1 Peter 4:3-5 explains that the old sinful lifestyle that dominated believers before we came to faith in Christ no longer has power over us. Unbelievers may be surprised and angry when we don’t sin with them or condone sinning. But every person will be held to account by God for the things we’ve done in life.
1 Peter 4:3-51 Peter 4:3-5 commentary asserts that our choices of how to live ought to be driven by an eternal purpose that is centered in pleasing God, because He will judge believers as well as unbelievers. Verse 3 begins with the word For. The For connects to the prior verse. Peter is about to expand on his assertion in 1 Peter 4:21 Peter 4:2 commentary that believers are not to spend the rest of their lives following the sinful desires of the flesh, but in contrast by following the will of God.
Peter framed doing God’s will in 1 Peter 4:11 Peter 4:1 commentary as being the underlying purpose that motivated Christ to follow God’s will. He wants believers to follow Christ’s example, so that following God’s will is our motivation also. Peter asserts For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries (v. 3).
The phrase the time already past likely refers to the time before his readers put their faith in Jesus as the Christ, the anointed Messiah. During this time these Jewish believers either did or could have carried out the desire of the Gentiles. Jews were supposed to follow the Law and avoid sinful things that were the desire of the Gentiles. But we know that apart from the power of the Spirit, no one can follow the Law; in Acts 15:10Acts 15:10 commentary, commentary Peter called following the Law “a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear.”
The sinful behaviors which Peter lists as the desire of the Gentiles show that these were accepted activities within the Gentile culture. The Greek word translated as desire is translated in Romans 9:19Romans 9:19 commentary as “will,” referring to the will of God. The Jews used to do the will of the flesh but now should follow the will of God.
Peter says that the time to follow the desire of the Gentiles, the inner lusts of the flesh, is already past. They should leave this sort of behavior in the past and now walk apart from such lusts. It is inferred that by abstaining from such lusts there will be suffering to endure.
It is observable that choosing to abstain from lustful activities accepted within a group brings social rejection. Rejection is a form of suffering that is difficult to endure. Avoiding rejection was a temptation for Jesus. We can see in Hebrews 12:2Hebrews 12:2 commentary that He had to look beyond His current circumstances to the “joy set before Him” of being rewarded the authority of reigning with His Father in order to have an ongoing attitude of “despising the shame.”
The shame of rejection was focused upon Jesus for refusing to go along with sinful behaviors of others, most particularly the Jewish leaders.
Peter names six specific deeds of the flesh that characterized his readers when they had in past days pursued a course or lifestyle of sinful desires.
Sensuality - meaning lack of self-restraint in matters of sexual excess (Romans 13:13Romans 13:13 commentary, commentaryGalatians 5:19Galatians 5:19 commentary, commentaryEphesians 4:19Ephesians 4:19 commentary).
Drunkenness - not the normal Greek word for drunkenness “methe” but a rare word “oinophlygias” meaning consuming fermented wine to the point of being controlled by it. Used only here in the entire New Testament.
Drinking parties - meaning a social gathering in which wine was served for the purpose of getting drunk. This could refer to some Greek festivals known for debauchery. Another rare word used only here in the entire New Testament.
Abominable idolatries - referring to image worship (Galatians 5:20Galatians 5:20 commentary, commentaryColossians 3:5Colossians 3:5 commentary, commentary1 Corinthians 10:131 Corinthians 10:13 commentary). This could also refer to cultic practices involving Greek deities, where the worship of the deity excused the excess of lust.
Peter continues, In all this (v. 4), referring to the six sinful deeds just mentioned in verse 3, they, referring to the Gentiles that Peter’s Jewish readers spent time with before they became believers in Jesus, are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation (v 4).
The reason these unbelievers are surprised is that these unbelieving Gentiles see nothing wrong with the six sinful things listed in verse 3—now described simply as the same excess of dissipation. In fact, the Gentiles probably believe that these behaviors lead to happiness and fulfillment. They are like the people not listening to Noah before the flood came (Matthew 24:38Matthew 24:38 commentary).
The word excess translates the Greek verb “blasphemeo” from which we get our English word “blasphemy.” In this context it has the idea of “against God.” Of dissipation describes a reckless abandonment to wild living. Used together, excesses of dissipation refers to a reckless abandonment of what God says is right along with an ongoing practice of what God says is wrong.
Because these unbelieving Gentile friends do not see anything wrong with these six sinful things, they are shocked that their old friends, who are now believers in Jesus, do notrun with them into the same excesses of dissipation. Because of this these unbelievers now have a change in their attitude and actions toward the Christians, and they malign you. This means they speak and treat the believers in a disrespectful way.
Rejection is one of the key things humans do to one another in order to enforce social compliance. No one likes to be rejected. But Peter exhorts these believing Jews to endure the rejection.
