Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Peter 4:16

"but if [a man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name." — 1 Peter 4:16 (ASV)

But to suffer as a “Christian” (GK 5985) is no shame. The title “Christian,” which is now so common, was just coming into use when Peter wrote. At first Christians were known as “Jews,” “disciples,” “believers,” “the Lord’s disciples,” and those “who belonged to the Way” (cf. Acts 1:15; 2:44; 6:1; 9:1–2).

It was not until the church took root in Antioch that the word “Christians” for believers began to be used (see comment on Ac 11:26). Peter’s injunction not to feel shame to suffer as a Christian recalls his own shame at his betrayal of Jesus (Mark 14:66–72). “That you bear that name” probably refers to the name “Christian.”