1 Peter 4:16
in 1 Peter 4But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.
KJV
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
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This verse in 1 Peter 4
Commentary
9 notes on this verseLet us then continually persevere in our hope, and the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ, "who bore our sins in His own body on the tree," "who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth," but endured all things for us, that we might live in Him. Let us then be imitators of His patience; and if we suffer for His name's sake, let us glorify Him. For He has set us this example in Himself, and we have believed that such is the case.
This site's exposition
let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief
on 1 Peter 4:15-16
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters draws the line the whole letter has assumed, suffering has value only when it is undeserved, and the church is warned as sharply against real wrongdoing as it is comforted against unjust reproach. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian names the name in its third and last New Testament use, after Antioch's own coinage of the term at Acts 11:26 and Agrippa's mocking use at Acts 26:28, now claimed here without shame as an identity worth suffering for. Let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf turns the very name that invited Nero's persecution into a title to be worn openly.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
If you suffer as a Christian, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Think of James the son of Zebedee or Stephen. However awful the trials you suffer may be, learn to glory in them, not to be upset by them. Christ's glory is revealed …
The Medieval Church1 voice
"One who meddles in others' affairs" is he who is excessively curious about the business of others in order to have occasion for slander. But such an occupation is characteristic of an impure soul, one that is villainous and ready for every evil.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
(2.) There is very little comfort in sufferings when we bring them upon ourselves by our own sin and folly. It is not the suffering, but the cause, that makes the martyr. (3.) We have reason to thank God for the honour if he calls us out to suffer for his truth and gospel, for our adherence to any of the doctrines or duties of Christianity.
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian,.... Because he is one, and professes himself to be one.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Yet if - as a Christian - If he be persecuted because he has embraced the Christian faith, let him not be ashamed, but let him rather glorify God on this very account. Christ suffered by the Jews because he was holy; Christians suffer because they resemble him. The word Χριστιανος, Christian, is used only here and in Act 11:26; Act 26:28. See the note on the Act 11:26 (note).
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
To suffer for one's own faults is no honor (1Pe 4:15; 1Pe 2:20), --for Christ, is no shame (1Pe 4:14; 1Pe 3:13). but let him glorify God--not merely glory in persecution;
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian - Because he is a Christian; if he is persecuted on account of his religion. This was often done, and they had reason to expect that it might occur in their own case. Compare the notes at 1Pe 3:17. On the import of the word Christian, and the reasons why the name was given to the disciples of the Lord Jesus, see the notes at Act 11:26. Let him not be ashamed - (1) Ashamed of religion so as to refuse to suffer on account of it. (2) Ashamed that he is despised and maltreated. He is to regard his religion as every way honorable, and all that fairly results from it in time and eternity as in every respect desirable. He is not to be ashamed to be called a Christian; he is not to be ashamed of the doctrines taught by his religion; he is not to be ashamed of the Saviour whom he professes to love; he is not to be ashamed of the society and fellowship of those who are true Christians, poor and despised though they may be; he is not to be ashamed to perform any of the duties demanded by his religion; he is not to be ashamed to have his name cast out, and himself subjected to reproach and scorn. A man should be ashamed only of that which is wrong. He should glory in that which is right, whatever may be the consequences to himself. Christians now, though not subjected to open persecution, are frequently reproached by the world on account of their religion; and though the rack may not be employed, and the fires of martyrdom are not enkindled, yet it is often true that one who is a believer is called to “suffer as a Christian.” He may be reviled and despised. His views may be regarded as bigoted, narrow, severe. Opprobrious epithets, on account of his opinions, may be applied to him. His former friends and companions may leave him because he has become a Christian. […]
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| Χριστιανός, | christianos | a Christian, | G5546 → | |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| αἰσχυνέσθω, | aischunestho | he should be ashamed, | G153 → | |
| δοξαζέτω | doxazeto | he should glorify | G1392 → | 61 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸν | theon | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀνόματι | onomati | name | G3686 → | |
| τούτῳ. | touto | this. | G3778 → | 1381 times |
εἰif
eiG1487 →508 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
Χριστιανός,a Christian,
christianosG5546 →
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
αἰσχυνέσθω,he should be ashamed,
aischunesthoG153 →
δοξαζέτωhe should glorify
doxazetoG1392 →61 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
θεὸνGod
theonG2316 →1312 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ὀνόματιname
onomatiG3686 →
τούτῳ.this.
toutoG3778 →1381 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 4:19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
it leads to
- Psalms 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.
- 2 Timothy 1:12
For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have…
- Psalms 37:5
Through
Philippians 1:29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
it leads to
- James 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
- 1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
- Acts 5:41
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
- James 1:2
Through
2 Timothy 1:12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have…
it leads to
- Jude 1:24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
- 2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 1 Peter 4:19
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
- Jude 1:24
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
About 1 Peter
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 1 PETER; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Polycarp of Smyrna, Epistle to the Philippians 8 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.