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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 1 Peter 1:6–9. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The first word, wherein, refers to the apostle's foregoing discourse about the excellency of their present state, and their grand expectations for the future. "In this condition you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, or a little while, if need be, you are made sorrowful through manifold temptations," Pe1 1:6.
I.The apostle grants they were in great affliction, and propounds several things in mitigation of their sorrows.
1.Every sound Christian has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice. Great rejoicing contains more than an inward placid serenity of mind or sensation of comfort; it will show itself in the countenance and conduct, but especially in praise and gratitude.
2.The chief joy of a good Christian arises from things spiritual and heavenly, from his relation to God and to heaven. In these every sound Christian greatly rejoices; his joy arises from his treasure, which consists of matters of great value, and the title to them is sure.
3.The best Christians, those who have reason greatly to rejoice, may yet be in great heaviness through manifold temptations. All sorts of adversities are temptations, or trials of faith, patience, and constancy. These seldom go singly, but are manifold, and come from different quarters, the effect of all which is great heaviness. As men, we are subject to sorrows, personal and domestic. As Christians, our duty to God obliges us to frequent sorrow: and our compassion towards the miserable, the dishonour done to God, the calamities of his church, and the destruction of mankind, from their own folly and from divine vengeance, raise, in a generous and pious mind, almost continual sorrow. I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart, Rom 9:2.
4.The afflictions and sorrows of good people are but for a little while, they are but for a season; though they may be smart, they are but short. Life itself is but for a little while, and the sorrows of it cannot survive it; the shortness of any affliction does much abate the heaviness of it.
5.Great heaviness is often necessary to a Christian's good: If need be, you are in heaviness. God does not afflict his people willingly, but acts with judgment, in proportion to our needs. There is a conveniency and fitness, nay, an absolute necessity in the case, for so the expression signifies: it must be; therefore no man should be moved by these afflictions. For yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto, Th1 3:3. These troubles, that lie heavy, never come upon us but when we have need, and never stay any longer than needs must.
II.He expresses the end of their afflictions and the ground of their joy under them, Pe1 1:7.
The end of good people's afflictions is the trial of their faith. As to the nature of this trial, it is much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire. The effect of the trial is this, it will be found unto praise, honour, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Note,
1.The afflictions of serious Christians are designed for the trial of their faith. God's design in afflicting his people is their probation, not their destruction; their advantage, not their ruin: a trial, as the word signifies, is an experiment or search made upon a man, by some affliction, to prove the value and strength of his faith. This trial is made upon faith principally, rather than any other grace, because the trial of this is, in effect, the trial of all that is good in us. Our Christianity depends upon our faith; if this be wanting, there is nothing else that is spiritually good in us. Christ prays for this apostle, that his faith might not fail; if that be supported, all the rest will stand firm; the faith of good people is tried, that they themselves may have the comfort of it, God the glory of it, and others the benefit of it.
2.A tried faith is much more precious than tried gold. Here is a double comparison of faith and gold, and the trial of the one with the trial of the other. Gold is the most valuable, pure, useful, and durable, of all the metals; so is faith among the Christian virtues; it lasts till it brings the soul to heaven, and then it issues in the glorious fruition of God for ever. The trial of faith is much more precious than the trial of gold; in both there is a purification, a separation of the dross, and a discovery of the soundness and goodness of the things. Gold does not increase and multiply by trial in the fire, it rather grows less; but faith is established, improved, and multiplied, by the oppositions and afflictions that it meets with. Gold must perish at last - gold that perisheth; but faith never will. I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not, Luk 22:32. The trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory. Honour is properly that esteem and value which one has with another, and so God and man will honour the saints. Praise is the expression or declaration of that esteem; so Christ will commend his people in the great day, Come, you blessed of my Father, etc. Glory is that lustre wherewith a person, so honoured and praised, shines in heaven. Glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, Rom 2:10. If a tried faith be found to praise, honour, and glory, let this recommend faith to you, as much more precious than gold, though it be assaulted and tried by afflictions. If you make your estimate either from present use or the final event of both, this will be found true, however the world may take it for an incredible paradox. 4. Jesus Christ will appear again in glory, and, when he does so, the saints will appear with him, and their graces will appear illustrious; and the more they have been tried the more bright they will then appear. The trial will soon be over, but the glory, honour, and praise will last to eternity. This should reconcile you to your present afflictions: they work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
III.He particularly commends the faith of these primitive Christians upon two accounts: -
1.The excellency of its object, the unseen Jesus. The apostle had seen our Lord in the flesh, but these dispersed Jews never did, and yet they believed in him, Pe1 1:8. It is one thing to believe God, or Christ (so the devils believe), and another thing to believe in him, which denotes subjection, reliance, and expectation of all promised good from him.