This is consistent with his instruction in 1 Peter 4:11 Peter 4:1 commentary to “arm ourselves also with the same purpose” that Jesus had. In order to endure the suffering of rejection, we should look to the next life, as Jesus did, who “for the joy set before Him” of sharing His Father’s reign “endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2Hebrews 12:2 commentary).
Jesus thus is “now at the right hand of God” over all heavenly authorities, as Peter asserted a few verses earlier (1 Peter 3:221 Peter 3:22 commentary). And Jesus will judge all, as Peter asserts but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (v. 5).
Peter reminds believers that there is a time coming when all peoples will be held accountable for all the deeds they have done (Romans 2:6Romans 2:6 commentary, commentary2 Corinthians 5:102 Corinthians 5:10 commentary, commentaryRevelation 20:11-15Revelation 20:11-15 commentary). The One to whom they will give account is God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
The living could refer to ones living on earth who will experience temporal judgment during their earthly life. Paul walks through the progression of the “wrath of God” on sin in this present age in Romans 1Romans 1 commentary. There we see a progression of adverse consequences. Sin progresses from lust (Romans 1:24Romans 1:24 commentary) to addiction (Romans 1:26Romans 1:26 commentary) to loss of mental health (a “depraved mind,” Romans 1:28Romans 1:28 commentary). The “wrath of God’ in this passage is God giving us over to our own desires.
However, although that is an observable reality of how sin operates, it seems to better fit the context to see God’s judgment of the living to refer to believers in Jesus, who are alive in Christ (Romans 6:11Romans 6:11 commentary). Although the eternal destiny of believers in Jesus is secure in Christ as a forever child of God, and they will dwell with Him forever, believers will still be judged for their deeds, to receive rewards for deeds, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:102 Corinthians 5:10 commentary).
Those believers whose deeds burn up in the judgment fire will suffer loss. And although those whose deeds perish will suffer loss, they will still be saved from being separated from God “yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:151 Corinthians 3:15 commentary). That is why believers should pay attention to the “end of all things” (1 Peter 4:71 Peter 4:7 commentary) because the judgement is at hand for them.
God will also judge the dead. This could refer to all judgments that will take place in the next life. It seems to better fit the context to refer to the judgment of those who are unbelievers. Those who do not believe will inevitably find their place in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15Revelation 20:15 commentary). They should also pay attention to the “end of all things” and believe in Jesus while they have opportunity.
This life on earth is the only time we will have where we can believe or live by faith. In the next age we will live by sight; Jesus will physically dwell among us (Revelation 21:3Revelation 21:3 commentary, 2222 commentary). Those who do not believe on Jesus during this life will have the lake of fire as their final destination (Revelation 20:15Revelation 20:15 commentary).
By way of application, when friends who might be unbelievers malign us because our new standards are aligned with Christ, we can remember we don’t need to malign them back because they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (v. 5) (see also 1 Peter 2:121 Peter 2:12 commentary, 2323 commentary, 3:163:16 commentary, 4:194:19 commentary, 5:105:10 commentary). We can return good for evil and be a faithful witness who shows them the gospel and the hope that is within us (Romans 12:21Romans 12:21 commentary, commentary1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15 commentary).
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1 Peter 4:3-5 meaning
1 Peter 4:3-51 Peter 4:3-5 commentary asserts that our choices of how to live ought to be driven by an eternal purpose that is centered in pleasing God, because He will judge believers as well as unbelievers. Verse 3 begins with the word For. The For connects to the prior verse. Peter is about to expand on his assertion in 1 Peter 4:21 Peter 4:2 commentary that believers are not to spend the rest of their lives following the sinful desires of the flesh, but in contrast by following the will of God.
Peter framed doing God’s will in 1 Peter 4:11 Peter 4:1 commentary as being the underlying purpose that motivated Christ to follow God’s will. He wants believers to follow Christ’s example, so that following God’s will is our motivation also. Peter asserts For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries (v. 3).
The phrase the time already past likely refers to the time before his readers put their faith in Jesus as the Christ, the anointed Messiah. During this time these Jewish believers either did or could have carried out the desire of the Gentiles. Jews were supposed to follow the Law and avoid sinful things that were the desire of the Gentiles. But we know that apart from the power of the Spirit, no one can follow the Law; in Acts 15:10Acts 15:10 commentary, commentary Peter called following the Law “a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear.”
The sinful behaviors which Peter lists as the desire of the Gentiles show that these were accepted activities within the Gentile culture. The Greek word translated as desire is translated in Romans 9:19Romans 9:19 commentary as “will,” referring to the will of God. The Jews used to do the will of the flesh but now should follow the will of God.
Peter says that the time to follow the desire of the Gentiles, the inner lusts of the flesh, is already past. They should leave this sort of behavior in the past and now walk apart from such lusts. It is inferred that by abstaining from such lusts there will be suffering to endure.
