But if as a Christian (ei de wv Xristianov). Supply the verb pasxei (condition of first class, "if one suffer as a Christian"). This word occurs only three times in the N.T. (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; I Peter 4:16). It is word of Latin formation coined to distinguish followers of Christ from Jews and Gentiles (Acts 11:26). Each instance bears that idea. It is not the usual term at first like maqhtai (disciples), saints (agioi), believers (pisteuontev), etc. The Jews used Nazwraioi (Nazarenes) as a nickname for Christians (Acts 24:5). By AD 64 the name Christian was in common use in Rome (Tacitus, Ann. XV. 44). Owing to itacism it was sometimes spelled Xrhstianoi (i, ei and h pronounced alike).

Let him not be ashamed (mh aisxunesqw). Prohibition with mh and present passive imperative of aisxunw. Peter had once been ashamed to suffer reproach or even a sneer for being a disciple of Christ (Mark 14:68). See the words of Jesus in Mark 8:38 and Paul's in II Timothy 1:12. Peter is not ashamed now. In this name (en tw onomati toutw). Of Christian as in Mark 9:41, "because ye are Christ's."

Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Peter 4:16:

Acts 11:26
Acts 26:28
James 2:7
1 Peter 4:14
1 Peter 4:16
3 John 1:7

 

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