2.On account of two notable productions or effects of their faith, love and joy, and this joy so great as to be above description: You rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Learn,
(1.)The faith of a Christian is properly conversant about things revealed, but not seen. Sense converses with things sensible and present; reason is a higher guide, which by sure deductions can infer the operation of causes, and the certainty of events; but faith ascends further still, and assures us of abundance of particulars that sense and reason could never have found out, upon the credit of revelation; it is the evidence of things not seen.
(2.)True faith is never alone, but produces a strong love to Jesus Christ. True Christians have a sincere love to Jesus, because they believe in him. This love discovers itself in the highest esteem for him, affectionate desires after him, willingness to be dissolved to be with him, delightful thoughts, cheerful services and sufferings, etc.
(3.)Where there are true faith and love to Christ there is, or may be, joy unspeakable and full of glory. This joy is inexpressible, it cannot be described by words; the best discovery is by an experimental taste of it; it is full of glory, full of heaven. There is much of heaven and the future glory in the present joys of improved Christians; their faith removes the causes of sorrow, and affords the best reasons for joy. Though good people sometimes walk in darkness, it is often owing to their own mistakes and ignorance, or to a fearful or melancholy disposition, or to some late sinful conduct, or perhaps to some sad occurrence of providence, that sinks their comfort for the present, yet they have reason to rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of their salvation, Hab 3:18. Well might these primitive Christians rejoice with the joy unspeakable, since they were every day receiving the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls, Pe1 1:9. Note,
[1.]The blessing they were receiving: The salvation of their souls (the more noble part being put for the whole man), which salvation is here called the end of their faith, the end wherein faith terminates: faith helps to save the soul, then it has done its work, and ceases for ever.
[2.]He speaks of the present time: You are now actually receiving the end of your faith, etc.
[3.]The word used alludes to the games at which the conqueror received or bore away from the judge of the contest a crown or reward, which he carried about in triumph; so the salvation of the soul was the prize these Christians sought for, the crown they laboured for, the end they aimed at, which came nearer and more within their reach every day. Learn, First, Every faithful Christian is daily receiving the salvation of his soul; salvation is one permanent thing, begun in this life, not interrupted by death, and continued to all eternity. These believers had the beginnings of heaven in the possession of holiness and a heavenly mind, in their duties and communion with God, in the earnest of the inheritance, and the witness of the divine Spirit. This was properly urged to these distressed people; they were on the losing side in the world, but the apostle puts them in the mind of what they were receiving; if they lost an inferior good, they were all the while receiving the salvation of their souls. Secondly, It is lawful for a Christian to make the salvation of his soul his end; the glory of God and our own felicity are so connected that if we regularly seek the one we must attain the other.
Historical interpretation
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Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than that of gold which perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ; whom, having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
Read “grieve” in this verse in the sense of “suffer,” as in “in grief you shall bring forth children.” For a woman experiences grief not in bearing children but rather in suffering before birth.
Those who are afflicted in various ways because of Christ and who persevere to the end have their faith tested and proved. They ought therefore to rejoice, even if some of their labor appears to be involuntary. Peter calls this kind of labor grief, a word which he uses in one of the two meanings described by the apostle Paul, who said that there is one grief which leads to death and another which leads to repentance. Obviously it is the second of these which is meant here.
Syncletica said, ‘All must endure great travail and conflict when they are first converted to the Lord but later they have unspeakable joy. They are like people trying to light a fire, the smoke gets in their eyes, their eyes begin to water, but they succeed in what they want. It is written, “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29), and so we must kindle divine fire with tears and trouble.’
Right now we have to suffer for the sake of the preaching, but relief for those who toil is near.
In which you will rejoice, etc. What he says "In which," signifies that at the last time, salvation prepared will be revealed and given to the worthy. Of which the Lord also said: Again I will see you, and your heart shall rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you (John XVI).
Now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved. He says, it is necessary to be grieved, because it is only through the sorrow of a fleeting world and afflictions that one can come to eternal joys. He says "for a little while," because when the eternal reward will be given, all that seemed severe and bitter in worldly tribulations will appear brief and light.
In an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found in praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy, inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
If there is an inheritance in heaven, the restoration of things is magnificent in a thousand years.
