“If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14).
This passage highlights a word that has faded from use in many modern day vocabularies: “reproached.” A contemporary thesaurus would link this word to things like criticism, condemnation, or reprimand. Another source offers a definition of this word in the original language of this verse, along with several Biblical examples to illustrate its use…
- to censure, inveigh against, Mat_11:20; Mar_16:14;
- to reproach or revile, Jas_1:5;
- to revile, insult with insulting language, Mat_5:11. (1)
While no reasonable person would deliberately try to elicit those responses from others, conflicts are inevitable between those who follow a value system that does not acknowledge the God of the Scriptures and those who place Him at the forefront of their priorities. Therefore, this passage reminds us that those who live for Christ and follow His example are blessed in a world that is filled with those who have little use for Him.
This brings us to a quotation from our look at 1 Peter chapter three that bears repeating…
“We should not expect those at enmity with God to be friendly toward his apologists. Jesus made this clear when he warned, ‘If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you’ (John 15:18). Paul later confirms the veracity of the Lord’s words, both in his own experience and in the conclusion drawn therefrom: ‘Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’ (2 Tim. 3:12). Yet Paul’s admonition, like Peter’s, is that we ‘bless those who persecute [us]; bless and do not curse them’ (Rom. 12:14).” (2)
In these instances, we can find comfort and encouragement in our text from 1 Peter and its affirmation that the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon us when such things take place.
Depending on its context, this word “glory” can take on several different meanings. In the original language of the Old Testament, this word communicated the idea of heaviness, weight, and/or substance. (3) In the New Testament, “glory” refers to a good opinion that results in praise and honor for the person under consideration. (4) Thus, we can be assured of God’s praiseworthy and honorable presence whenever we are reproached for the name of Christ.
(1) G3679 oneidizo Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/oneidizo
(2) Baucham, V., Jr. (2015). Expository Apologetics: Answering Objections with the Power of the Word. Wheaton, IL: Crossway. Page 19.
(3) See H3513 – kabad https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3513
(4) See G1391 – doxa https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?t=kjv&strongs=g1391