The Meaning of 1 Peter 4:14 Explained

1 Peter 4:14

KJV: If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

YLT: if ye be reproached in the name of Christ -- happy are ye, because the Spirit of glory and of God upon you doth rest; in regard, indeed, to them, he is evil-spoken of, and in regard to you, he is glorified;

Darby: If ye are reproached in the name of Christ, blessed are ye; for the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rests upon you: on their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.

ASV: If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye ; because the'spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If  ye be reproached  for  the name  of Christ,  happy  [are ye]; for  the spirit  of glory  and  of God  resteth  upon  you:  on  their part  he is evil spoken of,  but  on  your part  he is glorified. 

What does 1 Peter 4:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

When people revile, insult, and reject us for being followers of Jesus Christ, they may curse us, but their curses are really blessings from God ( Matthew 5:11-12).
"To be insulted is not simply to receive a rebuke ( 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16; 1 Peter 4:5), but ... it means to be rejected by the society (or even by humanity)." [1]
Their curses become blessings because the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of glory, already indwells us. The "and" here (Gr. kai) may be ascensive, meaning "even." Peter"s thought was that the indwelling Holy Spirit is already part of our glorification, the firstfruits of our inheritance. As the Israelites enjoyed the presence of God in the fiery pillar even during their wilderness testing, so we enjoy His presence during our wilderness experience.
"The world believes that the absence of suffering means glory, but a Christian"s outlook is different....
". . . suffering Christians do not have to wait for heaven in order to experience His glory. Through the Holy Spirit, they can have the glory now. This explains how martyrs could sing praises to God while bound in the midst of blazing fires. It also explains how persecuted Christians (and there are many in today"s world) can go to prison and to death without complaining or resisting their captors." [2]

Context Summary

1 Peter 4:12-19 - Suffering As A Christian
We are called upon to share our Savior's sufferings-not those of His substitution, but His daily self-denial, the hatred of men, the anguish of His soul over the obstinacy and opposition of the world. The soldier who is nearest his leader, charging through the mêlée of the fight, is likely to get the same treatment as is meted out to his prince. It is not strange! It would be strange if it were not so, and if the traits in us that characterize our Lord did not win the same hatred as they won for Him.
The salvation of the righteous is a task of enormous difficulty. It requires the dead-lift of Omnipotence. Nothing less will suffice than the infinite grace of the Father, the blood of the Son, and the patience of the Holy Spirit. What will be the fate of those who refuse these! Will they appear at the marriage-supper of the Lamb; and if not-where! What a beautiful closing verse! The committal of the soul, not only to the Savior, but to the Creator. After all, He who made can best understand, adjust and satisfy the nature which He Himself has given! [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Peter 4

1  He exhorts them to cease from sin and live fore God,
12  and comforts them against persecution

Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 4:14

If ye are reproached [ει ονειδιζεστε]
Condition of first class assumed as true with ει — ei and present passive indicative of ονειδιζω — oneidizō for which verb see James 1:5. [source]
For the name of Christ [εν ονοματι Χριστου]
“In the matter of the name of Christ.” For the idea see Matthew 5:11.; Matthew 19:29; Acts 5:41; Acts 9:16; Acts 21:13. This is the only N.T. example of just ονομα Χριστου — onoma Christou here used because of the use of Χριστιανος — Christianos in 1 Peter 4:16. For the beatitude μακαριοι — makarioi see Matthew 5:11.The Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God (το της δοχης και το του τεου πνευμα — to tēs doxēs kai to tou theou pneuma). Note repetition of the article (το — to) though πνευμα — pneuma only once. The reference is to the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Glory and of God.Resteth upon you Quotation from Isaiah 11:2. Present middle indicative of αναπαυω — anapauō to give rest, refresh (Matthew 11:28). “He rests upon the Christian as the Shechinah rested upon the tabernacle” (Bigg). Cf. 1 Peter 1:8; Matthew 3:16. [source]
The Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God [το της δοχης και το του τεου πνευμα]
Note repetition of the article (το — to) though πνευμα — pneuma only once. The reference is to the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Glory and of God. [source]
Resteth upon you [επ ημας αναπαυεται]
Quotation from Isaiah 11:2. Present middle indicative of αναπαυω — anapauō to give rest, refresh (Matthew 11:28). “He rests upon the Christian as the Shechinah rested upon the tabernacle” (Bigg). Cf. 1 Peter 1:8; Matthew 3:16. [source]
The spirit of glory and of God [τὸ τῆς δόξης καὶ τὸ τοῦ Φεοῦ πνεῦμα]
Lit., the spirit of glory and that of God. The repetition of the article identifies the spirit of God with the spirit of glory: the spirit of glory, and therefore the spirit of God: who is none other than the spirit of God himself. Hence Rev., better, the spirit of glory and the spirit of God. [source]
Resteth [ἀναπαύεται]
Compare Isaiah 11:2; Luke 10:6; Numbers 11:25, Numbers 11:26; Mark 6:31; Matthew 26:45; Revelation 14:13. Also, Matthew 11:28, where the word is used in the active voice, to give rest or refreshment. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Peter 4:14

