Any suffering, especially traumatic or chronic suffering, will give us a new perspective and can often change the direction of our lives. Priorities are rearranged, goals and what we consider valuable can be reassessed, nearly everything changes as the result of pain and suffering.
4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
In the last half of chapter three Peter spoke primarily about suffering unjustly, he explained that we need to know how to face persecution, especially for righteousness sake. And now chapter four begins appropriately with ‘therefore’ (or ‘since’), referring back to the suffering Jesus endured for us (see 1 Peter 2:21; 3:18; Isaiah 53:10). Peter proclaims “since Christ has suffered in the flesh” (Greek word ‘sarki’, a variation of ‘sarx’, again, pointing not to Jesus’ flesh alone, but His whole physical body). Some manuscripts and versions add “for us” or “for you.”
Peter explains that since Jesus suffered, we are to ‘arm’ ourselves (the Greek ‘hoplizo’ expresses the need to arm oneself with weapons or to put on armor, see Ephesians 6:10-20). What does this mean? It means we are to prepare ourselves for battle! What are we to arm ourselves with? Peter says with the “same way of thinking” (the Greek ‘ennoian’ for thinking can also be translated attitude, principle, intent or purpose)[1]. Peter is calling all believers to be armed with the willingness to give all to God including the willingness to die (see 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Revelation 21:4), even Peter himself would face martyrdom (see John 21:18-19). This idea was nothing new since Jesus had said that we should deny ourselves and take up the cross to follow Him (everyone knew what He was talking about, see Luke 9:23-27). He also spoke about losing our lives for Him (see Matthew 10:34-39), Paul explained this in 2 Corinthians 4:7-12. Many people have indeed died for the message of salvation through Jesus Christ (see Mark Water’s book “The New Encyclopedia of Christian Martyrs”), it is interesting to note that the Greek word for ‘witness’ is ‘martyr’.
Since Jesus is the forerunner, our deaths no longer have eternal consequences in hell (see 1 Corinthians 15:54-58). Jesus, not mortal men, should be our pattern to follow (in thought, word and deed). For whoever has suffered in the flesh (same Greek word) has ceased (permanently refrained) from sin. Jesus conquered sin and death for us, we are no longer affected by sin. We are righteous through faith in Jesus, however, we will never be perfectly pure as lust and sin are still found in our bodies until we either die or Jesus returns for us. This is the process we all know as sanctification.
4:2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
Peter continues that while we are still alive on earth our bodies should no longer seek human passions, like lusts and desires, but instead pursue the will of God. The New Living Translation appropriately notes that we should be ‘anxious’ to do His will. All sin is disobedience to the God, sin is an act of rebellion against Him (see Matthew 7:24-27). Paul reminds us that believers are not to conform to this world, but be transformed…so that we can discern what the will of God is (see Romans 12:1-2). While the hope of all believers is that in the future, when we get to heaven, we will cease from sinning (see 1 John 2:15-17), but Peter here is telling us to arm ourselves with a commitment to do the will of God now (see also Romans 6:5-12). We need to remember what Peter told us back in chapter three that the world has no power over us (see 1 Peter 3:14).
4:3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
In verse three Peter says that the time for sinning has passed. A literal translation of the first part of this verse essentially reads, “having passed away time.” Meaning that more than enough time has passed for doing what the Gentiles do. The New International Version renders this verse, “For we have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do.” Peter then offers several examples of what Gentiles desire to do, including sensuality (licentiousness, unbridled lust, wantonness, the word implies both thought and deed); passions (namely lust); drunkenness (excessive drinking); orgies (revel including parades of reveling); drinking parties (carousing); and lawless idolatry (the abominable worship of false gods).
4:4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
Peter tells us that the world will be surprised when we do not join them in these practices. The Greek implies that they will think we are strange since we do not think like them. They want believers to participate in the same flood (excess, overflowing) of debauchery (some translations use the word ‘dissipation’ of ‘dissolute life’, the Greek points to the state of mind that is so corrupt that they only think about doing evil). The text reads that they (the world) will malign you (the Greek word used here for ‘malign’ is the word ‘blasphēmountes’ (a variation of blaspheme, to slander, to speak evil against you or to defame you, Peter will come back to this subject in his second epistle, see chapters 40-43).
We are called to be holy (separated) from the world. Another way to translate the word ‘holy’ would be the word ‘peculiar’ or ‘weird’! Are you like the world? Do you consider yourself different enough for God?
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[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers. Strong’s Greek No. 1771