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.
1 Peter 4:14 nkjv
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 niv
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 4:14 esv
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
1 Peter 4:14 nlt
If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.
1 Peter 4 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 5:10 | "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake..." | Direct connection to blessedness in persecution. |
| Matt 5:11 | "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and... say all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." | Specific mention of reviling for Christ's sake. |
| Lk 6:22 | "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you... and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!" | Blessedness in being reviled for Christ. |
| Acts 5:41 | "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name." | Joy in suffering reproach for Christ's name. |
| Phil 1:29 | "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake..." | Suffering as a divine gift. |
| Col 1:24 | "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body..." | Sharing in Christ's suffering. |
| 2 Tim 2:12 | "if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us..." | Enduring suffering for future glory. |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..." | Persecution as a normal part of godly living. |
| Rom 8:17 | "and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." | Suffering with Christ leads to glory. |
| 2 Cor 1:5 | "For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." | Comfort abounds amidst suffering. |
| 2 Cor 4:17 | "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison..." | Present suffering preparing future glory. |
| Heb 10:33 | "partly by being made a public spectacle through insults and affliction..." | Believers facing public reproach. |
| Jas 1:12 | "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life..." | Steadfastness in trial leads to blessedness. |
| 1 Pet 3:14 | "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled..." | Direct parallel to suffering for righteousness. |
| Isa 11:2 | "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." | The Spirit resting on an individual (Messiah). |
| Num 11:25-26 | "Then the Lord came down in a cloud... and put the Spirit that was on him on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied..." | The Spirit resting on many, enabling divine work. |
| Exod 40:34 | "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." | God's glory dwelling (resting) among His people. |
| Ezek 10:4 | "Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherubim where it had been and moved to the threshold of the temple..." | God's glory associated with divine presence. |
| Rom 8:11 | "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." | The indwelling Spirit's life-giving power. |
| Eph 1:13 | "...when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit..." | The Spirit as a seal and guarantee. |
| 1 Jn 3:1 | "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." | Children of God identification may lead to hatred. |
| Jn 15:18-19 | "If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you... because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." | The world's hatred of Christ's followers. |
| Jn 16:33 | "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." | Assurance in tribulation. |
1 Peter 4 verses
1 Peter 4 14 Meaning
First Peter 4:14 conveys profound blessedness for believers who suffer reproach for their identification with Christ. It asserts that such suffering is not a mark of divine displeasure, but rather an occasion for experiencing a special, tangible presence of the Holy Spirit, described as the "Spirit of glory and of God." This divine indwelling brings honor and blessedness, transforming what the world sees as disgrace into spiritual triumph and a unique glorification of God.
1 Peter 4 14 Context
First Peter chapter 4 transitions from enduring suffering for good (3:13-18) to enduring suffering simply for being identified with Christ (4:1-19). Peter prepares his readers for the "fiery trial" that is coming upon them, encouraging them not to be surprised by it (v. 12). He urges them to "rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed" (v. 13). Verse 14 is presented as the immediate consequence and blessed reality for those who fulfill this exhortation, experiencing reproach for Christ's name. The broader context of 1 Peter emphasizes Christian living as "aliens and exiles" (2:11), calling for submission to authorities (2:13-17), honorable conduct (2:12), and love for one another (1:22, 4:8), all while facing persecution for their faith in a hostile world. Peter encourages a proper perspective on suffering, seeing it as participation in Christ's experience, a path to sanctification, and a precursor to future glory. The specific historical context was likely a period of increasing societal suspicion and targeted persecution against Christians within the Roman Empire, where merely bearing the name "Christian" could lead to suffering and condemnation.
1 Peter 4 14 Word analysis
- If (εἰ, ei): This Greek particle can introduce a condition, often implying a factual or expected situation, much like "since" or "seeing that." In this context, it suggests that being reproached for Christ's name is a very real, indeed likely, experience for believers.
- ye be reproached (ὀνειδίζεσθε, oneidizeszthe): The verb means "to reproach, revile, insult, scorn, or defame." It denotes casting public disgrace or verbal abuse, specifically in a hostile, contemptuous manner. This isn't just criticism but a shaming, often accompanied by accusations.
- in/for the name of Christ (ἐν ὀνόματι Χριστοῦ, en onomati Christou): This phrase specifies the reason for the reproach. It's not suffering for wrongdoing, but because of one's allegiance, identification with, and testimony of Jesus Christ. "The name" represents the very person, character, and authority of Christ.
