1 Peter 4:12-13

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Verse twelve — The word “beloved” is in the Greek, “beloved ones.” The word is the Greek word which speaks of God’s divine and infinite love. We could translate, “divinely loved ones.” … The words “think it not strange,” are literally “stop thinking it a thing alien” to you. … They are exhorted by Peter to think it a natural and expected thing that such suffering for righteousness’ sake would come in view of the world’s hatred of Christ, and therefore to one who bears His name and reflects Him in his life.

The words “fiery trial” is … a smelting furnace where gold is refined. … It is used in these passages to refer to a smelting furnace and the smelting process in which gold or silver ore is purified. — Wuest, pages 118-119.

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Instead of thinking it a thing alien to them, they are exhorted not only to expect such suffering, but to rejoice in the fact that they can be partakers of Christ’s sufferings. The word “inasmuch” [to the extent that] is rather “in so far as.” That is, the Christian has no cause for rejoicing because of suffering that is brought on because of his own misdoing. but in so far as suffering is the result of doing well, he has cause for rejoicing. His rejoicing arises from that fact that he shares in common with Christ in suffering for righteousness’ sake. These sufferings of Christ which we share in common with Him are not His expiatory sufferings on the Cross, but His sufferings for righteousness’ sake while enduring the opposition of sinners previous to the Cross. Paul speaks of the same things in Colossians 1:24. — Wuest, page 119.

See John 16:20-22, a prophecy by Christ about the future suffering and glory of the kingdom believers.

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