Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials,
Ye have been put to grief in manifold trials ...  The trials coming upon the Christians to whom Peter wrote were more than were normally expected. "Here is a reference to the weight of persecutions being felt by Christians."[18] Later in the letter, Peter will give a number of glimpses of the hatred, vilification, and evil speakings which, even then, were an increasing storm of opposition to the faith.