"In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary." This is the order: affected by sorrow now, if necessary, that is, if this also should be (for not all saints are afflicted) at the end of time you will rejoice, for the present is accepted for the future. Or even through the present, as is declared in the following.
"In praise, honor." It signifies the reason why the righteous are afflicted through these things, while also comforting them, because through afflictions they become more manifest: and making them more diligent by adding:
at the revelation of Jesus Christ, at that time, through the demonstration of sufferings, a great nobility will be added to those who have competed. Moreover, he adds another thing that attracts to the endurance of afflictions. What is that?
"whom having not seen, you love." For if, when you do not see him with bodily eyes, you love him solely by hearing, he says, consider how great a love you will show when you see him, and that when he is manifested in glory: for if his passion has so attracted you, how much will his manifestation affect you with incredible splendor, when he will even grant you the salvation of souls as a reward? Therefore, in order that you may be known in such a way, also receiving such glory, show the briefest endurance in time, and you will have the highest goal of your purpose.
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Summary
First Peter 1:6 encapsulates a profound paradox of Christian experience: the co-existence of exuberant joy and temporary sorrow amidst diverse trials. This verse assures believers that their secure, living hope in Christ provides an unshakeable foundation for enduring rejoicing, even when they are weighed down by various forms of suffering and testing, which are divinely purposed and temporary in nature.
Context
Literary Context
This verse immediately follows Peter's magnificent doxology and declaration of the believer's spiritual inheritance, secured by God's power through faith, and reserved in heaven for them (1 Peter 1:3-5). Having established the glorious reality of salvation and the certainty of their future hope, Peter now pivots to address the present reality of suffering and trials that these scattered believers are enduring. Verse 6 serves as a crucial bridge, connecting the theological certainty of salvation with the practical experience of living out that faith in a hostile world, setting the stage for the refining purpose of trials explored in 1 Peter 1:7.
Historical & Cultural Context
Peter is writing to "elect exiles of the Dispersion" (1 Peter 1:1), likely referring to Christians scattered across various provinces in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). These believers were experiencing various forms of social ostracism, verbal abuse, and potentially even physical persecution for their faith. They were a minority group, often misunderstood and reviled by the dominant Roman and Hellenistic cultures. The "manifold temptations" (trials) mentioned in this verse would have included societal pressure to conform to pagan practices, economic hardship due to their faith, and general hostility from their neighbors, making Peter's message of enduring joy amidst "heaviness" particularly relevant and comforting to their specific circumstances.
Key Themes
The overarching theme of 1 Peter is living a holy life as "aliens and strangers" in a hostile world, enduring suffering with hope and perseverance, all while looking forward to Christ's return. 1 Peter 1:6 contributes significantly to several key themes: the paradox of Christian joy (rejoicing in suffering), the divine purpose of trials (they are "if need be" and serve to refine faith), and the temporary nature of suffering ("for a season"). These themes are foundational to Peter's pastoral encouragement, assuring his readers that their present afflictions are not meaningless but are part of God's sovereign plan to purify and strengthen their faith, ultimately leading to greater glory.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
Derived from words meaning "much" and "to jump," this term signifies an exuberant, leaping joy, often associated with expressions of triumph or deep spiritual gladness. It's a stronger word than mere happiness, pointing to an inner delight that can transcend outward circumstances.
This word indicates deep grief, sorrow, or distress. It describes a state of being weighed down by sadness or affliction. Its use here highlights the genuine emotional pain and suffering that believers experience, affirming that their trials are indeed difficult and burdensome.
While often translated as "temptations" (enticements to sin), in this context, peirasmós primarily refers to "trials," "tests," or "afflictions." It denotes circumstances that put one's faith to the test, proving its genuineness and strength, rather than an internal solicitation to evil.
Verse Breakdown
"Wherein ye greatly rejoice,"
This clause connects the present experience of joy to the glorious hope and inheritance described in the preceding verses (1 Peter 1:3-5). The "wherein" points back to the living hope, the imperishable inheritance, and the salvation ready to be revealed. The "greatly rejoice" (agalliáō) signifies an intense, overflowing joy, an exultation that stems from the certainty of their spiritual realities, not from their earthly circumstances.
"though now for a season,"
This phrase introduces a temporal limitation to the suffering. The "now" acknowledges the present reality of their trials, but "for a season" (olígos) emphasizes its brevity and finite nature. Christian suffering is not eternal; it is a temporary phase in light of the eternal glory that awaits. This perspective provides immense comfort and endurance.
