1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
For as Christ died, we must likewise evince “a readiness to suffer in the cause of religion… This readiness to suffer and die, the apostle speaks of as armour, and having this is represented as being armed. Armour is put on for offensive or defensive purposes in war; and the idea of the apostle here is, that that state of mind when we are ready to meet with persecution and trial, and when we are ready to die, will answer the purpose of armour in engaging in the conflicts and strifes which pertain to us as Christians, and especially in meeting with persecutions and trials. We are to put on the same fortitude which the Lord Jesus had, and this will be the best defense against our foes, and the best security of victory.” (Albert Barnes)— “for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,”— “In the second part of the verse, Peter probably meant that his readers had identified themselves with Christ’s suffering and death (in water baptism). They should, therefore, put sin behind them and live a clean life (cf. Romans 6:1-11).” (Dr. Thomas B. Constable)— “that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men,”— controlled by sinful inclinations” (Justin Edwards)— "but for the will of God”— to do His will only.
3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
Here is Peter’s call from worldliness to godliness. “It would have been the greatest shame for them, now that they were better instructed, to have continued in, or returned any more to such abominable practices: their future lives were to be consecrated unto the true God.” (Thomas Coke) The motive of life changes. “The love-feast has replaced the lust-feast. Those involved in the latter thought only of themselves, those involved in the former were to think only of one another.” (Peter Pett)
“‘In regard to these, they'— the Gentiles— 'think it strange’— ...are astonished at you, that ye can renounce these gratifications of the flesh for a spiritual something, the good of which they cannot see.— ‘that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation,’— flood of profligacy; bearing down all rule, order, and restraints before it.— ‘speaking evil of you’ - Βλασφημουντες· literally, blaspheming; i.e. speaking impiously against God, and calumniously of you.” (Adam Clarke)
5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit.
Some people say that herein is taught that the gospel was preached to the dead Old Testament saints that they too might live. This is prosperous. They will be judged according to what they did with the light they had. They too will give an account to God who is ready to judge the living and the dead at His Coming. The traditional interpretation of the phrase “the living and the dead” is “those who shall be alive when he comes [the living], and those [dead] in their graves.” (Geneva Study Bible) But perhaps the living are those who are still living according the will of the Gentiles and the dead are those who have died according to the the apostle's exhortation. The gospel was preached to the latter group “that they might be judged according to men”—condemned by men- "in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit."
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” [Proverbs 10:12] 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
“But the end of all things is at hand;” “The Apostle, that he might rouse them from the drowsiness of the flesh, reminds them that the end of all things was nigh; by which he intimates that we ought not to sit still in the world, from which we must soon remove. He does not, at the same time, speak only of the end of individuals, but of the universal renovation of the world; as though he had said, ‘Christ will shortly come, who will put an end to all things.’
It is, then, no wonder that the cares of this world overwhelm us, and make us drowsy, if the view of present things dazzles our eyes: for we promise, almost all of us, an eternity to ourselves in this world; at least, the end never comes to our mind. But were the trumpet of Christ to sound in our ears, it would powerfully rouse us and not suffer us to lie torpid.
But it may be objected and said, that a long series of ages has passed away since Peter wrote this, and yet that the end is not come. My reply to this is, that the time seems long to us, because we measure its length by the spaces of this fleeting life; but if we could understand the perpetuity of future life, many ages would appear to us like a moment, as Peter will also tell us in his second epistle. Besides, we must remember this principle, that from the time when Christ once appeared, there is nothing left for the faithful, but with suspended minds ever to look forward to his second coming.
