Play on Words

Native speakers can make puns and play on words that often go unnoticed by foreign readers or in translations. A college friend told me, “A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it is two tired.” It took me a while to understand his humor. Recently, I told my colleagues I was a pessimist because my blood type was B-negative, and some didn’t get it.

After saying to his congregation that they should offer hospitality (filo-zenos), Peter used the root word, zenos, two more times:

“Beloved, do not be a guest (zenizo), i.e., unfamiliar, to the fiery tests that come to you as you partake in them as strangers (zenos). Instead, rejoice in the suffering as if you are partaking in the suffering of Christ so that in his glorious revelation you may rejoice as joyful ones.” (1 Pet 4:12–13)

Perhaps Peter’s audience didn’t anticipate their persecution. After all, they weren’t in partnership with the Judean Hebrews, who rebelled against the Roman empire and were destroyed by Rome. So when Rome started persecuting them, they would have been surprised as if they were strangers to these persecutions. Nevertheless, they were to have a good attitude. They were to rejoice amidst their sufferings, not for the sufferings but because they were partaking in Christ’ssufferings. The scriptures often talk about Christians suffering along with Christ. Paul, for example, said that he was fulfilling the sufferings that were lacking in Christ (Col 1:24). Peter, too, wanted his audience to imagine or realize that their sufferings were participation with Christ’s sufferings! When they patiently and sternly endured them, they would have something to rejoice in at the Lord’s visitation.

Further,

“If they were insulted in Christ’s name, they were blessed because the glorious Spirit of the Lord rested with them.” (1 Pet 4:14)

People going through persecution or insults might feel alone and lonely, but that was the contrary. God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, was with them when they suffered, and he never left them alone. Although they didn’t seek suffering or insults, they were to endure them patiently, knowing they were participating in Christ’s suffering and the Holy Spirit was with them.

The situation was different, however, when they suffered as “murderers, thieves, evildoers, and meddlers in other businesses” (1 Pet 4:15). This above-stated blessing of God’s presence in persecutions abided only on those who suffered as Christianos, i.e., “Christ-people” or “Christians” (1 Pet 4:16). When they did nothing wrong but suffered only because they were Christians, then they shouldn’t be ashamed because they were praising God by their actions (1 Pet 4:16). God always began examining the goodness of his people first; that’s why God’s people should always live an exemplary life (1 Pet 4:17–19).

We rarely face persecution for being Christians in this generation except in a few locations. But when persecutions come our way because we are Christians, we must endure them patiently. Our endurance, without insulting others who cause us suffering, will bring glory to God. This lesson is easier to say than to do. But I pray that God will give us the strength to endure suffering.