Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 1 Peter 4:7 - 4:11
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Pe_4:7-11
7The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1Pe_4:7 "the end of all things is near" This is a perfect active indicative. The Second Coming is a recurrent theme in 1 Peter (cf. 1Pe_1:5-6; 1Pe_4:13; 1Pe_4:17; 1Pe_5:1; 1Pe_5:10). The physical earth is going to be destroyed/cleansed by a purifying fire (cf. 2Pe_3:10). The view of imminency of the Parousia is also seen in Jesus (cf. Mar_1:15; Luk_21:32); Paul (cf. Rom_13:11); James (cf. Jas_5:8); and John (cf. Rev_1:1; Rev_1:3; Rev_3:11; Rev_22:6-7; Rev_22:10; Rev_22:12; Rev_22:20).
The imminence of Jesus' return has been the subject of many sermons for two thousand years and still He has not returned. Does this imply (1) that He is not coming or (2) that the NT is wrong about His coming soon? Jesus did not know the time of His return (cf. Mat_24:36). This surprises us and is part of the mystery of the incarnation.
An immediate return seems to be the perspective of the authors of the NT. What has happened? First, let us remember that time is only significant to those involved in it. God is not slow, but also God is above time. The nearness of Jesus' return has been an encouragement and motivator of godly living for every generation of believers. Yet, theologically 2 Thessalonians depicts a delayed return (i.e., not until the "man of lawlessness is revealed"). The Second Coming is a recurrent theme, but a reality for only one generation of believers (cf. 2 Peter 3).
NASB "be of sound judgment and sober spirit"
NKJV "be serious and watchful"
NRSV "be serious and disciple yourselves"
TEV "you must be self-controlled and alert"
NJB "so keep your minds calm and sober"
This is the beginning of a series of imperatives or participles used as imperatives, which emphasize godly living (cf. 1Pe_4:6 c). These two terms refer to mental alertness, especially in the area of prayer. The first term is sôphroneô. It (and its related forms) refers to calm, sound, stable, and vigorous thinking (it is used often in the Pastoral Letters of Paul, cf. 1Ti_2:9; 1Ti_2:15; 1Ti_3:2; 2Ti_1:7; Tit_1:8; Tit_2:2; Tit_2:4-6; Tit_2:12). The second term is nçphô (and its related forms), which is literally related to drunkenness, but is used figuratively of rational, controlled, sound thinking, possibly self-controlled (cf. 1Th_5:6; 1Th_5:8; 1Ti_3:11; Tit_2:2; and 1Pe_1:13; 1Pe_5:8).
However, notice that Peter mentions no end-time events connected to Christ's return. He uses the reality of it as an impetus to godly living. These are both aorist imperatives. This is possibly related to Peter's Gethsemane experience (cf. Mat_26:40-41). The immediate prospect of the Parousia is a real encouragement to Christlike living in every age, especially amidst severe persecution.
▣ "for the purpose of prayer" Prayer is a powerful weapon in times of persecution and temptation (cf. Eph_6:18-19), not only for oneself, but for others (cf. 1Th_5:17; 1Th_5:25; Jas_5:16). As 1Pe_4:3 describes the inappropriate behavior of the unbelieving pagans, 1Pe_4:7-11 describe the behavior expected of believers.
1Pe_4:8
NASB, NRSV,
NJB "above all"
NKJV "above all things"
TEV "above everything"
This is a Greek idiom for priority (cf. Jas_5:12). Love is priority (cf. 1Pe_1:22; 1Pe_3:8; Joh_13:34; Joh_15:12; Joh_15:17; 1 Corinthians 13; 1Jn_2:7-8; 1Jn_3:11; 1Jn_3:23; 1Jn_4:7-21).
▣ "keep fervent in your love" This is a present active participle used as an imperative. This mandated an ongoing love for other believers, which is a theme 1 Peter has introduced before (cf. 1Pe_1:22; 1Pe_3:8).
▣ "for one another" Notice the threefold use of "one another" (cf. 1Pe_4:8-10). Christianity is communal. We are given one to another (cf. 1Co_12:7).
▣ "love covers a multitude of sins" There are several theories concerning this phrase.
