If the righteous is scarcely saved… What Does 1 Peter 4:17-18 Mean?

A Puzzling Passage Does 1 Peter 4:17-18 teach that a righteous person will barely be saved in the judgment day? This lesson will help us to understand this puzzling passage and to learn some good Bible study habits along the way

“Judgment” in this context The word “judgment” can refer to different kinds / occasions of judgment. What does it mean in 1 Peter 4:17-18? “Judgment” can refer to judgment upon a nation (Rev. 17:1; 18:10,20), the judgment day (Rom. 2:5), or judgment by discipline (1 Cor. 11:31- 32)

“Judgment” in this context “Judgment” in this context refers to the judgment (discipline, testing) of suffering / persecution / fiery trial (see 4:12-16,19; consider the rest of the book; 1:6,11; 2:19,20,21,23; 3:14,17,18; 4:13,15,16,19; 5:1,9,10) Note that Peter writes, “for the time is come…” – a form of judgment already in his day, not the end of time

“Saved” in this context The word “saved” can refer to different kinds / occasions of salvation. What does it mean in 1 Peter 4:17-18? “Saved” can refer to salvation from sin (Mt. 1:21), a storm (Mt. 8:25), God’s wrath (Rom. 5:9), death (Heb. 5:7), Egypt (Jude 5), etc.

“Saved” in this context Saved” in this context refers to salvation from suffering / persecution (compare Mt. 10:21-22; 24:13,22)

What does “scarcely” mean? What is the Greek word behind “scarcely”? The Gr. word molis translated “scarcely” means “hard”, “with much work”, “not easily”, “with great difficulty” (Lk. 9:39; Acts 14:18; 27:8,16; Rom. 5:7; 1 Pet. 4:18) The English word “scarcely” can mean “barely”, but it’s other meaning is “difficulty”

What does “scarcely” mean? What do other English translations say? –“if it is with difficulty that the righteous are saved” (NASV) –“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved (NIV) –“If the righteous are barely saved” (NLT, AMP, CEV, CEB)

Good Bible Study Habits Judgment and saved: study Bible words in their immediate context Scarcely: study English words in light of 1) their original Greek / Hebrew meaning (lexicon), 2) their original English meaning (Webster’s), and 3) their use in other translations

Putting it all together Note that Peter uses two rhetorical questions (two contrasts): –the house of God (us) and “them that obey not the gospel (v. 17) –the righteous and the ungodly and sinner (v.18)

Putting it all together This is an “a fortiori” argument – an argument from the lesser to the great (see also Rom. 11:21) If difficult suffering is happening to the good people by God’s will, what more can the bad people expect from God? The answer is found elsewhere in the NT such as 2 Thess. 1:7-10 or Mt. 25:46

Putting it all together Peter is saying that the Lord’s church is going through difficult judgment in the form of suffering, persecution, trial (lit. and if it begin from us…) – comp. Ezek. 9:5-6 How much more greater must be the misery and wretchedness of the ungodly who are experiencing the same thing – comp. Prov. 11:31

Putting it all together If the righteous experience difficult disciplinary judgment, how much more will the disobedient merit the wrath of God whose offer of righteousness they have rejected The disobedient will not have a good end; they have no hope of appearing with God’s approval

Lessons for Today The reward of the righteous in the last day is not something that is barely gained, rather it is “richly supplied” (2 Peter 1:10-11) Suffering is God’s test (1 Pet. 4:12) Suffering for Christ’s sake can be a very difficult experience, but it leads to glory (1 Pet. 4:13; 5:1,10)

Lessons for Today Christians who suffer are blessed having the Spirit of glory / God resting upon them (1 Pet. 4:14) Christians who suffer are to live clean and pure lives (1 Pet. 4:15-16; see 1:15) Christians who suffer should commit their souls to God (1 Pet. 4:19; 3:12; 2:21-23)