It is observable that choosing to abstain from lustful activities accepted within a group brings social rejection. Rejection is a form of suffering that is difficult to endure. Avoiding rejection was a temptation for Jesus. We can see in Hebrews 12:2Hebrews 12:2 commentary that He had to look beyond His current circumstances to the “joy set before Him” of being rewarded the authority of reigning with His Father in order to have an ongoing attitude of “despising the shame.”
The shame of rejection was focused upon Jesus for refusing to go along with sinful behaviors of others, most particularly the Jewish leaders.
Peter names six specific deeds of the flesh that characterized his readers when they had in past days pursued a course or lifestyle of sinful desires.
Peter continues, In all this (v. 4), referring to the six sinful deeds just mentioned in verse 3, they, referring to the Gentiles that Peter’s Jewish readers spent time with before they became believers in Jesus, are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation (v 4).
The reason these unbelievers are surprised is that these unbelieving Gentiles see nothing wrong with the six sinful things listed in verse 3—now described simply as the same excess of dissipation. In fact, the Gentiles probably believe that these behaviors lead to happiness and fulfillment. They are like the people not listening to Noah before the flood came (Matthew 24:38Matthew 24:38 commentary).
The word excess translates the Greek verb “blasphemeo” from which we get our English word “blasphemy.” In this context it has the idea of “against God.” Of dissipation describes a reckless abandonment to wild living. Used together, excesses of dissipation refers to a reckless abandonment of what God says is right along with an ongoing practice of what God says is wrong.
Because these unbelieving Gentile friends do not see anything wrong with these six sinful things, they are shocked that their old friends, who are now believers in Jesus, do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation. Because of this these unbelievers now have a change in their attitude and actions toward the Christians, and they malign you. This means they speak and treat the believers in a disrespectful way.
Rejection is one of the key things humans do to one another in order to enforce social compliance. No one likes to be rejected. But Peter exhorts these believing Jews to endure the rejection.
This is consistent with his instruction in 1 Peter 4:11 Peter 4:1 commentary to “arm ourselves also with the same purpose” that Jesus had. In order to endure the suffering of rejection, we should look to the next life, as Jesus did, who “for the joy set before Him” of sharing His Father’s reign “endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2Hebrews 12:2 commentary).
Jesus thus is “now at the right hand of God” over all heavenly authorities, as Peter asserted a few verses earlier (1 Peter 3:221 Peter 3:22 commentary). And Jesus will judge all, as Peter asserts but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (v. 5).
Peter reminds believers that there is a time coming when all peoples will be held accountable for all the deeds they have done (Romans 2:6Romans 2:6 commentary, commentary 2 Corinthians 5:102 Corinthians 5:10 commentary, commentary Revelation 20:11-15Revelation 20:11-15 commentary). The One to whom they will give account is God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
The living could refer to ones living on earth who will experience temporal judgment during their earthly life. Paul walks through the progression of the “wrath of God” on sin in this present age in Romans 1Romans 1 commentary. There we see a progression of adverse consequences. Sin progresses from lust (Romans 1:24Romans 1:24 commentary) to addiction (Romans 1:26Romans 1:26 commentary) to loss of mental health (a “depraved mind,” Romans 1:28Romans 1:28 commentary). The “wrath of God’ in this passage is God giving us over to our own desires.
However, although that is an observable reality of how sin operates, it seems to better fit the context to see God’s judgment of the living to refer to believers in Jesus, who are alive in Christ (Romans 6:11Romans 6:11 commentary). Although the eternal destiny of believers in Jesus is secure in Christ as a forever child of God, and they will dwell with Him forever, believers will still be judged for their deeds, to receive rewards for deeds, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:102 Corinthians 5:10 commentary).
Those believers whose deeds burn up in the judgment fire will suffer loss. And although those whose deeds perish will suffer loss, they will still be saved from being separated from God “yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:151 Corinthians 3:15 commentary). That is why believers should pay attention to the “end of all things” (1 Peter 4:71 Peter 4:7 commentary) because the judgement is at hand for them.
God will also judge the dead. This could refer to all judgments that will take place in the next life. It seems to better fit the context to refer to the judgment of those who are unbelievers. Those who do not believe will inevitably find their place in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15Revelation 20:15 commentary). They should also pay attention to the “end of all things” and believe in Jesus while they have opportunity.
This life on earth is the only time we will have where we can believe or live by faith. In the next age we will live by sight; Jesus will physically dwell among us (Revelation 21:3Revelation 21:3 commentary, 2222 commentary). Those who do not believe on Jesus during this life will have the lake of fire as their final destination (Revelation 20:15Revelation 20:15 commentary).
By way of application, when friends who might be unbelievers malign us because our new standards are aligned with Christ, we can remember we don’t need to malign them back because they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (v. 5) (see also 1 Peter 2:121 Peter 2:12 commentary, 2323 commentary, 3:163:16 commentary, 4:194:19 commentary, 5:105:10 commentary). We can return good for evil and be a faithful witness who shows them the gospel and the hope that is within us (Romans 12:21Romans 12:21 commentary, commentary 1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15 commentary).