1 Peter 4 Bible study: Good managers of grace

The chapter opens, "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin" (4:1) (tap arm), and goes on, "that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." (4:2) (tap lusts). Then: "For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries." (4:3), and "They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you." (4:4). "They will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit." (4:5-6). These notes give this chapter as the WEB has it, explain it no further than its own words and the lexicons, and apply it to no one, no church, people or group, then or now. They explain 4:1's last words, "for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin" (4:1), and 4:5-6 no further than the verses' own words.

ξενίζωxenizosay xen-EED-zo

Strong's: "from G3581; to be a host (passively, a guest); by implication, be (make, appear) strange". "Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you" (4:12): behind be astonished is this verb. It is behind think it is strange too, in "They think it is strange that you don’t run with them" (4:4), and 1 Peter has it only in these two verses (in all eight editions TAGNT compares). The New Testament has it ten times (counted in RP2018). G3581 is the word behind a strange thing in "as though a strange thing happened to you" (4:12).