a. Exhortation to Steadfastness in Suffering. Ch. 4:12-19

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you: 13 but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. 14 If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you. 15 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters: 16 but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. 17 For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.

Here Peter begins the third series of the exhortations which compose the epistle. The first were in view of the special privileges his readers were enjoying, the second in view of their special relations in the State and in society; these are given in view of the sufferings they are called to endure. All in the series are closely united, and particularly by the mention of sufferings made in each of the two preceding divisions and only further emphasized In this last. In every case, too, the great incentive to steadfast endurance is found in the hope of the return of Christ, and in the deliverance and glory which he will bring.

The sufferings are here described as a "fiery trial," an ordeal, a trial by fire: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you." Christians should expect persecution and suffering; they should not be surprised by trials or regard them as something foreign to their lot; these trials were testing their faith and purifying their characters. If the Master was made to endure sufferings, it should not be regarded as strange that his servants were compelled to endure the same; they should rejoice because, as they trusted him and were persecuted for his sake, they were really "partakers of Christ's sufferings." Such courage should be shown in order that when Christ appeared they might enjoy a truer rapture and exaltation: "that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy." Fellowship in the sufferings of Christ is to be regarded confidently as an assurance of partnership in his glory: "If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you"; if, that is, you suffer for bearing the name of Christ, and for a life consistent with such a profession; for such a life is possible only by the power of his divine Spirit, and as this is also the "Spirit of glory" his present manifestation is an assurance of the perfected glory you will enjoy at the appearing of Christ. On the other hand one must be certain that his sufferings are not deserved: "For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters." The last phrase is a peculiar one and may possibly mean "one who busies himself about matters not befitting a Christian." "But if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name."

A second reason for steadfastness is found in the fact that these sufferings are to be viewed as an actual beginning of the judgment coming upon the world at the return of Christ; the "fiery trial" was a herald of coming deliverance. Such the mold of prophecy has ever been; and as our Lord predicted, in the midst of a "great tribulation," which develops out of these age-long trials and sufferings, when there is "distress of nations," when "the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, . . then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh." This seems to be the meaning of Peter in saying "For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God", for the people of his household, for the very readers of this letter, sufferings have already begun. However, if Christians now suffer, what then will be the fate of unbelievers; and "if the righteous," the follower of Christ, "is scarcely saved," that is, only after enduring such sufferings and tribulation, "where shall the ungodly and sinner appear," what will be their doom? Therefore, in view of the sure deliverance which is coming "let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator." Let us submit to his will and seek to do his will, trusting that through all the mystery of suffering he cares for his own.

b. Exhortation to Fidelity. Ch. 5:1-4

1 The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; not yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.

In times of trial the task of religious teachers is one of peculiar responsibility; a congregation in distress has special need of pastoral care. Thus, when Peter has urged his readers to steadfastness in suffering, he now turns to the officers of the Church to urge upon them faithfulness in the discharge of their duties. These officers are called "elders," a name given at first to all who exercised rule and authority among the Christians; it is identical with the word "bishop" as in the next verse these officers are described as "exercising the oversight" or, literally, "doing the work of bishops"; the word "elder" suggests the mature age which qualified one for the office; the word "bishop" indicates the duties of the office as being those of spiritual oversight; another identical term is "presbyter," and the band of elders formed the "presbytery," or Church court. Peter here describes himself as "a fellow-elder," to appeal to their affection; but to indicate his authority he declares that from personal observation he is one who bears testimony to the sufferings of Christ and who is to be "a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed" when Christ returns.

In his exhortation Peter indicates another title of these "elders" or "bishops," namely, "pastors": "Tend the flock of God which is among you," fill the office of spiritual shepherds, not as a mere matter of necessary, professional duty, but with a willing mind, as serving God, not like hirelings for the mere earning of the salary you are paid, but gladly and eagerly, not acting as lords and tyrants in the congregation entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples for the flock; your earthly recompense may be small, but when Christ, "the chief Shepherd" shall appear, then you "shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away."

c. Exhortations to Humility, Trust, Vigilance, and Constancy. Ch. 5:5-11

5 Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; 7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devoiur: 9 whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. 11 To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The word "elder" may denote either a Church officer or a man advanced in years. In the last paragraph it meant the former, here it possibly means the latter. Younger persons are urged to render respectful obedience to Church officers, or to Christians who possess the maturity and wisdom of age. In fact all Christians are urged to "gird themselves" with "humility," probably as with the "garb of slaves," to be ready to render to one another every possible service, as the garment of humility is always an essential equipment for wide helpfulness. Especially toward God is humility to be shown: "Humble yourselves . . . under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time"; it is in his mysterious providence that afflictions come, but his power also brings deliverance in his appointed time. We are to look to him in humble trust, casting the whole burden of our anxiety upon him, believing that he lovingly cares for us.

"Casting all . . . anxiety upon him" does not relieve us, however, from the responsibility of being watchful against temptation. The Christian must be "sober" and "watchful" because his "adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." This graphic figure of speech may indicate some of the peculiar temptations of the readers, the opposition of their adversaries, the false charges of their slanderers; but it also symbolizes the cruelty and the craft, the restless activity and terrifying threats, which ever characterize the foul Tempter, the enemy of our souls. We are encouraged on two grounds to oppose this enemy, with steadfast loyalty to Christ, with unshaken constancy of faith: first, because our trials and temptations are common to the whole brotherhood of Christians, they are not peculiar to us, they are being courageously endured and resisted by countless others; and secondly, because God, the Author of all grace, who called us "unto his eternal glory in Christ," after the comparatively brief time of our distress, will himself make us perfect through our sufferings, will make us so firm in the faith that we shall be shaken by no alarms, will give us such spiritual strength that we shall never be overcome; all power is his, he will supply our every need: "To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen."