1 Peter 4:5

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) Who shall give account.—Perhaps said with a reference to 1Peter 3:15, where these very persons call the Christians to give “account” (the Greek word is the same). The side-purpose of the clause (as in the similar threat, 1Peter 2:8) is to warn the readers against sharing their fate by sharing their sins.

To him that is ready to judge.—This carries on the history of Jesus Christ a step further still. The last thing was His sitting on the right hand of God. This is the order of the Apostles’ Creed. Bengel wisely remarks: “The Apostles, when they are not expressly treating of the date of Christ’s advent, set forth that advent to their longing and devotion as close at hand. Hence Peter includes the slanderers of his day among the living, as just about to be judged.”

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:1-6 The strongest and best arguments against sin, are taken from the sufferings of Christ. He died to destroy sin; and though he cheerfully submitted to the worst sufferings, yet he never gave way to the least sin. Temptations could not prevail, were it not for man's own corruption; but true Christians make the will of God, not their own lust or desires, the rule of their lives and actions. And true conversion makes a marvellous change in the heart and life. It alters the mind, judgment, affections, and conversation. When a man is truly converted, it is very grievous to him to think how the time past of his life has been spent. One sin draws on another. Six sins are here mentioned which have dependence one upon another. It is a Christian's duty, not only to keep from gross wickedness, but also from things that lead to sin, or appear evil. The gospel had been preached to those since dead, who by the proud and carnal judgment of wicked men were condemned as evil-doers, some even suffering death. But being quickened to Divine life by the Holy Spirit, they lived to God as his devoted servants. Let not believers care, though the world scorns and reproaches them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Who shall give account - That is, they shall not do this with impunity. They are guilty in this of a groat wrong and they must answer for it to God.

That is ready to judge - That is, "who is prepared to judge" - τῷ ἑτοίμως ἔχοντι tō hetoimōs echonti. See the phrase used in Acts 21:13; "I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem." 2 Corinthians 12:14; "the third time I am ready to come to you." Compare the word "ready" - ἑτοιμος hetoimos - in Matthew 22:4, Matthew 22:8; Matthew 24:44; Matthew 25:10; Luke 12:40; Luke 22:33; 1 Peter 1:5. The meaning is, not that he was about to do it, or that the day of judgment was near at hand - whatever the apostle may have supposed to be true on that point - but that he was prepared for it; all the arrangements were made with reference to it; there was nothing to hinder it.

To judge the quick and the dead - The living and the dead; that is, those who shall be alive when he comes, and those in their graves. This is a common phrase to denote all who shall be brought before the bar of God for judgment. See the Acts 10:42 note; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 notes; 2 Timothy 4:1 note. The meaning in this connection seems to be, that they should bear their trials and the opposition which they would meet with patiently, not feeling that they were forgotten, nor attempting to avenge themselves; for the Lord would vindicate them when he should come to judgment, and call those who had injured them to an account for all the wrongs which they had done to the children of God.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. They who now call you to account falsely, shall have to give account themselves for this very evil-speaking (Jude 15), and be condemned justly.

ready—very speedily (1Pe 4:7; 2Pe 3:10). Christ's coming is to the believer always near.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Who shall give account to him; of their evil speaking as well as of other sins, Judges 1:15; it is a metaphor taken from stewards giving account to their masters, Matthew 18:23 Luke 16:2.

That is ready; not only prepared for it, but at hand to do it, Jam 5:9.

To judge the quick and the dead; those that shall be alive at Christ’s coming, and those that died before, but then shall be raised, and brought to judgment. Hereby he intimates, for their comfort, that though their enemies and ill-willers might outlive them, yet they shall not escape God’s judgment.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

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. This the apostle says, to calm the minds of God's people, and make them to sit easy under all censures, reproaches, and calumnies, and not think of avenging themselves, but commit themselves to him that will judge righteously; even to him,

that is ready to judge the quick and the dead; that is, all men, such as will be found alive when he comes, and those that have died before, who will then be raised from the dead, to receive their judgment; and by whom is meant the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all judgment is committed; and who is ordained to be the Judge of quick and dead, and will judge both at his appearing and kingdom; yea, the day is appointed when this judgment will proceed by him, and he is at the door; so that he may be truly said to be ready for it, as he is every way equal to it, and will finish it with righteousness.