- happy are ye / blessed are you (μακάριοι, makarioi): This term goes beyond mere emotional happiness. It describes a state of profound spiritual well-being, divine favor, and inherent flourishing independent of outward circumstances. It is the blessedness from God, implying participation in His divine nature and a guaranteed future inheritance, a key concept in Jesus' Beatitudes.
- for (ὅτι, hoti): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the blessedness.
- the Spirit (τὸ Πνεῦμα, to Pneuma): Refers to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead.
- of glory (τῆς δόξης, tēs doxēs): This genitive describes the Spirit as possessing or emanating glory, signifying His majesty, splendor, and the manifest presence of God. It implies the Spirit carries the very essence and manifestation of God's honor and radiance.
- and of God (καὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, kai tou Theou): This further emphasizes the divine origin and nature of the Spirit. This phrase's textual presence varies in manuscripts, with some important early ones (like Codex Vaticanus, Sinaiticus) omitting it, leading to its absence in some modern translations. However, even without it, "Spirit of glory" inherently points to the divine Spirit.
- resteth upon you (ἐφ' ὑμᾶς ἀναπαύεται, eph' hymas anapauetai): Anapauo means "to cause to rest, settle down, take a permanent dwelling." This isn't a fleeting visit but a powerful, settled, and abiding presence. It suggests a special anointing or manifestation of the Holy Spirit's power and comfort that becomes evident, particularly in times of intense suffering and reproach. It draws on Old Testament imagery of the glory of God "resting" upon His people or tabernacle.
- On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified (κατὰ μὲν αὐτοὺς βλασφημεῖται, κατὰ δὲ ὑμᾶς δοξάζεται, kata men autous blasphemeitai, kata de hymas doxazetai): (Note: This concluding clause is present in the Textus Receptus, forming the basis for the KJV, but is absent from some of the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts. Therefore, many modern translations omit it or relegate it to a footnote.)
- On their part (κατὰ μὲν αὐτοὺς, kata men autous): "As for them," referring to those who revile.
- he is blasphemed (βλασφημεῖται, blasphemeitai): Means to speak impiously, insult, or malign God or sacred things. Their reproach against believers, because it's for Christ's name, ultimately blasphemes Christ or God Himself.
- but on your part (κατὰ δὲ ὑμᾶς, kata de hymas): "As for you."
- he is glorified (δοξάζεται, doxazetai): Means to honor, praise, or ascribe glory to God/Christ. Your patient endurance and righteous response under reproach, by demonstrating Christ's Spirit within you, glorifies Him to a watching world, even those who revile. This contrasts the outcome from two perspectives: the reviler blasphemes, but the reproached glorifies.
1 Peter 4 14 Bonus section
The concept of "the Spirit of glory" resting upon believers harkens back to Old Testament manifestations of God's presence, such as the glory of the Lord filling the Tabernacle (Exod 40:34-35) or the Spirit empowering prophets (Isa 11:2; Num 11:25). Peter applies this majestic image directly to everyday Christians facing persecution. Their experience of suffering for Christ aligns them so closely with Him that they partake in a tangible measure of His divine splendor and empowering Spirit. This not only reassures them but validates their suffering as sacred, aligning their path with that of Christ, the suffering servant and triumphant Lord. The world seeks to demean believers, but God in turn elevates and dignifies them by bestowing a special manifestation of His own glory through His Spirit, transforming their cross into a crown even on this side of eternity.
1 Peter 4 14 Commentary
1 Peter 4:14 unveils a profound spiritual paradox: that which the world intends as humiliation for followers of Christ becomes, in God's economy, a unique occasion for divine blessing. Being reviled or disgraced simply for being identified with Jesus is not a sign of divine abandonment, but rather evidence of a deep, abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. This is not just any presence; it is the "Spirit of glory and of God" who settles upon the believer in a special way during such trials. This Spirit empowers the suffering believer, enables perseverance, and inwardly transforms shame into spiritual glory and steadfast joy. While outwardly they bear the world's scorn, inwardly they are recipients of the glorious presence of God Himself, who turns their affliction into a means by which Christ is magnified, whether by their blasphemers (unintentionally) or by their own patient witness (intentionally).