Section 4:12–19
Suffering for being a Christian
In this section, Peter reminds his readers that as Christians they should expect to suffer because Christ also suffered. He explained that it is a blessing to be insulted for following Christ. He also reminded them that a time of judgment was coming. Some other headings for this section include:
Suffering as Christ suffered
-or-
Your attitude when you suffer
Paragraph 4:12–16
4:12a–b
Some of the Christians that Peter wrote this letter to were experiencing persecution from non-Christians. Peter told believers not to be shocked or alarmed by this persecution, which was a test of their faith.
4:12a
Beloved: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Beloved was a common way for New Testament letter writers to address the Christian people they were writing to. It does not imply that Peter personally knew his readers. See how you translated this expression in 2:11a.
do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you: This is a passive form. In some languages, it may be natural to translate it with an active form. For example:
do not let the fiery trial that has come upon you surprise you
do not be surprised: The word surprised here refers to the shock a person feels at unexpected bad news. Peter was saying that believers should expect to suffer. Here is another way to translate this:
astonished (NET Bible)
In some languages, it may be natural to translate this expression with an idiom. For example:
taken aback (Revised English Bible)
the fiery trial that has come upon you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the painful trial is literally “the burning/firing as a test.” Peter is here using the metaphor of refining precious metals that he had used in 1:6b and 1:7b–c. There are several ways to translate this metaphor:
• Keep the metaphor. For example:
the testing fire which is taking place among you (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
a trial by fire is occurring among you (NET Bible)
-or-
the fiery ordeal which is coming upon you to prove you (Revised Standard Version)
• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:
you are going through testing that is like walking through fire (Contemporary English Version)
• Translate the meaning. For example:
the painful test you are suffering (Good News Translation)
4:12b
Some translations start a new sentence here. For example:
Do not think that something strange is happening to you. (New Century Version)
as though something strange were happening to you: The word strange here refers to something that is unusual in a bad way. Peter was saying that Christians should not think it was strange or unusual that they should suffer. Some other ways strange has been translated include:
unusual (Good News Translation)
-or-
extraordinary (Revised English Bible)
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