In 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.

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh. &c.] The apostle having finished his digression concerning Christ’s preaching in the ministry of Noah, to men whose spirits were now in prison, and concerning the salvation of Noah’s family in the ark, by water, and concerning its…

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…

For the time past of our life may suffice us The word “our” is left out in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions. The Arabic version reads, “the time of your past life”; and to the same purpose the Ethiopic version; and which seems to be the more agreeable reading,…

Wherein they think it strange Here the apostle points out what the saints must expect from the men of the world, by living a different life; and he chooses to mention it, to prevent discouragements, and that they might not be uneasy and distressed when they observed it; as that they would wonder at…

Who shall give account to him “To God himself”, as the Syriac version reads; of all their blasphemies, and hard speeches spoken by them against God, Christ, the Gospel, and good men, and receive their just punishment.

For, for this cause was the Gospel preached also Not for what goes before, because Christ was ready to judge quick and dead; and because wicked men must give an account to him, and therefore the Gospel is preached to them also, that they may be left without excuse; but for what follows, and which…

But the end of all things is at hand With respect to particular persons, the end of life, and which is the end of all things in this world to a man, is near at hand; which is but as an hand’s breadth, passes away like a tale that is told, and is but as a vapour which appears for a while, and then…

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves, &c.] Not but that charity, or love, is to be exercised towards all men, even towards enemies, but more especially towards the saints, and that under such a consideration in which it cannot be exercised towards others; namely, as their…

Use hospitality Or, “be lovers of strangers”, as the phrase may be rendered, and as it is in the Syriac version; that is, such as are of a distant country, or come from afar, and are unknown by face, especially good men, that are obliged to remove from their native country for the sake of religion,…

As every man hath received the gift That is, from God, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions add. This is a general rule laid down by the apostle, according to which, distribution of every kind, whether in things temporal or spiritual, is to be made, even according to the nature, quality, and…

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God This is an application of the above general rule to a particular case, the public ministry of the word, for that is here meant: “if any man speak”; not in any manner, or on any subject; not in a private way, or about things natural and civil;…

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, &c.] By which may be meant either the destruction of Jerusalem, which was at hand, and of which the apostle may be thought to give the Jews he writes to notice of before hand; that they might be prepared for it, and not be overwhelmed with…

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings Not of his personal sufferings; though they were partakers of the benefits and blessings which come through them, and result from them, such as justification, peace, and pardon, and which are matter and ground of rejoicing; but of the…

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ For being called by his name; for bearing the name of Christians; for believing in him, and professing him; and for the sake of his Gospel, which is sometimes called his name, not that the apostle makes any doubt of this, for nothing is more certain than…

But let none of you suffer as a murderer The punishment for murder was death by the law of God, or as a thief; whose fine or mulct, according to the Jewish law, was a fivefold or fourfold restitution, according to the nature of the thing that was stolen, or as an evildoer; a breaker of any of the…

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian Because he is one, and professes himself to be one. This name was first given to the disciples at Antioch, either by themselves, or by the Gentiles; however, it being agreeable to them, was retained; it is only mentioned here, and in , let him not be ashamed;…

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God By the house of God is either meant the temple at Jerusalem, which is often so called, because it was built for God, and where were the symbol of his presence, and his worship; and now the time was come, or at hand, that God would…

And if the righteous scarcely be saved Reference is had to where in the Septuagint version are the same words as here: the “righteous” are such, not who are so in their own opinion, or merely in the esteem of others, nor on account of their vility, morality, and external righteousness before men,…

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God This is the conclusion made from the foregoing premises; that seeing the state and condition of the saints in this world, at worst, and which is but for a time, is infinitely preferable to the dreadful state and condition of disobedient…