1 Peter 4:1

1 Peter 4:1

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

a. NLT: So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. [[Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: Christ, then, having suffered for us in the flesh, ye also with the same mind arm yourselves, because he who did suffer in the flesh hath done with sin, [[The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Amplified Bible: SO, SINCE Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God], [Classic Amplified: [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

1. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh…”

a. Forasmuch then as [Strong: 3767 oun oon apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly:--and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.]

b. Christ [Strong: 5547 Christos khris-tos'  from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ.]

c. hath suffered [3958 3958. pascho pas'-kho, including the forms patho path'-o, and pentho pen'-tho, used only in certain tenses for it apparently a primary verb; to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful):--feel, passion, suffer, vex.] [Thayer: to be affected or have been affected, to feel, have a sensible experience, to undergo, in a good sense, to be well off, in good case, in a bad sense, to suffer sadly, be in a bad plight.] [Vine: of the "sufferings" of Christ at the hands of men, [and] in His expiatory and vicarious sacrifice for sin.]

d. for [Strong: 5228 huper hoop-er' a primary preposition; "over", i.e. (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than:--(+ exceeding, abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very. In the comparative, it retains many of the above applications.]

e. us [Strong: 2257 hemon hay-mone'  genitive case plural of 1473; of (or from) us:--our (company), us, we.]

f. [in the] flesh [Strong: 4561 sarx sarx  probably from the base of 4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such):--carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).

1). Hebrews 2:9, 10 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

2). Hebrews 5:7-9 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

2. “…arm yourselves likewise with the same mind…”

a. arm  [Strong: 3695 hoplízō, hop-lid'-zo; from G3696; to equip (with weapons (middle voice and figuratively)):—arm self.] [Thayer: to arm, furnish with arms, to provide, to furnish one's self with a thing (as with arms)] 

b. yourselves [Strong: 5210 humeis hoo-mice' irregular plural of 4771; you (as subjective of verb):--ye (yourselves), you.]

c. likewise [Strong: 2532  kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

d. [with] the [Strong: 3588. [ten] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [ten] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

e. same [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

f. mind [Strong: 1771 énnoia, en'-noy-ah; from a compound of G1722 and G3563; thoughtfulness, i.e. moral understanding:—intent, mind.] [Thayer: the act of thinking, consideration, meditation, a thought, notion, conception, mind, understanding, will, manner of feeling, and thinking.]

 1). One part of our inheritance in Christ that the Apostle Paul writes is ours, is the mind of Christ. Primarily, what the Scriptures are saying is the mind of Christ is receiving wisdom and revelation from the Holy Ghost.

a). 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

2). Another part of having the mind of Christ is established here by Peter, we are to arm ourselves with the same mind that Jesus had, as the Amplified says, “…arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose…” What was that same though and purpose? That He would not sin against God His Father, and in our case that we would stop sinning. Part of that means getting control of our thought life and thinking what God says in His word rather than our own thoughts. 

a). 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

3). All of the thoughts that are contrary to what Scripture says must be removed from our thinking. We must in our thoughts be in agreement with God. As our thought life goes, so we go. 

a). Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

b). Philippians 2:12-15 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

c). We are to do the will of God without murmurings and disputing.  The Greek word for disputing means, an inward reasoning; it is translated “doubting” in 1 Timothy 2:8, and  “imaginations” in Romans 1:21; Through this type of  thinking, man becomes a fool.

4). Another exhortation to control our thoughts is revealed in a particular piece of the armor of God.

a). Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…”

b). Every picture that I have seen illustrating this piece of armor has a wrap around the waist piece, some made of metal and some made of leather or something similar. But as most of us know, Paul was not being literal here, he was speaking metaphorically. The loins he was referring to are the loins of our minds.

(1) 1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

c). We are to wrap the truth of the word of God around our minds. This is accomplished at the same time we are rejecting and casting down any thought that goes against the knowledge and word of God. Couple these components with the next portion of this verse and obey them in the grace of God, we then have a very powerful plan from the throne of God about how to overcome sin in our lives

5). Hence as we meditate and obey the Scriptures  we cleanse our lives and live sinless, that is live and sin less and less.

a). Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

b). Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

6). Notice this is the same mind that Christ Jesus had, i.e., he would not sin against his Father God. We are to arm ourselves with that same mind. Most Christians have the lackadaisical attitude, I’m just a sinner saved by grace. Yes I have sinned, I sin, and if allow myself I will sin again, and thank God for the grace in forgiveness that is provided to me in Christ Jesus, but I am not a sinner saved by grace. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote concerning the attitude I am supposed to adopt in my thinking.

a). Romans 6:1-18 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

2). Notice the wording: The body of sin that was in me is destroyed so I should not serve sin, I am freed from sin, I am not to allow sin reign in my life, I am not to obey its lusts, sin shall not have dominion over me because of grace, I am free from sin, I am no longer a servant to sin but I am a servant of righteousness. Yes, the grace of God given to us in this New Covenant includes forgiveness if and when I sin, but it also provides me the power to resist sin and obey righteousness.

a). Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

3. “…for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;”

a. for [Strong: 3754 hoti hot'-ee neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

b. he [Strong: 3588. [he] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [he] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

c. [that hath] suffered [3958 * pascho, including the forms patho, and pentho] [Strong: used only in certain tenses for it apparently a primary verb; to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful):--feel, passion, suffer, vex.]

c. in [Strong:1722en en  a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

d. [the] flesh [Strong: 4561 sarx sarx probably from the base of 4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such):--carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).]

e. [hath] ceased [Strong: 3973 paúō, pow'-o; a primary verb ("pause"); to stop (transitively or intransitively), i.e. restrain, quit, desist, come to an end:--cease, leave, refrain.] [Thayer: to make to cease or desist, to restrain a thing or person from something, to cease, to leave off, have got release from sin, no longer stirred by its incitements and seductions.] 

f. [from] sin [Strong: 266 hamartia ham-ar-tee'-ah   from 264; a sin (properly abstract):--offence, sin(-ful).]

1). Jesus had the mindset that He was not going to sin against His Father. This is one of the main purposes of meditating the word of God. 

a). Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

b). As believers we need to develop a strong habit of meditation in the Scriptures and develop a strong sense of the fear of the Lord.

(1) Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

(2) Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

2). The attitude of the believer is this, we are dead to sin. I am dead to sin. This whole mindset is spelled out in Romans 6.

a). Romans 6:7-14 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

6:13 Neither yield ye your member as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.