| 1 Peter 4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (NASB: Lockman) |
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Greek: ei oneidizesthe (2PPPI) en onomati Christou, makarioi, hoti to tHYPERLINK "http://studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=3588"es doxes kai to tou thHYPERLINK "http://studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=2316"eou pneuma eHYPERLINK "http://studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=1909"ph humas anapauetai. (3SPMI) Amplified: If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you—happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy, and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition], because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. [Is 11:2.] KJV: If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. NLT: Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. Wuest: In view of the fact that you have cast in your teeth, as it were, revilings because of the Name of Christ, spiritually prosperous [are you], because the Spirit of the Glory, even the Spirit of God, is resting with refreshing power upon you. Young's Literal: if ye be reproached in the name of Christ -- happy are ye, because the Spirit of glory and of God upon you doth rest; in regard, indeed, to them, he is evil-spoken of, and in regard to you, he is glorified; |
Peter speaks much about the topic of being reviled for the Great Name of Christ...
1Pet 2:19- For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
1Pet 2:20- For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
1Pet 3:14-But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
1Pet 3:16- and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior (notice how it is possible to exhibit "good behavior"! It is by depending on our position...) in Christ may be put to shame.
1Pet 4:4- And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign (blaspheme, slander) you; 5 but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Fortunately, Peter does not "leave us hanging" with the prospect of suffering for Jesus, a prospect which is a "guarantee" (cf 2Ti 3:12- Php1:29-Acts 14:22, etc). Peter also tells us how it is humanly possible to suffer unjust treatment - don't try to suffer naturally (in your natural "strength" or "adequacy" cf 2Cor 3:5, 6-note, 2Cor 2:16, 1Cor 15:10- but suffer supernaturally - imitate Christ (cf 1Cor 11:1, 1Jn 2:6) - surrendering just as He did when He suffered (cf the suffering of His first great temptation in the wilderness - notice Who He depends on - Read Mt 4:1, Lk 4:1. Jesus was victorious because He depended no the Spirit's enabling power (dunamis, cp Lk 4:14) and the supernatural Word, both resources also available to us. In a word, Jesus shows us the way to victory in trials and temptation - filled with His WORD and filled with His SPIRIT (where "filled with" signifies "controlled by" - Spirit not self!). Brethren, there is no other way!