"if need be,"
This crucial phrase indicates the divine purpose and necessity behind the trials. The suffering is not arbitrary or meaningless but is part of God's sovereign plan. It suggests that these trials are not inflicted without cause but are essential for a specific, beneficial outcome in the believer's life, implying a refining or strengthening process.
"ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:"
This final clause describes the actual experience of suffering. "Heaviness" (lypéō) conveys the genuine grief and sorrow felt by believers. The "manifold" (poikílos) nature of the "temptations" (peirasmós) highlights the diverse and varied forms these trials can take—whether persecution, illness, financial hardship, or relational strife. Despite the profound joy in their ultimate hope, Peter acknowledges the very real, present pain and distress caused by these varied afflictions.
Literary Devices
Peter employs several effective literary devices in this verse. The most prominent is Paradox, as he juxtaposes "greatly rejoice" with "in heaviness through manifold temptations." This creates a striking contrast that highlights the unique nature of Christian joy, which is not dependent on circumstances but rooted in a transcendent hope. The phrase "if need be" functions as a form of Divine Justification, subtly implying God's sovereign hand and purpose in allowing these trials, transforming seemingly random suffering into a meaningful part of a divine plan. Furthermore, the term "manifold" (poikílos) serves as a Descriptive Adjective, vividly conveying the diverse and varied nature of the difficulties believers face, making the message broadly applicable to their different experiences of suffering.
Theological and Thematic Connections
First Peter 1:6 profoundly illustrates the eschatological tension inherent in the Christian life: living between the "already" of salvation and the "not yet" of its full realization. Believers possess a secure, living hope in Christ's resurrection, which is a present reality, yet they still experience the pain and sorrow of a fallen world. This tension is resolved through the understanding that present suffering, though grievous, is temporary and purposeful, serving to purify and strengthen faith for eternal glory. It challenges a superficial understanding of faith that expects a life free from hardship, instead asserting that trials are an integral, divinely ordained part of the journey toward spiritual maturity and ultimate glorification.
Reflection and Application
First Peter 1:6 offers immense comfort and profound challenge for believers today. It validates the reality of our pain and sorrow, acknowledging that genuine "heaviness" is a natural response to trials. We are not called to pretend that suffering doesn't hurt, but rather to anchor our joy in something far more secure than fleeting circumstances. This verse reminds us that our deepest joy is rooted in the "living hope" of our salvation, which remains untouched by earthly afflictions. When we face personal setbacks, relational difficulties, health crises, or spiritual battles, this passage calls us to remember that our trials are not meaningless. They are "if need be," divinely purposed to refine our faith, much like precious metals are purified by fire, preparing us for greater spiritual maturity and future glory. This perspective empowers us to persevere with hope, knowing that even in the midst of "manifold temptations," our ultimate salvation is secure, our joy is eternally grounded, and our suffering has a redemptive purpose.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "temptations" in this verse refer to enticement to sin or to trials?
In 1 Peter 1:6, the Greek word peirasmós (πειρασμός), translated as "temptations," primarily refers to "trials," "tests," or "afflictions" rather than direct enticements to sin. While the word can sometimes carry the meaning of solicitation to wrongdoing (as in Matthew 4:1), its context here, particularly with "manifold" and the idea of "heaviness," strongly suggests external pressures and hardships that test the genuineness and endurance of one's faith. Peter is addressing the suffering his readers are experiencing, not their internal struggles with sin. This is consistent with James 1:2-3, which similarly speaks of "trials" that produce steadfastness.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
First Peter 1:6, though speaking of the believer's present joy amidst trials, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Himself. Christ is the supreme example of one who endured "manifold temptations" and "heaviness" yet maintained an unwavering focus on the "joy set before Him" (Hebrews 12:2). His suffering on the cross, the ultimate "heaviness," was "if need be" for the salvation of humanity, fulfilling the divine purpose of God's redemptive plan (Luke 24:46). Moreover, the "great joy" believers experience in this verse is not self-generated but flows directly from their union with Christ, whose resurrection secured their "living hope" (1 Peter 1:3). Our temporary suffering is transformed by the reality of His eternal victory, enabling us to participate in His sufferings now, knowing we will also share in His glory later (Romans 8:17). Thus, our ability to rejoice in trials is a direct consequence of Christ's finished work, His enduring presence, and the certainty of His promised return, which will bring an end to all "heaviness" and usher in eternal joy (Revelation 21:4).