8 And G1161 above G4253 all things G3956 have G2192 fervent G1618 charity G26 among G1519 yourselves: G1438 for G3754 charity G26 shall cover G2572 the multitude G4128 of sins. G266
Hatred H8135 stirreth up H5782 strifes: H4090 but love H160 covereth H3680 all sins. H6588
Seeing ye have purified G48 your G5216 souls G5590 in G1722 obeying G5218 the truth G225 through G1223 the Spirit G4151 unto G1519 unfeigned G505 love of the brethren, G5360 see that ye love G25 one another G240 with G1537 a pure G2513 heart G2588 fervently: G1619
But G1161 as touching G4012 brotherly love G5360 ye need G2192 G5532 not G3756 that I write G1125 unto you: G5213 for G1063 ye G5210 yourselves G846 are G2075 taught of God G2312 to G1519 love G25 one another. G240 And G2532 indeed G1063 ye do G4160 it G846 toward G1519 all G3956 the brethren G80 which G3588 are in G1722 all G3650 Macedonia: G3109 but G1161 we beseech G3870 you, G5209 brethren, G80 that ye increase G4052 more and more; G3123
We are bound G3784 to thank G2168 God G2316 always G3842 for G4012 you, G5216 brethren, G80 as G2531 it is G2076 meet, G514 because G3754 that your G5216 faith G4102 groweth exceedingly, G5232 and G2532 the charity G26 of every G1538 one G1520 of you G5216 all G3956 toward G1519 each other G240 aboundeth; G4121
He that answereth H7725 a matter H1697 before he heareth H8085 it, it is folly H200 and shame H3639 unto him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Peter 4
Commentary on 1 Peter 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
The work of a Christian is twofold-doing the will of God and suffering his pleasure. This chapter directs us in both. The duties we are here exhorted to employ ourselves in are the mortification of sin, living to God, sobriety, prayer, charity, hospitality, and the best improvement of our talents, which the apostle presses upon Christians from the consideration of the time they have lost in their sins, and the approaching end of all things (v. 1-11). The directions for sufferings are that we should not be surprised at them, but rejoice in them, only take care not to suffer as evil-doers. He intimates that their trials were near at hand, that their souls were in danger as well as their bodies, and that the best way to preserve their souls is to commit them to God in well-doing (v. 12-19).
1Pe 4:1-3
The apostle here draws a new inference from the consideration of Christ's sufferings. As he had before made use of it to persuade to patience in suffering, so here to mortification of sin. Observe,
1Pe 4:4-6
1Pe 4:7-11
We have here an awful position or doctrine, and an inference drawn from it. The position is that the end of all things is at hand. The miserable destruction of the Jewish church and nation foretold by our Saviour is now very near; consequently, the time of their persecution and your sufferings is but very short. Your own life and that of your enemies will soon come to their utmost period. Nay, the world itself will not continue very long. The conflagration will put an end to it; and all things must be swallowed up in an endless eternity. The inference from this comprises a series of exhortations.
1Pe 4:12-19
The frequent repetition of counsel and comfort to Christians, considered as sufferers, in every chapter of this epistle, shows that the greatest danger these new converts were in arose from the persecutions to which their embracing Christianity exposed them. The good behaviour of Christians under sufferings is the most difficult part of their duty, but yet necessary both for the honour of Christ and their own comfort; and therefore the apostle, having extorted them in the former part of this chapter to the great duty of mortification, comes here to direct them in the necessary duty of patience under sufferings. An unmortified spirit is very unfit to bear trials. Observe,