◄ 1 Peter 4:16 ►
But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
Study Bible
But if you suffer
The phrase "if you suffer" acknowledges the reality of suffering in the Christian life. The Greek word for "suffer" is "πάσχω" (paschō), which implies experiencing pain or hardship. Historically, early Christians faced persecution for their faith, often enduring physical, social, and economic hardships. This suffering is not a matter of "if" but "when," as it is a common experience for those who follow Christ. The Apostle Peter is encouraging believers to prepare their hearts and minds for such trials, understanding that suffering is part of the Christian journey.

as a Christian
The term "Christian" was initially used as a derogatory label by non-believers in Antioch (Acts 11:26). The Greek word "Χριστιανός" (Christianos) means "follower of Christ." By the time Peter wrote this epistle, the term had been embraced by believers as a badge of honor. It signifies a deep, personal identification with Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior. In a historical context, being called a Christian often meant facing societal rejection and persecution, yet it also affirmed one's commitment to living according to Christ's teachings.

do not be ashamed
The exhortation "do not be ashamed" is a call to boldness and confidence in one's faith. The Greek word "αἰσχύνω" (aischynō) means to feel shame or disgrace. In a culture where honor and shame were significant social constructs, being associated with a crucified Messiah could be seen as shameful. However, Peter encourages believers to reject this societal pressure and instead find honor in their association with Christ. This reflects a transformative perspective where earthly shame is overshadowed by heavenly glory.

but glorify God
To "glorify God" means to honor and praise Him, even in the midst of suffering. The Greek word "δοξάζω" (doxazō) implies giving glory, recognizing God's supreme worth and majesty. Historically, the early church understood that their trials were opportunities to demonstrate the power and presence of God in their lives. By maintaining faith and integrity under persecution, believers could reflect God's glory to a watching world, turning their suffering into a testimony of His grace and strength.

that you bear that name
The phrase "that you bear that name" refers to the identity and privilege of being called a Christian. The Greek word "ὄνομα" (onoma) means "name" and signifies authority, character, and reputation. Bearing the name of Christ is both a responsibility and an honor. In the historical context, names carried deep significance, often reflecting one's heritage and destiny. For believers, bearing the name of Christ means living in a way that honors Him, embracing the call to be His representatives on earth. This identity is a source of strength and purpose, even amidst trials.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Peter
The apostle Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, is the author of this epistle. He writes to encourage and instruct believers facing persecution.

2. Christians
The term "Christian" was first used in Antioch (Acts 11:26) and refers to followers of Christ. In this context, it highlights those who suffer for their faith.

3. Persecution
The early church faced significant persecution from both Jewish and Roman authorities. This letter addresses the suffering and trials faced by believers.

4. God
The ultimate source of strength and the one to be glorified in the midst of suffering.

5. Asia Minor
The region where the recipients of Peter's letter were located, facing trials and persecution for their faith.
Teaching Points
Embrace the Name of Christ
Bearing the name "Christian" is an honor. Embrace it with pride, even in suffering.

Glorify God in Suffering
Use trials as an opportunity to glorify God. Your response can be a powerful testimony to others.

Do Not Be Ashamed
Shame is a tool of the enemy. Stand firm in your identity in Christ, knowing that suffering for Him is a mark of true discipleship.

Perspective on Suffering
View suffering as a participation in Christ's own sufferings, which brings you closer to Him and strengthens your faith.

Community Support
Lean on your Christian community for support and encouragement during times of persecution.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the historical context of persecution in the early church help us relate to 1 Peter 4:16 today?

2. In what ways can we glorify God when we face ridicule or opposition for our faith in modern society?

3. How can the examples of Peter and the apostles in Acts inspire us to respond to suffering for Christ?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure we are not ashamed of our Christian identity in challenging situations?

5. How can we support fellow believers who are suffering for their faith, both locally and globally?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 5:11-12
Jesus speaks about the blessing of being persecuted for righteousness, encouraging believers to rejoice in such circumstances.

Acts 5:41
The apostles rejoice for being counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name, illustrating the attitude Peter encourages.

