John Calvin Commentary 1 Peter 5:10

"And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you." — 1 Peter 5:10 (ASV)

But the God of all grace. After having sufficiently dwelt on admonitions, he now turns to prayer, for doctrine is poured forth into the air in vain unless God works by His Spirit. And this example ought to be followed by all the ministers of God; that is, to pray that He may give success to their labors, for otherwise they accomplish nothing either by planting or by watering.

Some copies have the future tense, as though a promise is made, but the other reading is more commonly received. At the same time, the Apostle, by praying to God, confirms those to whom he was writing. For when he calls God the author of all grace and reminds them that they were called to eternal glory, his purpose was undoubtedly to confirm them in the conviction that the work of their salvation, which He had begun, would be completed.

He is called the God of all grace from the effect—from the gifts He bestows—according to the Hebrew manner. And the Apostle expressly mentions all grace, first, so that they might learn that every blessing is to be ascribed to God, and secondly, so that one grace is connected with another, so that they might hope in the future for the addition of those graces in which they were until now lacking.

Who hath called us. This, as I have said, serves to increase confidence, because God is led not only by His goodness but also by His gracious benevolence to aid us more and more. He does not simply mention calling, but He shows why they were called: specifically, that they might obtain eternal glory. He further fixes the foundation of calling in Christ. Both these things serve to give perpetual confidence, for if our calling is founded on Christ and refers to the celestial kingdom of God and a blessed immortality, it follows that it is not transient nor fading.

It may also be right, by the way, to observe that when the Apostle says we are called in Christ, two points follow. First, our calling is established because it is rightly founded. Secondly, all consideration of our own worthiness and merit is excluded.

For God’s inviting us to Himself by the preaching of the gospel is altogether gratuitous. And it is a still greater grace that He efficaciously touches our hearts, leading us to obey His voice. Now Peter especially addresses the faithful; therefore, he connects the efficacious power of the Spirit with the outward doctrine.

Regarding the three words that follow in the text, some copies have them in the ablative case, which can be rendered in Latin by gerunds (fulciendo, roborando, stabiliendo)—meaning supporting, strengthening, establishing. However, this distinction is not very important for the overall meaning.

Besides, Peter intends the same thing by all these words: specifically, to confirm the faithful. He uses these various words for this purpose: that we may know that to follow our course is a matter of no small difficulty, and that we therefore need the special grace of God.

The words suffered a while, inserted at this point in the verse, show that the time of suffering is only short, and this is no small consolation.