungodly.
On this behalf. 'Aleph (') A B, Vulgate, read 'in this name' - i:e., in suffering for such a name.