Geneva Study Bible

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

1 Peter 4:5 points to the judgment which awaits the evil-speaking heathen: οἱ ἀποδώσουσι λόγον] ἀποδ. λόγον (Matthew 12:36; Hebrews 13:17; Acts 19:40). Antithesis to αἰτεῖν λόγον, chap. 1 Peter 3:15.

τῷ ἑτοίμως ἔχοντι] “that is, the Saviour risen, and seated at the right hand, chap. 1 Peter 3:22,” de Wette.

The expression: ἑτοίμως ἔχειν, “to be ready,” with the exception of here, only in Acts 21:13; 2 Corinthians 12:14.

κρῖναι ξῶντας καὶ νεκρούς] As often in the N. T. of the last judgment, which by ἑτοίμ. ἔχ. is pointed out as near at hand; comp. 1 Peter 4:7. ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς does not denote some dead and some alive, but the aggregate of all, whether they be living or already dead when the day of judgment comes; comp. Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1.[239] It is erroneous to understand by the quick and the dead the Christians only (Wichelhaus, Schott), or those who speak evil only. Peter, by naming Him to whom the evil-speakers shall render an account, the Judge of the quick and the dead, implies thereby that they are not to remain unpunished, whether they die before the day of judgment or not. And this, as a testimony to the justice of God, should serve to comfort the Christians under the calumnies which they had to endure, and exhort them not to be led aside by them to a denial of their Christian walk.

It must further be observed, that this passage adds the last to those elements of the glory of the exalted Saviour mentioned at the close of the last chapter, namely, the office of judge which He will execute at the end of the days.

[239] Gerhard: vivos, quos judex veniens reperiet vivos, mortuos, quos ex sepulcris in vitam revocabit. Several commentators erroneously understand the words ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς in a figurative sense; Joh. Huss: vivos in gratia ad beatitudinem, mortuos in culpa ad damnationem; Bened. Arias: vivos adhuc in carne illa Adami: mortuos in Christo.

Expositor's Greek Testament

1 Peter 4:5. ἀποδώσουσιν λόγον, will render account—if of their blasphemy, cf. Matthew 12:36, if of their ἀσωτία (see note) cf. the steward of Luke 16:2.—τῷ ἑτοίμως κρίνοντι, i.e., to Christ rather than to God (as 1 Peter 1:17). The Christians took over the Jewish doctrine that every man must give an account of his life (Romans 14:10). As already Enoch (lxix. 27 = John 5:22; John 5:27) taught that this judgment was delegated to Messiah. So St. Peter said at Caesarea this is he that hath been appointed by God judge of living and dead (Acts 10:43). Compare Matthew 25:31 ff. for a more primitive and pictorial statement. The use of ἑτοίμως probably represents עתיד (see 1 Peter 1:5) i.e., the future judge; Greek readers would understand the imminent judge (cf. use of ἑτοίμως = ready, sure to come, Homer, Il., xviii. 96, etc.). The 5., ἑ. ἔχοντι κρῖναι softens the rugged original.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. who shall give account] The phrase is one of the many echoes in this Epistle of our Lord’s teaching (Luke 16:2). The thought of the Final Judgment from which there will be no appeal is made here, as in 1 Corinthians 4:5, a motive for patience and courage under the false accusations and unjust judgments of men. They who now demand an account (chap. 1 Peter 3:15) will one day have to render it. Christ holds Himself in readiness to judge both the living and the dead. There is nothing in the context to lead us to any other than a literal interpretation of the familiar phraseology. Commentators who have taken the words of those who are spiritually living and spiritually dead have been led, for the most part, by their unwillingness to accept the natural meaning of the words that follow.

Bengel's Gnomen

1 Peter 4:5. Ἀποδώσουσι λόγου, shall give account) in particular of their evil speaking: Judges 1:15.—τῷ) to Christ.—ἑτοίμως ἔχοντι, who is ready) The apostles, when they do not professedly treat of the time of Christ’s coming, set forth that coming as close at hand to their expectation and piety: hence it is that Peter comprehends those who then reviled under the living, as though shortly about to be judged.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. The judgment is at hand; the Judge standeth before the door; all men, quick and dead alike, must give account to him. It is better to suffer now for well-doing than then for evil-doing. Men call you to give account now (1 Peter 3:15); they themselves must give account to God. 1 Peter 4:5

Vincent's Word Studies

That is ready (ἑτοίμως ἔχοντι)

Lit., having himself in readiness; there at God's right hand in heaven, whither he has gone (1 Peter 3:22). Implying, also, a near judgment. Compare 1 Peter 4:7.