Q & A 1 Peter 4.12-19

In one of my daily readings the passage was 1 Peter 4:12-19.  I became confused at verse 17 and 18 where Peter doesn't seem to answer his question in vs 17 then quotes a passage from Proverbs 11 and moves on to vserse 19. I am having a hard time understanding verse 18 in particular also how it corrlates to Proverbs 11:31. I have read McArthers comentary, basicly saying if we the church, whom Jesus loves, suffers how much more will the unsaved suffer. but that still doesnt seem to answer the question in vs 17. Also, I am not quite seeing the quote from Proverbs 11:31. in NKV it says the righteous will be recompensed on earth, but the NASB says rewared on earth. but then following how much more the ungodly and the sinner. That almost sounds like the sinner will be rewarded. but that would contradict 1 Peter 4:18.

• The point of the passage (vrs. 12-19) is that Christians can expect suffering, either for Christ’s sake (vrs. 16) or as discipline (as in Hebrews 12.5-11 or 1 Corinthians 11).
• Verse 16 speaks of the suffering for Christ and verse 17 refers to the suffering under God’s discipline.
•  Verse 17 asks, if things are bad for Christians, how will it be for unbelievers under God’s wrath?  Verse 18 uses the proverb to answer that it will be worse.
•  The word in the Proverbs 11.31, Strong's H7999 - shalam, in the Pual stem as it is there generally means “1) to be performed 2) to be repaid, be requited.” –BlueletterBible.org  The decision about its meaning a good or bad reward will probably need to come from the context.
• Proverbs, especially in Hebrew, don't tend to have the precision that some of the more theologically technical language of the epistles have.
• Below is the entry from the Bible Knowledge Commentary and the 1 Peter in seven versions ranging from literal on the left to dynamic on the right.

1Peter

4:16. There is no shame if one suffer(s) as a Christian rather than as a criminal. On the contrary, that name should be a source of praise to God for it identifies the bearer with the blessings of salvation (cf. v. 11). The term “Christian” (Christianos) occurs only three times in the Bible (here and Acts 11:26; 26:28). It may have been used derisively by unbelievers, as an insult.

4:17-18. Peter had referred to persecution and suffering as trials that refine and prove one’s faith (1:6-7) if reacted to in the will of God (3:17). Now he added that God allows persecutions as disciplinary judgment to purify the lives of those in the family of God. If believers need disciplinary earthly judgments (if it begins with us, a first-class condition which assumes the reality of the premise), how much more will those who do not obey the gospel (cf. 2:7) the ungodly and the sinner, deserve everlasting judgment? Peter quoted the Septuagint rendering of Proverbs 11:31, If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, to emphasize God’s disciplinary demands on His children. The vicissitudes of life are a part of God’s constant care, yet from a human perspective discipline is always “hard.” Peter is not teaching that salvation is earned through personal trials or works, but simply that those who are saved are not exempt from temporal disciplinary judgments which are the natural consequences of sin. The writer of Hebrews also supports Peter: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons” (Heb. 12:7).

4:19. Believers could be sure that they were being called on to suffer according to God’s will (cf. 2:15; 3:17; 4:2) if, having committed no crimes, they were suffering solely because they bore Christ’s name. Peter encouraged suffering saints to endure through the exercise of Christlike faith. Just as Christ trusted Himself to His Father who judges justly (2:23), so should believers commit (paratithesthōsan, an accounting term, “to deposit or entrust”) themselves (psychas autōn, lit., “their souls”) to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (cf. 2:15, 20). ---The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Young's Literal	KJV	NASB 1995	The New KJV	ESV	NIV	Wuest  Expanded	New Living
12 Beloved, think it not strange at the fiery suffering among you that is coming to try you, as if a strange thing were happening to you,	12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:	12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;	12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;	12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.	12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.	12 Divinely loved ones [divinely loved by God], stop thinking that the smelting process which is [operating] among you and which has come to you for the purpose of testing [you], is a thing alien to you, but insofar as you share in common with the sufferings of Christ,	12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
13 but, according as ye have fellowship with the sufferings of the Christ, rejoice ye, that also in the revelation of his glory ye may rejoice—exulting;	13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.	13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.	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.	13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.	13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.	be rejoicing, in order that also at the time of the unveiling of His glory, you may rejoice exultingly.	13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
14 if ye be reproached in the name of Christ—happy are ye, because the Spirit of glory and of God upon you doth rest; in regard, indeed, to them, he is evil-spoken of, and in regard to you, he is glorified;	14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.	14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.	14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.	14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.	14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.	In view of the fact that you have cast in your teeth, as it were, revilings because of the Name of Christ, spiritually prosperous [are you], because the Spirit of the Glory, even the Spirit of God, is resting with refreshing power upon you.	14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.
15 for let none of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evil-doer, or as an inspector into other men’s matters;	15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.	15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;	15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.	15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.	15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.	15 Now, let no one of you continue to be suffering [reproach] as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a self-appointed overseer in other men’s matters.	15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.
16 and if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; and let him glorify God in this respect;	16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.	16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.	16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.	16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.	16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.	But if he suffer [reproach] as a Christian, let him not continue to be ashamed, but let him be glorifying God because of this name,	16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!
17 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?	17 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?	17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?	17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?	17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?	17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?	for the time is now, of the judgment beginning at the house of God. But if it start first with us, what shall be the end of those who are not obeying the good news of God?	17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?
18 And if the righteous man is scarcely saved, the ungodly and sinner—where shall he appear?	18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?	18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?	18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”	18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”	18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”	And if he who is righteous is with difficulty being saved, he that is impious and a sinner, where shall he appear?	18 And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”
19 so that also those suffering according to the will of god, as to a stedfast Creator, let them commit their own souls in good doing.	19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.	19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.	19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.	19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.	19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.	Therefore, also let those who are suffering according to the will of God be constantly committing the safekeeping of their souls by a continuance in the doing of good to a faithful Creator.	19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.