1 Peter 1:6

1 Peter 1:6

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

a. NLT: So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.

b. NIV: In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

c. YLT: In which ye are glad, a little now, if it be necessary, being made to sorrow in manifold trials,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: [You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations,

e. Worrell Translation: In which ye exhult, though now, for a little while, if necessary, made sorrowful in manifold temptations.

f. Wuest Translation: In which last season you are to be constantly rejoicing with a joy that expresses itself in a triumphant exuberance, although for a little while at the present time if per chance there is need for it, you have been made sorrowful in the midst of many different kinds of testings.

1. “Wherein ye greatly rejoice…”

a. Wherein [Strong: 1722 en 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.]

b. [Strong: 3739 hos hos, including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

c. [ye] greatly rejoice [Strong: 21 agalliao ag-al-lee-ah'-o from agan (much) and 242; properly, to jump for joy, i.e. exult:--be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly).] [Thayer: to exult, rejoice exceedingly, be exceeding glad.]

1). Rejoicing of course in our salvation, the “salvation” of the previous verse. As believers we are to rejoice always.

a). Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

2. “…though now for a season, if need be…”

a. though now [Strong: 737 arti ar'-tee adverb from a derivative of 142 (compare 740) through the idea of suspension; just now:--this day (hour), hence(-forth), here(-after), hither(-to), (even) now, (this) present.]

b. [for a] season [Strong: 3641 oligos ol-ee'-gos of uncertain affinity; puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat:--+ almost, brief(-ly), few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.] [Thayer: little, small, few of number: multitude, quantity, or size, of time: short,  of degree or intensity: light, slight.]

c. if [Strong: 1487 ei i a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether.]

d. need [Strong: 1163 dei die 3d person singular active present of 1210; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding):--behoved, be meet, must (needs), (be) need(-ful), ought, should.] [Thayer: it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper, necessity lying in the nature of the case, necessity brought on by circumstances or by the conduct of others toward us, necessity in reference to what is required to attain some end, a necessity of law and command, of duty, equity, necessity established by the counsel and decree of God, especially by that purpose of his which relates to the salvation of men by the intervention of Christ and which is disclosed in the Old Testament prophecies, concerning what Christ was destined finally to undergo, his sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension.]

e. be [Strong: 2076 esti es-tee' third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

1). The need of course is the spiritual growth in the work of patience in our relationship with God.

a). James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

2). The Greek definition for patience sheds much light on our text.

a). patience [Strong: 5281 hupomone hoop-om-on-ay' from 5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:--enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).] [Thayer: steadfastness, constancy, endurance, in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings, patiently, and steadfastly, a patient, steadfast waiting for, a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance.]

3). We as believers need to develop the ability in our lives not be moved away from our loyalty to God, from our purpose, and what we are believing God for, even in great temptation and trial. We must realize the trials are only for a season. The ideal is that we can not only believe God through them, but we can believe God to be delivered victorious out of them.

a). Hebrews 6:11-15 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

3. “…ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:”

a. ye are [Strong: 1510 eimi i-mee' the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic):--am, have been, X it is I, was.]

b. [in] heaviness [3076 lupeo loo-peh'-o from 3077; to distress; reflexively or passively, to be sad:--cause grief, grieve, be in heaviness, (be) sorrow(-ful), be (make) sorry.] [Thayer: to make sorrowful, to affect with sadness, cause grief, to throw into sorrow, to grieve, offend, to make one uneasy, cause him a scruple.]

c. through [Strong: 1722 en 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. manifold [Strong: 4164 poikilos poy-kee'-los of uncertain derivation; motley, i.e. various in character:--divers, manifold.]

e. temptations [Strong: 3986 peirasmos pi-ras-mos' from 3985; a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity:--temptation, X try.] [Thayer: an experiment, attempt, trial, proving,  the trial of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy, an enticement to sin, temptation, whether arising from the desires or from the outward circumstances, an internal temptation to sin, of the temptation by which the devil sought to divert Jesus the Messiah from his divine errand.]

1). There seems to be a contradiction between two inspired writers of the New Testament. Peter writes, “…if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations”, while James writes , “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”. There is no contradiction, because they actually complement each other. When we are in the midst of manifold temptations or trials, there is the temptation to give into sorrow, but the need is as James writes, Count it all joy, don’t give in to the sorrow, the sadness, and the grief. Count it all joy, and don’t not be moved away from your loyalty to God. Rejoice in the midst of it. The reward for this faithful, obedience to Scripture behavior is shown in the next verse.

a). Luke 6:22, 23  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

2). World Outreach Church 4/29/11: Though you’re not of this world, you still live in this world so tests, trials, and temptations are bound to come your way. Many people think, Tests and trials come to make me strong. Some have even written songs with that message. These folks may even have been taught that sickness and disease come to teach them lessons or make them more pious. But the truth is, sickness, tests, trials, and temptations will never make you strong. If they did, you’d be Mr. or Mrs. Universe by now. No, it’s what you do with tests and trials that makes the difference. Think in terms of weight lifting. A weight lifter wants to develop his muscles, but he’ll never reach that goal unless he actually lifts weights. He certainly won’t turn into Charles Atlas sitting in an easy chair reading weight lifting books and thinking, I’m strong! I’m strong! And when he lies on the workout bench, the 100-pound weight lying across his chest won’t help his muscles gain strength unless he lifts up the weight and starts pushing it away. The same is true with tests and trials. You won’t be strong in faith unless you exercise your spiritual muscles. Every time you push problems away in Jesus’ name you gain strength. Strong faith only comes by exercising the faith you have against something that’s contrary to God’s Word. So when problems arise we can say, “Glory to God, here’s one more opportunity to develop my faith muscles and prove God’s Word works!”