1. it is an OT quote from Pro_10:12 (from the MT not the LXX) where love does not remember wrongs done to it
2. it is related to Jas_5:20 where love helps another believer reverse the spiritual consequences of back sliding
3. it is related to Mat_6:14-15 and Mar_11:25 where our forgiveness of others is an evidence of our being forgiven (i.e., Origen and Tertullian)
4. it is related to 1Co_13:7, the ability of love not to see the obvious weaknesses of fellow Christians under persecution
1Pe_4:9 "Be hospitable to one another" This is a compound term of phileô (love) plus xenos (stranger). This stranger-loving was especially needed for itinerant Christians in a day where Inns were notorious places of evil (cf. Mat_25:35 ff; Rom_12:13; 1Ti_3:2; Tit_1:8; Heb_13:2; 2Jn_1:5-8). There is no verb in this phrase in the Greek text. Because of the number of imperatives, this is probably also an ongoing command.
▣ "without complaint" Believers' attitudes are crucial. Believers realize they are owners of nothing and stewards of everything. This open door policy was not only needed for traveling church workers, but also for local believers who had lost their jobs and homes because of persecution. This command, like the others, shows the corporate nature of the Christian faith.
1Pe_4:10 "As each one has received a special gift" This is an Aorist active indicative, which implies a completed act in past time. The term gift (charisma) is from the root for "grace" (charis). These gifts are undeserved, unmerited love gifts for ministry. Every believer has a spiritual gift, given by God at salvation, for the purpose of ministry to and for the Church (cf. Rom_12:6-8; 1Co_12:7; 1Co_12:11; 1Co_12:18; Eph_4:7). These gifts may be natural talents, but if so, they are supernaturally energized for the glory of Christ!
The practical aspect of this NT truth is that every believer is a full-time, called, gifted minister of Christ (cf. Eph_4:12). Every believer is therefore crucial to the effective working of the local church. This is the biblical correction to the clergy/laity model so common in the modern church, but so dysfunctional. The world will never be won and discipled by paid or ordained staff only!
▣ "in serving one another" This is a present active participle used as an imperative. It is from the Greek term for servant (diakonos). This later becomes the title for deacons (cf. Php_1:1). In Christianity leaders are servants, not bosses. Spiritual gifts are for others, not ourselves (cf. 1Co_12:7). Spiritual gifts are not "merit badges" but "service towels."
▣ "as good stewards" This is literally "household managers." The church is the household of God (cf. 1Pe_4:17). Believers will give an account to God in Christ for their stewardship of spiritual gifts (cf. 1Co_3:10-17; 2Co_5:10).
▣ "the manifold grace of God" The word "manifold" appears twice in 1 Peter, meaning "variegated," like light going through a prism. This passage balances 1Pe_1:6. For every trial (cf. Jas_1:2) there is a commensurate grace of God and God has chosen to make it available through other believers. No believer is an island.
1Pe_4:11 "whoever. . .whoever" These are two first class conditional sentences. God's gifted servants are expected to speak and serve through His power. If we speak it is His utterances. If we serve it is by His strength.
▣ "which God supplies" This is a present active indicative of a word used of one who financially supported a "chorus" (chorçgço, which is a compound of choros and hçgeomai). God continues to richly supply His gifted ones (cf. 2Co_9:10, the same word with epi prefixed, occurs in 2Pe_1:5; 2Pe_1:11).
It is interesting that Paul seems to attribute spiritual gifts to the Spirit (cf. Romans 12) or to Christ (cf. Eph_4:11), but Peter attributes them to God the Father. This is another example of all the persons of the Godhead being involved in kingdom activities (cf. 1Co_12:4-6).
▣ "so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" This is a purpose (hina) clause. Spiritual gifts should glorify God, not the human agent. Our giftedness points to Him (cf. Mat_5:16; 1Co_10:31; 1Pe_2:12).
▣ "to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever" This refers to Jesus in this context (cf. 2Ti_4:18; 2Pe_3:18; Rev_1:6). In Rev_5:13 it is used of both the Father and the Son. Usually this phrase refers to the Father (cf. 1Pe_5:11; Rom_11:36; Rom_16:27; Eph_3:21; Php_4:20; 1Ti_1:17; 1Pe_5:11; Jud_1:25; Rev_7:12). For note on "glory" see 1Pe_1:21.
▣ Doxologies are common in the NT. The NT authors often break out in praise to God (cf. Rom_11:33-36; Eph_3:20-21; 1Pe_5:11).
▣ "Amen" See hyperlink at Mar_3:28.