Bible Commentary

1 Peter 4:2

1 Peter 4:2

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

That he no longer should live,.... The Arabic version reads, "that ye no longer should live". This expresses the end of being armed with the above thought, that a suffering saint after death is clear of sin; and the use that is to be made of it in the present time of life, and the remainder of it, that such a person who so thinks, and is thus guarded and fortified against the fears of death, should no more, or any longer live,the rest of [his] time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God: the phrase, "his time in the flesh", means the present time of life, in the body, and is the same with those phrases, in the days of his flesh, to abide in the flesh, and be at home in the body; and the words of the text suppose the former part of this time to have been spent in sinful lusts and pleasures, as the former part of the time of God's elect, even that before conversion, is; and that the remaining part of it, be it longer or shorter, ought to be spent otherwise: "not to the lusts of men"; of wicked and unregenerate men, unconverted Gentiles; which they are addicted to, immersed in, and serve; and which they are desirous others should live in; and which are sometimes called divers worldly and fleshly lusts; and are foolish, and hurtful, and deceitful, and drown men in perdition, and therefore not to be lived unto: "but to the will of God"; revealed in his word, and which is good, acceptable, and perfect; one part of which is sanctification, holiness of heart, life, and conversation, as also patient suffering all reproach, injury, and persecution, for the sake of the Gospel; to live soberly, righteously, and godly, to study to exercise a conscience void of offence towards God and men, and to suffer patiently for his name's sake, is to live to the will of God; and nothing more strongly should engage to this than the consideration of a sinless life after death; see .

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1 Peter 4 — Overview1 Peter 4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThe work of a Christian is twofold--doing the will of God and suffering his pleasure. This chapter directs us in both. The duties we are here exhorted to employ ourselves in are the mortification of sin, living to…1 Peter 4 — Overview1 Peter 4 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledge1 Peter 4:1, He exhorts them to cease from sin by the example of Christ, and the consideration of the general end that now approaches; 1 Peter 4:12, and comforts them against persecution.1 Peter 4 — Overview1 Peter 4 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleIn this chapter the apostle goes on to exhort to an holy life and conversation, and to the several duties of religion, and to suffer cheerfully for the sake of Christ. From the consideration of Christ's sufferings, he…1 Peter 4:1-31 Peter 4:1-3 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThe apostle here draws a new inference from the consideration of Christ's sufferings. As he had before made use of it to persuade to patience in suffering, so here to mortification of sin. Observe, I. How the…1 Peter 4:1-191 Peter 4:1-19 · The Pulpit CommentaryExpositions 1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh. St. Peter returns, after the digression of 1 Peter 3:19-22, to the great subject of Christ's example. The words "for us" are omitted…1 Peter 4:1-191 Peter 4:1-19 · The Pulpit CommentaryWherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God; rather, let them also that suffer. St. Peter sums up his exhortation; he returns to the thought of 1 Peter 3:17, "It is better, if the will of God be so, that…