But if you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
αλλα καθο κοινωνειτε τοις του χριστου παθημασιν χαιρετε ινα και εν τη αποκαλυψει της δοξης αυτου χαρητε αγαλλιωμενοι
5 Church Fathers comment on this verse
To this he added something most blessed of all: those who endure these things are like their Teacher, Christ. Now they endure dishonor together with Him, so that in the age to come they may also be glorified together with Him. In this all striving reaches its end.
That is, if you are righteous, suffer for the sake of righteousness, because Christ also suffered for the sake of righteousness.
But insofar as you partake, and so forth. By sufferings, calamities, and sorrows endured for the name of Christ, a Christian becomes a partaker of Christ's sufferings. In this lies his greatest consolation amid these calamities and sufferings: "rejoice," for in this he stands in close communion with Christ. A Christian partakes of Christ's sufferings when, for Christ's sake, he endures sufferings from the sinful world, as Christ endured them from it. Through sufferings Christ entered into glory (Lk 24:26). So also the Christian, partaking in sufferings with Christ and for Christ, has an undoubted hope of sharing His glory as well. This is another great consolation for him when he bears sufferings for Christ.
The Apostle expresses this in the following words: "that you may also rejoice and triumph at the revelation of His glory." More precisely, "that you may rejoice with gladness," or "in gladness," signifying an intensified joy. The expression "revelation of glory," or "glorious revelation," here denotes the second and glorious coming of Christ. Then true followers of Christ, and here more particularly those who share in Christ's sufferings, will be granted full blessedness in the eternal glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. Then, in contrast to their sufferings here, they will rejoice and be glad in glory (Mt 25:31 and following).
Instructions to martyrs (1 Pet 4:12-19). "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial sent to test you, as though some strange thing had happened to you." Having said, for their consolation. That the martyrs "will rejoice and triumph at the revelation of Christ's glory," the Apostle adds: "Only let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or as one who encroaches on what belongs to another. But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God for such a lot." "For," the Apostle adds, "the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. And if it begins first with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of God?" By these added words the Apostle clearly wishes to instill the following thought.
At the present time we must endure persecutions for the Christian faith, for this is the time of its spread throughout the world. But can the world allow this without a struggle? Naturally, it will set all its powers against the faith and raise every possible persecution against its confessors. Thus judgment, that is, sufferings, persecutions, and calamities, must first weigh upon the Kingdom of God, upon the Church. Then they will break forth upon her enemies, upon the unbelieving, as God's punishment. "And if the righteous man," the Apostle reasons, "is scarcely saved," that is, reaches the blessed state only through sufferings, "where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" "Therefore. " the Apostle concludes, "let those who suffer according to the will of God, and not according to their own will, entrust their souls to Him as to a second Creator, while doing good."
Returning to his main thought, namely consolation amid sufferings, the Apostle calls the trial that has overtaken Christians fiery. He does not mean this literally, but in the same sense as before, when he compared trials to fire that purifies gold in the furnace (see 1 Pet 1:7). The resemblance between that passage and the present one continues further, namely in the mention of the joy and triumph of those who suffer on the day of Christ's glory. Here only one thought is added: that Christians, by suffering, take part in Christ's sufferings. This participation in Christ's sufferings consists first of all in their suffering innocently, bearing their sufferings with meekness and patience.
"Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven," Jesus Christ says to those who suffer (Mt 5:12). Yet apart from the reward, the very consciousness of sharing in Christ's sufferings can be a mighty support in Christian sufferings. This is all the more so because the Lord will not abandon those who suffer and die for Him. "He who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me," Jesus Christ says to the Apostles (Lk 10:16).
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 18 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS