The Meaning of 1 Peter 4:17 Explained

1 Peter 4:17

KJV: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

YLT: because it is the time of the beginning of the judgment from the house of God, and if first from us, what the end of those disobedient to the good news of God?

Darby: For the time of having the judgment begin from the house of God is come; but if first from us, what shall be the end of those who obey not the glad tidings of God?

ASV: For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what'shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  the time  [is come] that judgment  must begin  at  the house  of God:  and  if  [it] first  [begin] at  us,  what  shall the end  [be] of them that obey not  the gospel  of God? 

What does 1 Peter 4:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In this verse and the next Peter gave two encouragements in suffering by comparing our suffering as believers with the suffering that unbelievers will experience. This verse focuses on the time of these two experiences of suffering. Our suffering is now, but theirs will be when they stand before God in judgment. Our judgment by unbelievers now is lighter than their judgment by God will be later. Our sufferings are part of the opening scene in the last act of God"s redemptive drama. More severe judgment will follow on the ungodly. It helps to see our sufferings in the context of God"s end-times plan. They are not an accident but an assurance of His sovereign control.
One writer argued that Peter was alluding to Malachi 3:2-3. [1] This seems unlikely since Malachi referred to a purifying judgment that would come on Israel whereas Peter wrote of one that Christians experience now. Peter previously called the church a spiritual household ( 1 Peter 2:5).

Context Summary

1 Peter 4:12-19 - Suffering As A Christian
We are called upon to share our Savior's sufferings-not those of His substitution, but His daily self-denial, the hatred of men, the anguish of His soul over the obstinacy and opposition of the world. The soldier who is nearest his leader, charging through the mêlée of the fight, is likely to get the same treatment as is meted out to his prince. It is not strange! It would be strange if it were not so, and if the traits in us that characterize our Lord did not win the same hatred as they won for Him.
The salvation of the righteous is a task of enormous difficulty. It requires the dead-lift of Omnipotence. Nothing less will suffice than the infinite grace of the Father, the blood of the Son, and the patience of the Holy Spirit. What will be the fate of those who refuse these! Will they appear at the marriage-supper of the Lamb; and if not-where! What a beautiful closing verse! The committal of the soul, not only to the Savior, but to the Creator. After all, He who made can best understand, adjust and satisfy the nature which He Himself has given! [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Peter 4

1  He exhorts them to cease from sin and live fore God,
12  and comforts them against persecution

Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 4:17

For the time is come [οτι ο καιρος]
No predicate, probably εστιν — estin (is) to be supplied. The phrase that follows comes from the vision of Ezekiel (chapter Ezekiel 9:1-11). The construction is unusual with του αρχασται — tou arxasthai (genitive articular aorist middle infinitive of αρχω — archō), not exactly purpose or result, and almost in apposition (epexegetic), but note του ελτειν — tou elthein used as subject in Luke 17:1. The persecution on hand (1 Peter 1:7) was a foretaste of more to come. By “house of God” he can mean the same as the “spiritual house” of 1 Peter 2:5 or a local church. Biggs even takes it to refer to the family. [source]
And if it begin first at us [ει δε πρωτον απημων]
Condition of first class again, with the verb αρχεται — archetai understood. “From us” Final fate.Of them that obey not the gospel of God “Of those disobeying the gospel of God.” See the same idea in Romans 2:8. See Mark 1:14 for believing in the gospel. [source]
End [τελος]
Final fate. [source]
Of them that obey not the gospel of God [των απειτουντων τωι του τεου ευαγγελιωι]
“Of those disobeying the gospel of God.” See the same idea in Romans 2:8. See Mark 1:14 for believing in the gospel. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Peter 4:17

John 3:36 He that believeth not [ὁ ἀπειθῶν]
More correctly, as Rev., obeyeth not. Disbelief is regarded in its active manifestation, disobedience. The verb πείθω means to persuade, to cause belief, to induce one to do something by persuading, and so runs into the meaning of to obey, properly as the result of persuasion. See on Acts 5:29. Compare 1 Peter 4:17; Romans 2:8; Romans 11:30, Romans 11:31. Obedience, however, includes faith. Compare Romans 1:5, the obedience of faith. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:2 Gospel of God [εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Θεοῦ]
For the phrase see Mark 1:14; Romans 1:1; Romans 15:16; 2 Corinthians 11:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:8, 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Peter 4:17. It points to the monotheistic character of the gospel. [source]
Hebrews 3:6 We [ἡμεῖς]
Even as was the house in which Moses served. The Christian community is thus emphatically designated as the house of God, implying the transitoriness of the Mosaic system. Comp. 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:22; 1 Peter 4:17. [source]
Hebrews 10:21 House of God [οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ]
In the Gospels always of the temple. Not found in Paul. Once in the Pastorals, of the church, 1 Timothy 3:15, and so 1 Peter 4:17. Here the whole Christian family. Comp. 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:22. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Peter 4:17 mean?

For [it is] the time [for] - to have begun the judgment from the house - of God if now first from us what [will be] the outcome of those disobeying the gospel
ὅτι καιρὸς τοῦ ἄρξασθαι τὸ κρίμα ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰ δὲ πρῶτον ἀφ’ ἡμῶν τί τὸ τέλος τῶν ἀπειθούντων τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ

ὅτι  For  [it  is] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
καιρὸς  time  [for] 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: καιρός  
Sense: due measure.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἄρξασθαι  to  have  begun 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Middle
Root: ἄρχω  
Sense: to be the first to do (anything), to begin.
κρίμα  judgment 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: κρίμα  
Sense: a decree, judgments.
οἴκου  house 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: οἶκος  
Sense: a house.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
πρῶτον  first 
Parse: Adverb, Superlative
Root: πρῶτον 
Sense: first in time or place.
ἡμῶν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
τί  what  [will  be] 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
τέλος  outcome 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: τέλος  
Sense: end.
τῶν  of  those 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀπειθούντων  disobeying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπειθέω  
Sense: not to allow one’s self to be persuaded.
εὐαγγελίῳ  gospel 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: εὐαγγέλιον  
Sense: a reward for good tidings.