1 Peter 4:14, commentary and pictures

To be reproached for the name of Christ brings happiness and blessing because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon the one who is reproached. While opposers speak evil of Christ and dishonor Him, He is glorified in and through the faithful sufferer. Sharing in His sufferings is cause for rejoicing in view of exceeding joy when His glory is revealed, and suffering with Him is joined to reigning with Him. This calls for choosing to suffer reproach for Jesus rather than conforming to the world to avoid the cross, turning from seeking its applause to doing the will of the heavenly Father. Such reproach is to be borne for Christ's sake and not brought on by one's own sins or follies, so words and conduct are to be kept circumspect to give no occasion for dishonor to God.

Meaning of the Blessing

To be reproached for the name of Christ brings happiness and blessing because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon the one reproached. While opposers and persecutors speak evil of Christ and dishonor Him, He is glorified in and through the faithful sufferer, whose faithful witness magnifies Him. This resting of God's glorious Spirit is the ground of the blessedness, so that reproach borne for Christ is cause for happiness rather than shame.

The name of Christ in the verse is the name Christian, a royal name given by God to a people chosen from among the Gentiles who join themselves to Christ. It belongs to those joined to Christ whose teaching, conversation, prayers, and testimony center on Him, and their treatment of that name brings glory to God among them. To be reproached for that name brings the promised happiness because the Spirit rests upon the sufferer.

Sharing in Christ's sufferings is cause for rejoicing in view of exceeding joy when His glory is revealed, a promise to be taken at face value as a wonderful treasure of knowledge calling for simple faith and love. In times of trial believers can rejoice as participants in Christ's sufferings, looking toward gladness with exceeding joy at the revelation of His glory and toward peace and joy in the Lord now. Suffering with Christ is joined to reigning with Him, and accepting reproach for Christ rather than avoiding the cross carries that hope.

The verse speaks directly to a believer facing fiery trial and perplexity, showing that trials, even severe ones, are no reason for discouragement but can be met in trusting faith. Suffering mistreatment for Christ's sake is suffering for the Master and not merely for oneself. So the servant can leave complaints and neglect with the Lord who will defend the cause, and enduring such suffering brings a precious reward.

Faithful Living Under Reproach

To live by this word is to choose to suffer reproach for Jesus rather than conform to the world or avoid the cross, turning ambition away from meeting the world's standard and seeking its applause toward doing the will of the heavenly Father and being a blessing to others. Suffering with Christ in this way is joined to the promise of reigning with Him, and not to shrinking from the cross for ease or favor. Christians are therefore to remove obstacles and put away conformity to the world so that their conduct gives no occasion for reproach except for Christ's sake.

The reproach that brings the blessing is borne for Christ's sake and not brought on by one's own sins or follies. Believers are to keep words and conduct circumspect in times of trial, rejoicing to share Christ's sufferings while giving the world no just cause against them. Yielding to the Spirit's control keeps them from dishonoring God before the world, for the Spirit of God rests upon those who thus suffer. By such faithful endurance the sufferer brings glory to Christ and magnifies the Redeemer before the universe of heaven, before satanic agencies, before the world, and before a disobedient and crooked generation.

This instruction is of the greatest consequence for home and family life, and when practiced daily and brought into family experience it lifts life higher and holier. It gives a deep religious experience, takes foolishness out of life, removes what has hindered growth in grace, and brings peace and joy in the Lord unto gladness with exceeding joy when Christ's glory is revealed. Those tempted to question and criticize fellow workers who are walking in the light are called to exercise clear discernment and to refuse to listen to evil speaking. They are not to let another person's feelings, impressions, and imaginings shape judgment and teaching, but to be sober and watchful unto prayer with fervent charity that covers a multitude of sins.

Sharing reproach with Christ is a blessed experience that can bring gladness without losing peace of mind, since persecution cannot take away the peace of those upon whom God's presence rests. Yet serving Christ and bearing reproach for the truth can bring hardship and discouragement, especially when fellow believers fail to support the work. That hardship is part of the cost of proclaiming Christ and warning sinners.