1 Peter 1:6

6. Wherein—in which prospect of final salvation.

greatly rejoice—"exult with joy": "are exuberantly glad." Salvation is realized by faith (1 Peter 1:9) as a thing so actually present as to cause exulting joy in spite of existing afflictions.

for a season—Greek, "for a little time."

if need be—"if it be God's will that it should be so" [ALFORD], for not all believers are afflicted. One need not invite or lay a cross on himself, but only "take up" the cross which God imposes ("his cross"); 1 Peter 1:9- : is not to be pressed too far. Not every believer, nor every sinner, is tried with afflictions [THEOPHYLACT]. Some falsely think that notwithstanding our forgiveness in Christ, a kind of atonement, or expiation by suffering, is needed.

ye are in heaviness—Greek, "ye were grieved." The "grieved" is regarded as past, the "exulting joy" present. Because the realized joy of the coming salvation makes the present grief seem as a thing of the past. At the first shock of affliction ye were grieved, but now by anticipation ye rejoice, regarding the present grief as past.

through—Greek, "IN": the element in which the grief has place.

manifold—many and of various kinds (1 Peter 4:12; 1 Peter 4:13).

temptations—"trials" testing your faith.