1Pe 4:3-4 | JFB | STEP | 3. may suffice — Greek, "is sufficient." Peter takes the lowest ground: for not even the past time ought to have been wasted in lust; but since you cannot recall it, at least lay out the future to better account. us —omitted in oldest manuscripts. wrought — Greek, "wrought out." Gentiles —heathen: which many of you were. when, &c.—"walking as ye have done [ALFORD ] in lasciviousness "; the Greek means petulant, immodest, wantonness, unbridled conduct: not so much filthy lust. excess of wine —"wine-bibbings" [ALFORD ]. abominable —"nefarious," "lawless idolatries," violating God's most sacred law; not that all Peter's readers (see on ) walked in these, but many, namely, the Gentile portion of them.

1 Peter 4:3-4

3. may suffice—Greek, "is sufficient." Peter takes the lowest ground: for not even the past time ought to have been wasted in lust; but since you cannot recall it, at least lay out the future to better account.

us—omitted in oldest manuscripts.

wrought—Greek, "wrought out."

Gentiles—heathen: which many of you were.

when, &c.—"walking as ye have done [ALFORD] in lasciviousness"; the Greek means petulant, immodest, wantonness, unbridled conduct: not so much filthy lust.

excess of wine—"wine-bibbings" [ALFORD].

abominable—"nefarious," "lawless idolatries," violating God's most sacred law; not that all Peter's readers (see on 1Pe 1:1) walked in these, but many, namely, the Gentile portion of them.

4. Wherein—In respect to which abandonment of your former walk (1Pe 4:3).

run not with them—eagerly, in troops [BENGEL].

excess—literally, "profusion"; a sink: stagnant water remaining after an inundation.

riot—profligacy.

speaking evil—charging you with pride, singularity, hypocrisy, and secret crimes (1Pe 4:14; 2Pe 2:2). However, there is no "of you" in the Greek, but simply "blaspheming." It seems to me always to be used, either directly or indirectly, in the sense of impious reviling against God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit, and the Christian religion, not merely against men as such; Greek, 1Pe 4:14, below.