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1Pe_4:4. ἐν ᾧ ξενίζονται ] Many interpreters apply ἐν ᾧ directly to the thought contained in the following clause: μὴ συντρεχόντων … ἀνάχυσιν ; Pott: ἐν τούτῳ δὲ ξενίζ ., ὅτι μὴ συντρέχετε ; incorrectly; ἐν ᾧ is connected rather with what precedes. Still it can hardly be right to explain, that as the perfects κατειργάσθαι and πεπορευμένους point to the fact, that they no longer live as they had lived, this was the matter of wonderment (de Wette, Wiesinger, Schott,[236] and in this commentary). It is more natural to take it thus
ἐν ᾧ equivalent to: “on the ground of this” (that is, because ye have thus lived), and the absolute genitive following as equal to: “inasmuch as ye run not with them,” so that the sense is: “on account of this, that ye thus walked in time past, your countrymen think it strange when ye do so no longer” (Hofm.); with ἐν ᾧ , comp. Joh_16:30 and Meyer in loc. The genitive absolute assigns, as it frequently does, the occasioning cause (Winer, p. 195 [E. T. 259]). The word ξενίζεσθαι (in its common meaning is equivalent to: “to be a guest;” thus it is used frequently in the N. T.) here means: “to be amazed,” “to feel astonishment;” comp. 1Pe_4:12; Act_17:20.[237]
μὴ συντρεχόντων ὑμῶν ] “ μή refers the matter to the amazement of the heathen.” συντρέχειν , Mar_6:33 and Act_3:11 : to run together, confluere; here: “to run in company with any one.”
εἰς τὴν αὐτὴν τῆς ἀσωτίας ἀνάχυσιν ] states the aim of the συντρ . With ἀσωτία , comp. Eph_5:18; Tit_1:6 : “lewd and dissolute conduct.” The word ἀνάχυσις is to be found in Aelian, de an. xvi. 15, used synonymously with ἐπίκλυσις , and Script, graec. ap. Luper. in Harpocr. with ὑπέρκλυσις ; it means, accordingly: the overflowing. This sense is to be kept hold of, and τρέχειν εἰς ἀσωτίας to be explained of the haste with which dissoluteness is allowed to break forth and to overflow. According to Hofm., it denotes the doings of those who are in haste to pour out from them their indwelling lasciviousness, so that it overflows and spreads in all directions. From the explanation of Strabo, iii. p. 206 A: λέγονται ἀναχύσεις αἱ πληρούμεναι τῇ θαλάττῃ κοίλαδες ἐν πλημμυρίσι , it is unjustifiable to derive the meaning “sentina, mire” (2d ed. of this commentary), or “flood” (3d ed.), or “stream” (Schott).[238]
βλασφημοῦντες ] characterizes their amazement more nearly as one which prompts them to speak evil of those whose conduct causes them astonishment (not “Christianity,” as Hofmann thinks). Schott justly remarks that “it is not the being struck with amazement in itself which is, strictly speaking, of significance here, but that definite form of it expressed by βλασφημοῦντες , placed last for the sake of emphasis.”
[236] It is true that “a surprise calling forth displeasure” (Schott) is meant; but this does not lie in the word itself.
[237] The object. to ξενίζεσθαι is either in the dative, as ver. 12 (Polyb. iii. 68. 9: ἐξενίζοντο τῷ τὶ συμβεβηκὸς εἶναι παρὰ τὴν προσδοκίαν ), or is subjoined by means of διά τι or ἐπί τινι .
[238] Hesych. and Suidas interpret ἀνάχυσις also by βλακεία , ἔκλυσις ; thus Gerhard: virium exolutio, mollities; according to de Wette it means: profusio, wantonness; but it is better to keep to the above signification.