Romans 8:17
Paul speaks about sharing in Christ's sufferings, which aligns with Peter's message of suffering as a Christian.

Philippians 1:29
Paul emphasizes that suffering for Christ is a privilege granted to believers.
Sermons
A Hint to MeddlersScientific Illustrations1 Peter 4:12-16
A Rejoicing HeartAbp. Leighton.1 Peter 4:12-16
Afflictions are TrialsJohn Rogers.1 Peter 4:12-16
Mind Your Own BusinessGreat Thoughts1 Peter 4:12-16
Not So StrangeF. B. Meyer, B. A.1 Peter 4:12-16
Participation in Christ's SufferingsBp. Boyd Carpenter.1 Peter 4:12-16
Participation in the Sufferings of ChristJ. Caird, D. D.1 Peter 4:12-16
Righteous and Evil SufferingJ. J. S. Bird, B. A.1 Peter 4:12-16
The BusybodyH. Melvill, B. D.1 Peter 4:12-16
The Christian's PersecutionsJ. J. S. Bird, B. A.1 Peter 4:12-16
The Proper Temper of Christians in AfflictionThe Evangelist1 Peter 4:12-16
Trial no Strange Thing to the ChristianH. Melvill, B. D.1 Peter 4:12-16
Trials no Strange ThingN. L. Frothingham.1 Peter 4:12-16
Fiery Trial Among the ChristiansR. Finlayson 1 Peter 4:12-19
The Joyous Aspect of Suffering for Christ a Help to Persecuted ChristiansC. New 1 Peter 4:12-19
Suffering, Shameful and GloriousU.R. Thomas 1 Peter 4:15-19
The Character and Privileges of a ChristianJ. Parsons.1 Peter 4:16-19
The Christian DescribedW. Jay.1 Peter 4:16-19
The Pious Sufferer Exhorted to Glorify GodSketches of Four Hundred Sermons1 Peter 4:16-19
The Two-Fold SorrowE. J. Hardy, M. A.1 Peter 4:16-19
People
Peter
Places
Asia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, Galatia, Pontus
Topics
Anyone, Ashamed, Bear, Behalf, Christian, Glorify, Glory, However, Matter, Permitted, Praise, Punishment, Respect, Shame, Suffer, Suffereth, Suffers, Undergoes, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Peter 4:16

     5947   shame
     7120   Christians
     8797   persecution, attitudes

1 Peter 4:12-16

     1620   beatitudes, the
     5115   Peter, preacher and teacher
     8484   spiritual warfare, enemies

1 Peter 4:12-19

     2425   gospel, requirements
     8215   confidence, results

1 Peter 4:15-16

     8730   enemies, of believers

Library
Christian Asceticism
'Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. 2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4. Wherein they think it …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

June the Twenty-Sixth Crucifying the Flesh
"Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind." --1 PETER iv. 1-8. Let not the body be dominant, but the soul. Let me study the example and counsel of the Apostle Paul. "I keep my body under." Literally, I pummel it! If it is obtrusive and aggressive, its appetites clamouring for supremacy, I pummel it! Paul was not afraid of severe measures where carnality was concerned. He would fast a whole day in order to put the flesh in its place. And so should it be with all the Lord's children. We are …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Personal Experience
In conclusion I desire to add my humble testimony of a personal experience of the glorious work of entire sanctification. At the age of seventeen years I was converted. All who were acquainted with me had no reason to doubt the genuine, inwrought grace of pardon and the new life which at once began to bring forth fruit unto God. But the one to whom this mighty change seemed the most marvelous was myself. My poor soul, which for several years had been held under the terrible bondage and darkness of …
J. W. Byers—Sanctification

The Old Man and the New.
"That we being dead unto sin should live unto righteousness."--1 Peter iv. 24. The Psalmist sings: "They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." (Psalm lxxxiv. 7) We must maintain this glorious testimony, altho our own experience often seems to contradict it. Not experience, but the Scripture, teaches us divine truth; nor is it as tho the procedure of the divine operation in our own heart could differ from the testimony of the Sacred Scripture, but that our …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Man's Chief End
Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