The watchfulness and the sobriety to which he exhorted them, belong, as I think, to the mind rather than to the body. The words are similar to those of Christ:
‘Watch ye, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.’ (Matthew 25:13.) For as an indulgence in surfeiting and sleep renders the body unfit for its duties, so the vain cares and pleasures of the world inebriate the mind and render it drowsy. By adding prayer, he points out an exercise especially necessary, in which the faithful ought to be particularly occupied, since their whole strength depends on the Lord; as though he had said, ‘Since ye are in yourselves extremely weak, seek of the Lord to strengthen you.’ He yet reminds them that they were to pray earnestly, not formally.” (John Calvin)
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ [Proverbs 10:12; Septuagint] “Yea, ‘love covereth all things.’ He that loves another, covers his faults, how many soever they be. He turns away his own eyes from them; and, as far as is possible, hides them from others. And he continually prays that all the sinner's iniquities may be forgiven and his sins covered. Meantime the God of love measures to him with the same measure into his bosom.” (John Wesley)
“Be hospitable to one another”— ever ready to divide your bread with the hungry, and to succor the stranger— ‘without grumbling.’ Do nothing merely because it is commanded, but do it from love to God and man; then it will be without grumbling.” (Adam Clarke)
“As each one has received a gift, even so minister” etc. “Let men be ready to communicate the good they have, as the moon doth her borrowed light, as the stars are still in motion for the good of others; as the heart receiving spirits from the liver, ministereth them to the brain, and the brain to the other parts of the body.” (John Trapp)
“‘If any man’— clergy or laity— “speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.’ We all must sanctify the Lord in our hearts and be ready to give an answer of that blessed hope within us. (1 Peter 3:15) He must expound the Scriptures “with all gravity and sincerity, not seeking himself, nor setting forth his own wit and eloquence, so putting the sword of the Spirit into a velvet scabbard, that it cannot prick and pierce the heart.” (John Trapp) “Perhaps St. Peter, by using the word λογια, oracles, might allude to the high-priest's consulting the oracle by Urim and Thummim. When he inquired in that manner, the divine oracle gave answers to the children of Israel, and that oracle, in the LXX. is frequently called λογιον . The teacher or minister in the Christian church was to speak as giving answers to the people, as uttering divine oracles, or as teaching the word of God, not of men. The original of if any man minister, might be rendered, if any man officiate or serve as a deacon, let him, &c. See Acts 6:2.” (Thomas Coke)
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” [Proverbs 11:31]
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
“It is never easy to be a Christian. The [sanctified] Christian life brings its own loneliness, its own unpopularity, its own problems, its own sacrifices and its own persecutions. It is, therefore, well to have certain great principles in our minds...” (William Barclay), particularly the glory to be revealed. So, rather than letting our feelings give way to depression… or going back to our former captivity, we are called to rejoice and to seek to be increasingly willing to suffer for being peculiar or different, living by His Word alone. It is better to suffer persecution for being friends of God now, worthy of eternal life, than to be judged later and counted as an enemy of God, only fit for destruction.
The Jewish christians were used to being different— a peculiar people, but the newborn ex-Gentiles were not used to it. “For it arose specifically from their worship of... Christ as the only God exclusive of all others. The Gentiles did not mind others having a different religion, but when that religion began to claim uniqueness it was a different matter. Thus Christians specifically suffered for the name of Christ (cp Matthew 5:11)." (Arno Gaebelein) The "fiery trial" refers to "the great suffering that the Jews-whether Christian or not-were about to undergo in connection with the fulfilment of our Lord’s prophecy concerning Jerusalem’s destruction, shortly to take place (Luke 21:20-24). But it also has reference to the horrors of the Roman persecutions, which were to continue for two terrible centuries. The words are applicable to every time of trial and persecution.” (H. A. Ironside) Howsoever people react to righteousness, "they are to recognise that in sufferings, they are becoming partakers of Christ’s sufferings...” (Peter Pett) And thus, they will be with Him in glory.
Yet even as we are suffer thus, the Spirit "rests upon us whenever we are reproached for the name of Christ. And if we were but more faithful, more separated, more loyal and devoted, we also would have more reproach, and as a result know more of the blessed experience that we are the resting and dwelling place of the Spirit of glory.” (Arno Gaebelein)
“But there are sufferings which are inconsistent with Christ’s sufferings and with the character of a Christian. ‘But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.’” (Arno Gaebelein) Grace reigns, but let us still strive to be holily faith— to keep the Ten Commandments by His Spirit. We keep the target of the Commandments ever before us,
“‘For the time is come’ — foretold by Christ, Matthew 24:9, John 16:2; ‘for judgment to begin at the house of God;’— At the church, the family of God, so called from the house of Levi, the house of David, etc. The Lord said to the Chaldeans, ‘Begin at my sanctuary.’ Ezekiel 9:6. Otherwise, how can God judge the world?... ’And if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of those that obey not the gospel?’ If God so treat his own children, what will he do with his enemies?” (Joseph Sutcliffe)
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”“The reference is to Proverbs 11:31… properly from the imperfect Septuagint rendering… The question is ominously left unanswered; but we may take the answer as given in the first psalm, ‘The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.'” (Pulpit Comm.)
“Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls, “— their very lives. "So did our Saviour both in His lifetime, 1 Peter 2:23, and at His death, Luke 23:46. So did Stephen and all the holy martyrs after him... [saying], ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” (Trapp) —“to doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” "See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand." (Deut. 32:39)