“Since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. … Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1 Peter 4:1, 13-14)
The most prominent and recurring theme in 1 Peter is suffering. In every chapter of his letter Peter speaks of Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 1:11; 2:21-24; 3:18; 4:1, 13; 5:1). Elsewhere, Peter admonishes us on the blessing and honor of suffering for Jesus’ sake (1 Peter 1:6-7; 2:19-21; 3:14-17; 4:1, 12-16, 19; 5:8-10) and the futility and dishonor of suffering for wrongdoing (1 Peter 2:20; 3:17; 4:15). But why all this talk on suffering?
Peter was writing at a time when the believers of Asia Minor were being persecuted for their faith. These persecutions were probably unofficial and localized – as opposed to the Imperial persecutions which were looming on the horizon. They consisting of localized outbursts of hatred and persecution by the populace and city officials. They were, however, quite intense and were rattling the faith of many believers (1 Peter 1:6-7). Indeed, Peter even compares them to the sufferings Jesus suffered (1 Peter 4:1, 15) and their lethality to the penalty of murderers (1 Peter 4:14).
