The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 208

pcsHion is of them that did not overleap the bounds, but put on restraints, thinkin~ 1t strange that the fire shonltl be allowed to come among them. How did this consist with their Ohri8tian s~anrling, character, destiny? Were they not the objects of covenant love? Were they nut sincerely striving to honour the Divine ordinances? Were they not looking forward to a glorious, blood-bought inheritance? Why, then, was the fire working its work among them? It was justified, Peter points out, by its probationary use. It was upon them, and not yet fully S]Jent, not to pain them simply (which would be inconsistent with covennnt love), but by its very painfulness to prove them, i.e. to bring out their sincerity, and also their greater excellence, and therewith their deliverance from remaining impurity. '!'he fire makes us feel the reality of life. It tends to make ua thoughtful, earnest, humble. There is a knowledge of God, of Divine things, of the Divine promises, which enters only by the door of suffering. "Knowledge through suffering entereth." It is as sufferers that we obtain the richest experience, even of the tenderness of God, and that our love in its greatest tenderness is drawn out towards him. Let us not, then, think the fire strange, even as though a strange thing were happening unto us. It is not strange when it works toward such an end. And we may trust the All-wise God to proportion the intensity of the fire to what our spiritual requirements are. 2. The fiery trial a rejoicing. "But insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy." The apostle rises here to fubilation. Not merely is the liery trial not a reason for bewilderment; it is even a reason for rejoicing. We are to rejoice in that we are partners wit.h Christ; we are to rejoice in that we are partners with Christ even iu his sufferings, i.e. those which he personally endured on earth. He endured the sharpness of persecution, ending in "the sharpness of d~ath;" and what made his death so difficult to endure was not the fire of persecution, but the penal fire of God. 'fherc was a solitariness in Christ's sufferings; and yet our sufferings co.n be joined to his sufferings, and it is an honour to have them so joined. We are t•J look even at the degree or measure in which our sufferings can be placed along with Christ's sufferings. For there is the quantitative word used-meaning "in proportion as." '!'here is thus exegetical value in the remark of Leighton, "What does the world, by its hatred and persecutions and railings for Christ, but make me more like him, give me a greater share with him in that which he did so willingly undergo for me 't" The persecuting world thus in a way defeats itself; it makes the Christian suffer, but only to add to his joy in making him a greater sharer with Christ in what he suffered. "Rejoice," then, is the word of command to the persecuted; but now the end of the present rejoicing is seizerl on. "Rejoice ; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy." 'fhere is a present rejoicing; there is also a future rejoicing; anrl the one is with a view to the other. Both, it seems to be implied here, and is certainly elsewhere taught, go upon partnership, and in this order-first partners with Obrist in his sufferings, and then partners with Christ iu his glory. Thi:! future rejoicing is to be at the revelation of Cbrist's glory. There is a glory of Christ which is at 1,resent concealed-concealed from the world. There is even a glory of Christ which is not yet possessed-the glory expressive of the final vindication of his mission, the final triumph of his cause. Then he is to get glory from the saints; Lut thcu, also, he is to be in a position to bless his saints, without any hindrance, according to his heart's desirP, according also to the thought of the Father from all eternity ; and he is to bless them by making them partners with him in his glory. Their very bodies raised are to take after his glorified body: how can it, then, be aught but Christ's glory that is to shine forth in their spirits? 'fhe word for the present is "rojoice," but at the revelation of Christ's glory it is to be rejoicing with excccrling joy, rejoicing beyond the measure of the present, rejoicing far beyond our present power of conception. Now it is rejoicing in the midst of persecutions; then it will be rejoicing when the persecutions are all over for ever and sublimated, and the glorious reali li~s arn in actual poss1:ssion. II. 'l'rm CONDITION OF HAPPINESS EMPHASIZED. 1. Being repruached for the Name of Olwist. "If ye a1·0 reproached for the Name of Chrbt, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and tho Spirit of God resteth upon you." The condition which has beeu implied is now expressed. There are reproachful words, and there are reproach- ful acts. 'l'o be reproached/or the Name of Uhrist is to be interpreted in the light o:· our Lord's oivn words," In my Name, because ye belong to Christ." We are not, thl 11, 0  204: THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [oH. rv, 1-19,