A Few Thoughts on 1 Peter 4:19

Josh May 17th, 2007

1 Peter 4:19

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

If one reads through this epistle, they’ll notice the power-packed messages of enduring suffering, responding in love, and praising God for the circumstances a Christian may find himself in. In fact, this last verse of 1 Peter 4 we find a multitude of spiritual instructions knocking on the walls of exposition, dying to get out, be known,and applied to the life of the believer.

Therefore
First, we consider the conjunction Therefore. This implores us to consider the current words in the light of all of Peter’s aforementioned words. This illustrates the importance of considering a passage’s immediate and extended context for the purpose of properly understanding the thrust of the author’s current statement in all its many facets. The detriments to interpreting a passage divorced from its context are manifold (my list is hardly exhaustive):

1. Most of the time, especially in light of the fallibility of man’s heart, one will misintrepret and
2. This will result in misapplications, which gives light to adage “Ideas have consequences.”
3. One may gather little or none of all the richness which is to be found in the said passage.

Now, of what does this Therefore consist? I’m hardly qualified to give a thorough commentary which will give one a mastery of what Peter has said, thus I’ll briefly mention the basic theme running throughout his epistle. In chapter 1 (vs. 3-7) the Apostle reminds his readers about the wonderful salvation God has given them in Christ. This is to serve as a motivator to continue on in what I think is a major reason for Peter’s writing of this epistle: suffering and trials.

1 Peter 1:6-7

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Peter then enjoins (v. 13), with another therefore, the believers to “set [their] hope fully on the grace” of God, during these trials. He tells them to keep on truckin’ in areas of holiness, steadfastness, etc. especially during these hard times. There’s much more to the chapter of course, but we’re trying to deal in brevity. In chapter 2 (particularly 18-25) he touches again on suffering. More specifically he is beseeching Christians to understand that this is, not “might be”, a part of the Christian Life.

2 Timothy 3:12

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

Then, in chapter 3, Peter again mentions suffering for righteousness’ sake and declares that we should respond well to suffering and persecution becayse by doing so ”those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (v.16) This is called one practicing what he preaches…and it’s effective in showing one’s motives behind what they do. It gives creedence to the “defense [of the] reason for the hope that is in you” (v.15)

So considering what the therefore of our opening passage in 1 Peter 4:19 is pointing back to helps us to better appreciate the rest of that particular verse itself. We have seen a theme of suffering for Christ’s sake  throughout each chapter. Now we consider the particulars of 4:19

I. Let those who suffer according to God’s will…

Remember that suffering comes from the will of God. Consider Job, Joseph, David, etc. Now that being recognized Peter says:

II. Entrust their souls to a faithful Creator…

So, if suffering comes from the will of God (and it does), then we must know that it’s in some way, shape, or form good. Why? Because God is inherently good! So Christians are to be steadfast during hard circumstances knowing that all that befalls them is from the hand of a loving, kind, and good God.

III. While doing good.

Trials have a tendency to bring us to a state of paralysis. We become so focused and internalized on ourselved and our plight that we somehow think the world may stop turning for a moment, so that we can get a grip. But that’s not how it works. What does Peter say? Keep on doing good. When we’re overcome with sorrow, suffering, or persecution is also when we must, with all of our might, continue doing good to folks.

May it be so.

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