4:12 strange thing. “In the last days…all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:1,12). It is not a strange thing, but normal, for unbelievers to oppose and persecute Christians.

4:13 partakers. “Partakers of” actually has the sense of “fellowshipping in” (as used in Philippians 3:10).

4:13 exceeding joy. Compare Romans 8:16-18; II Corinthians 4:17; II Timothy 1:12; I Peter 1:7.

4:16 suffer as a Christian. The term “Christian” is used elsewhere only in Acts 11:26 and 26:28. It was originally applied to the “disciples”—that is, “learners”—of Christ, and soon became an object of derision and persecution. Such opposition should not be a cause of embarrassment but rather of rejoicing (Philippians 1:29).

4:17 house of God. Christians will have been judged before the unsaved are judged, either by (1) confession now (I Corinthians 11:31; I John 1:9); (2) chastening now (I Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:5-11); (3) physical death (I Corinthians 11:30; 5:3-5; I John 5:16); or (4) loss at the judgment seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-13; I Corinthians 3:11-15). Over a thousand years after the judgment seat of Christ, the unsaved will be brought before God’s great white throne of judgment to be judged according to their works, and, therefore, cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

4:17 obey not the gospel. The answer to this question has been given in II Thessalonians 1:8: “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

4:19 faithful Creator. This Greek word for “Creator” (ktistis) is used here only in the New Testament, and it stresses the faithfulness of God to His suffering people. That this faithful Creator is Jesus Christ is evident from Revelation 19:11, which tells us that His very name shall be called “Faithful and True.” God is also called the Creator (using another Greek word) in Romans 1:25.