As you can tell by now, the suffering of the diaspora Jewish Christians is the theme of 1 Peter. This is the 4th section on suffering in the letter. Refer back to the 3rd article, “suffering (3)” to see how they were being slandered and suffering.

1 Peter 4:¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; ¹³ but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. ¹⁵ Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? ¹⁹ Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

A few key points in this section:

1) Don’t be surprised if you suffer for being a Christian. Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:¹² Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Rejoice that you can share the sufferings of Christ, the same suffering that he endured. At the revelation of His glory (the 2nd coming in 70 AD), they could rejoice. That glory was “about to be revealed”: 1 Peter 5:1 Elders who [are] among you, I exhort, who [am] a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be (mello which in the NT always means about to happen) revealed…” ⁴ and at the manifestation of the chief Shepherd (the 2nd coming), ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory.” 2 Thessalonians 1:⁹ These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes to be glorified among His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed”. Jesus was glorified at His 2nd coming and the Jewish Christians were glorified as the true sons of God and not the unbelieving Jews who were killed by the Romans in 70 AD. Paul said in Romans 8:¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory about to be revealed in us.” Again, this glorification of Jesus and of the sons of God was “about to happen” and that could only be 70 AD.

2) Peter repeats a warning from 1 Peter 2:20 in 1 Peter 4:¹⁵ Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler”. But if you “suffer as a Christian”, don’t be ashamed but glorify God instead. “if you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are “blessed”. Matthew 5:¹⁰ “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

3) Paul goes on to say that “it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God, and it begins with us first” (4:17). That would have to be the judgment on the Jews in 70 AD. By 70 AD Jesus had sent the apostles to preach the gospel to the entire Roman Empire, to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. The Jews had the first opportunity to accept Jesus as the Messiah and be saved, but only a small remnant did. The rest of unbelieving Jews persecuted and killed the believing Jews (as Saul, later Paul, did) right up till 70 AD. But did all the Jews hear the gospel and have that opportunity? Romans 10:¹⁸ But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? On the contrary: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” So from 67-70 AD the judgment began on the wicked Jews as the Romans put down the Jewish revolt, sieged Jerusalem in 70 AD and finally broke through the walls to kill 1 million Jews and destroy the city and the temple. 2 Timothy 4:1 I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is (mello, always means about to happen) living and dead at his manifestation and his reign”. 1 Peter 4:⁵ but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.” Apparently the “dead” to be judged are those dead spiritually. Or it could be those OT dead in Hades that were judged in 70 AD as predicted in Daniel 12:1-2. Then Peter makes a. puzzling statement: 1 Peter 4:¹⁸ And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved.” Is it hard to be saved? I thought the Bible teaches that it is simple, just believe in Jesus. So what does Peter mean? (AI) “In 1 Peter 4:18, Peter uses the phrase “if the righteous is scarcely saved” (or “with difficulty saved”) to highlight the challenging nature of the Christian life and the struggles faced by believers even though they are righteous in God’s eyes. He emphasizes that if the righteous face difficulties, those who are ungodly or unrighteous will face even greater consequences. Meaning: A contrast with the ungodly: By highlighting the difficulties faced by the righteous, Peter emphasizes the greater consequences that await those who reject God and live ungodly lives. This serves as a warning and a call to consider the path of righteousness. The righteous face trials and difficulties: Peter isn’t saying that salvation is hard to obtain, but rather that the path of righteousness often involves hardship, persecution, and suffering. This is because believers are called to live differently from the world and may face opposition for their faith.”  So just trust your souls to a faithful Creator who will do what is right, i.e. he will reward the righteous and punish the unrighteous. 1 Peter 5:⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

4) 1 Peter 5:⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. ⁸ Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. (it always helps to know that others are suffering just as you are) ¹⁰ After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” This echoes 1 Peter 1:⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.” Peter sees their trials as suffering for “a little while”. Since the 2nd coming is mentioned in the letter, we can refer to 2 Thessalonians 1:⁵ This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you indeed are suffering. ⁶ For after all it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, ⁷ and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels ⁸ in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God, and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes to be glorified among His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—because our testimony to you was believed.” This 2nd coming or revelation of Jesus from heaven would be within the lifetime of those Thessalonian Christians as shown in 2 Thessalonians 2. That 2nd coming would kill 1 million evil, wicked Jews as the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. That would certainly give relief to the Jewish Christians who were being persecuted by their Jewish non believing countrymen. If 1 Peter was written between 62 and 64 AD, then it would be “a little while” (i.e. just a few years) before Jesus would send the Romans to punish the evil unbelieving Jews in 70 AD.