1 Peter 4:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

NIV: They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.

NASB: In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of debauchery, and they slander you;

CSB: They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander you.

NLT: Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.

KJV: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

NKJV: 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.

In the previous verses, Peter wrote that Christians must take on Christ's attitude toward persecution. That is, we should expect it as a normal part of doing God's will here on earth. Having made the choice to live for God's will, to willingly endure what suffering that may bring, we no longer live to bring ourselves pleasure and comfort. Thus we no longer live for sensual experiences, sexual pleasure, drunkenness, partying, orgies, or idolatry. In Peter's time, non-Christian religious rituals often involved all of those things. In this verse, Peter writes that the Christian choice, to not be depraved, actually provokes those who live for pleasure. Non-believers who indulge in sinful lifestyles will "malign" or "heap abuse" on us. They're surprised, even offended, that we don't join in. The believer's choice to not participate in a wild, reckless, and excessive lifestyle of hedonistic partying and escapism actually insults them.

As in chapter 3, Peter's comments assume that the world will notice the change which commitment to Christ makes in us. In 1 Peter 3:1–2, he pointed out that unbelieving husbands might be won when recognizing the Christ-motivated change in their wives. In 1 Peter 3:15, he says others will notice and ask about the surprising hopefulness of suffering Christians. Here, those living for sinful pleasures will notice—resentfully—that suffering Christians don't join in the pleasure-seeking.

God intends for the world to see Christ in us. That's part of the purpose He has for us as His holy, set-apart people.

1 Peter 4:1–11 urges Christians to take on Jesus’ attitude toward suffering. We should see it as an expected part of fulfilling God’s purpose for us on earth. Those who willingly endure suffering for Christ set the course of their lives away from mind-numbing sins. This is true even when those who still commit those sins bad-mouth them. We must stay alert so that we can pray in these end times. We must keep loving each other, using God’s gifts to serve each other with God’s power in and through us, so all the glory goes to Him.

Peter continues to describe how Christians should respond when faced with persecution: Take on Christ’s attitude, and expect God’s purpose for your life to include suffering. Set the course of your life away from mind-numbing pleasure seeking. Be alert so that you can pray effectively in these end times. In fact, rejoice if you share in Christ’s sufferings. God uses suffering to refine the faith of His people, and our present suffering contributes to future glory. If you suffer, keep doing good while trusting your soul to your Creator.

Peter’s letter to Christians is about how to live in the world while suffering for faith in Christ. Thus far, he has assured Christians that their future is secure with God. We are His holy people, set apart for His purposes. Christians are called to live in submission to every human authority. Now in chapter 4, Peter writes that we should take Jesus’ attitude toward suffering and expect it in this life, avoiding mind-numbing sin while loving each other earnestly. God may use suffering in this life to refine our faith, but the end of all things is near.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.