A Battle with Smallpox
Soon after we began work in the city, my brother George went out to assist in a meeting at Edgewood, Iowa. A mother desired prayer for her little girl, so my brother and another minister laid hands on her and prayed for her healing. The mother said that some one thought her child was taking smallpox, but that she was sure it was a mistake. The ministers saw a few little pimples on the child's lip and asked her if the same breaking-out was on other parts of her body. The mother's answer was, "None …
Mary Cole—Trials and Triumphs of Faith

A Nickname Accepted
'The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch' --ACTS xi. 26. Nations and parties, both political and religious, very often call themselves by one name, and are known to the outside world by another. These outside names are generally given in contempt; and yet they sometimes manage to hit the very centre of the characteristics of the people on whom they are bestowed, and so by degrees get to be adopted by them, and worn as an honour. So it has been with the name 'Christian.' It was given …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Of Avoiding of Curious Inquiry into the Life of Another
"My Son, be not curious, nor trouble thyself with vain cares. What is that to thee? Follow thou Me.(1) For what is it to thee whether a man be this or that, or say or do thus or thus? Thou hast no need to answer for others, but thou must give an answer for thyself. Why therefore dost thou entangle thyself? Behold, I know all men, and I behold all things which are done under the sun; and I know how it standeth with each one, what he thinketh, what he willeth, and to what end his thoughts reach. …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Some Other Writers of the New Testament
[Illustration: (drop cap L) Ancient engraving of man reading scroll] Let us now look at the rest of the books which make up the New Testament. In the days when Paul preached at Athens, the old capital of Greece, much of the ancient splendour and power of the Greek people had passed away, for the Romans had conquered their country, and they were no longer a free nation. Yet, although the Greeks had been forced to yield to Rome, their conquerors knew that the Grecian scholars and artists were far …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians at the Table of the Lord;
COMPRISING I. HIS CONFESSION OF FAITH, AND REASON OF HIS PRACTICE; II. DIFFERENCES ABOUT WATER BAPTISM NO BAR TO COMMUNION; AND III. PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES AND TRUE[1] ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Reader, these are extraordinary productions that will well repay an attentive perusal. It is the confession of faith of a Christian who had suffered nearly twelve years' imprisonment, under persecution for conscience sake. Shut up with his Bible, you have here the result of a prayerful study of those holy …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Wilderness State
"Ye now have sorrow: But I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." John 16:22. 1. After God had wrought a great deliverance for Israel, by bringing them out of the house of bondage, they did not immediately enter into the land which he had promised to their fathers; but "wandered out of the way in the wilderness," and were variously tempted and distressed. In like manner, after God has delivered them that fear him from the bondage of sin and Satan; …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Of the Power of the Church in Articles of Faith. The Unbridled Licence of the Papal Church in Destroying Purity of Doctrine.
1. The marks and government of the Church having been considered in the seven previous chapters, the power of the Church is now considered under three heads--viz. Doctrine, Legislation, Jurisdiction. 2. The authority and power given to Church-officers not given to themselves, but their office. This shown in the case of Moses and the Levitical priesthood. 3. The same thing shown in the case of the Prophets. 4. Same thing shown in the case of the Apostles, and of Christ himself. 5. The Church astricted …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Disciple, -- what is the Meaning and Purpose of the Cross...
The Disciple,--What is the meaning and purpose of the cross, and why do pain and suffering exist in the world? The Master,--1. The cross is the key to heaven. At the moment when by My baptism I took the cross upon My shoulders for the sake of sinners, heaven was opened, and by means of My thirty-three years bearing of the cross and by death upon it, heaven, which by reason of sin was closed to believers, was for ever opened to them. Now as soon as believers take up their cross and follow Me they …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
BY JOHN BUNYAN. London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1684. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. THIS valuable treatise was first published in a pocket volume in 1684, and has only been reprinted in Whitfield's edition of Bunyan's works, 2 vols. folio, 1767. No man could have been better qualified to give advice to sufferers for righteousness' sake, than John Bunyan: and this work is exclusively devoted to that object. Shut up in a noisome jail, under the iron hand of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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