John 15:21 Unto you [εις υμας]
Like the dative υμιν — humin (Textus Receptus) as in the papyri and modern Greek (Robertson, Grammar, p. 594). For my name‘s sake See John 15:20. See this same warning and language in Matthew 10:22; Mark 13:13; Matthew 24:9; Luke 21:17). There is little difference in meaning from ενεκεν μου — heneken mou (Mark 13:9; Luke 21:12). Loyalty to the name of Christ will bring persecution as they will soon know (Acts 5:41; Philemon 1:29; 1 Peter 4:14). About the world‘s ignorance of God see Luke 23:34; Acts 3:17; John 16:3. [source]
Hebrews 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ [ἡγησάμενος τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ]
The participle gives the reason for his choice of affliction instead of sin: since he esteemed. “The reproach of Christ” is the reproach peculiar to Christ; such as he endured. The writer uses it as a current form of expression, coloring the story of Moses with a Christian tinge. Comp. Romans 15:3; Hebrews 13:13; 2 Corinthians 1:5; Colossians 1:24; Philemon 3:14; 1 Peter 4:14. The phrase is applied to Moses as enduring at the hands of the Egyptians and of the rebellious Israelites the reproach which any faithful servant of God will endure, and which was endured in a notable way by Christ. [source]
James 2:7 The honourable name [το καλον ονομα]
“The beautiful name.”By the which ye were called (το επικλητεν επ υμας — to epiklēthen eph' humās). “The one called upon you” (first aorist passive articular participle of επικαλεω — epikaleō to put a name upon, to give a surname to, as Acts 10:18). What name is that? Almost certainly the name of Christ as we see it in Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:14, 1 Peter 4:16. It was blasphemy to speak against Christ as some Jews and Gentiles were doing (Acts 13:45; Acts 18:6; Acts 26:11; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Timothy 1:13). Cf. Acts 15:17. [source]
James 2:7 By the which ye were called [το επικλητεν επ υμας]
“The one called upon you” (first aorist passive articular participle of επικαλεω — epikaleō to put a name upon, to give a surname to, as Acts 10:18). What name is that? Almost certainly the name of Christ as we see it in Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:14, 1 Peter 4:16. It was blasphemy to speak against Christ as some Jews and Gentiles were doing (Acts 13:45; Acts 18:6; Acts 26:11; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Timothy 1:13). Cf. Acts 15:17. [source]
1 Peter 1:7 Praise and glory and honor []
Such is the order of the best texts, and so Rev. Glory and honor often occur together in the New Testament, as Romans 2:7, Romans 2:10; 1 Timothy 1:17. Only here with praise. Compare spirit of glory, 1 Peter 4:14. [source]
Revelation 4:8 They rest not [ἀνάπαυσιν οὐκ ἔχουσιν]
Lit., they have no rest. So Rev. See on give rest, Matthew 11:28; and see on resteth, 1 Peter 4:14. [source]
Revelation 14:11 Rest [ἀνάπαυσιν]
See on give rest, Matthew 11:28, and see on resteth, 1 Peter 4:14. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Peter 4:14 mean?

If you are insulted in [the] name of Christ [you are] blessed because the - of glory and - - of God Spirit upon you rests on indeed their [part] He is blasphemed on however your [part] He is glorified
Εἰ ὀνειδίζεσθε ἐν ὀνόματι Χριστοῦ μακάριοι ὅτι τὸ τῆς δόξης καὶ τὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ Πνεῦμα ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς ἀναπαύεται ⧼κατὰ μὲν αὐτοὺς βλασφημεῖται κατὰ δὲ ὑμᾶς δοξάζεται⧽

ὀνειδίζεσθε  you  are  insulted 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ὀνειδίζω  
Sense: to reproach, upbraid, revile.
ὀνόματι  [the]  name 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ὄνομα  
Sense: name: univ.
Χριστοῦ  of  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
μακάριοι  [you  are]  blessed 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: μακάριος  
Sense: blessed, happy.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
τῆς  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δόξης  of  glory 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: δόξα  
Sense: opinion, judgment, view.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
Πνεῦμα  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
ἐφ’  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
ἀναπαύεται  rests 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀναπαύω  
Sense: to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength.
μὲν  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέν  
Sense: truly, certainly, surely, indeed.
αὐτοὺς  their  [part] 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
βλασφημεῖται  He  is  blasphemed 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: βλασφημέω 
Sense: to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ὑμᾶς  your  [part] 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
δοξάζεται⧽  He  is  glorified 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δοξάζω  
Sense: to think, suppose, be of opinion.