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So, since Christ suffered[a] in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin,[b] in that he spends the rest of his time[c] on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires. For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians[d] desire.[e] You lived then[f] in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts,[g] and wanton idolatries.[h] So[i] they are astonished[j] when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.[k] They will face a reckoning before[l] Jesus Christ[m] who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. Now it was for this very purpose[n] that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead,[o] so that though[p] they were judged in the flesh[q] by human standards[r] they may live spiritually[s] by God’s standards.[t]

Service, Suffering, and Judgment

For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.[u] Above all keep[v] your love for one another fervent,[w] because love covers a multitude of sins.[x] Show hospitality[y] to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another[z] as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, let it be with[aa] God’s words.[ab] Whoever serves, do so with the strength[ac] that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong[ad] the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

12 Dear friends, do not be astonished[ae] that a trial by fire is occurring among you,[af] as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed[ag] you may also rejoice and be glad.[ah] 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory,[ai] who is the Spirit of God,[aj] rests[ak] on you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.[al] 16 But if you suffer as a Christian,[am] do not be ashamed, but glorify[an] God that you bear such a name.[ao] 17 For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house[ap] of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate[aq] of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of[ar] the ungodly and sinners?[as] 19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.[at]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:1 tc Most mss (א2 A P 5 33 81 436 442 1175 1611 1852 M) add ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν (huper hēmōn, “for us”); others (א* 69 1505 syp) add ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν (huper humōn, “for you”), the first hand of א also has ἀποθανόντος (apothanontos, “since he died”) instead of παθόντος (pathontos, “since he suffered”). But the reading without ὑπὲρ ἡ/ὑμῶν best explains the rise of the other readings, for not only is there confusion as to which pronoun belongs here, but the longer readings, being clarifications, are evidently scribally motivated. The shortest reading is found in significant and early witnesses (P72 B C Ψ 323 1243 1739 sa) and is strongly preferred.
  2. 1 Peter 4:1 sn Has finished with sin. The last sentence in v. 1 may refer to Christ as the one who suffered in the flesh (cf. 2:21, 23; 3:18; 4:1a) and the latter part would then mean, “he has finished dealing with sin.” But it is more likely that it refers to the Christian who suffers unjustly (cf. 2:19-20; 3:14, 17). This shows that he has made a break with sin as vs. 2 describes.
  3. 1 Peter 4:2 tn This verse may give the purpose or result of their “arming” themselves as called for in v. 1b and then the translation would be: “so that you may spend the rest of your time…” But it is better to take it as explanatory of the last phrase in v. 1: what it means to be finished with sin.
  4. 1 Peter 4:3 tn Grk “the Gentiles,” used here of those who are not God’s people.
  5. 1 Peter 4:3 tn Grk “to accomplish the desire of the Gentiles.”
  6. 1 Peter 4:3 tn Grk “having gone along,” referring to the readers’ behavior in time past.
  7. 1 Peter 4:3 tn According to BDAG 857 s.v. πότος the term refers to a social gathering at which wine is served, hence “drinking parties” (cf. TEV, NASB). However, the collocation with the other terms in v. 4 suggests something less sophisticated and more along the lines of wild and frenzied drinking bouts.
  8. 1 Peter 4:3 tn The Greek words here all occur in the plural to describe their common practice in the past.
  9. 1 Peter 4:4 tn Grk “in/by which,” referring to the change of behavior described in v. 3. The unbelievers are astonished by the readers’ moral transformation. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  10. 1 Peter 4:4 tn Or “are surprised, are taken aback.” The same verb occurs in 4:12.
  11. 1 Peter 4:4 tn Grk “blaspheming,” giving the result of their astonishment. Here the target of their “blasphemy/vilification” is not God but the Christian.
  12. 1 Peter 4:5 tn Grk “give an account to.”
  13. 1 Peter 4:5 tn Grk “the one”; the referent (Jesus Christ) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  14. 1 Peter 4:6 tn Grk “since for this purpose the gospel was preached even to the dead,” referring to the purpose described in the clause to follow in v. 6b.
  15. 1 Peter 4:6 sn In context the phrase those who are dead refers to those now dead who had accepted the gospel while they were still living and had suffered persecution for their faith. Though they “suffered judgment” in this earthly life (i.e., they died, in the midst of physical abuse from the ungodly), they will enjoy life from God in the spiritual, heavenly realm because of the gospel (v. 6b). It clearly does not assume a second chance for conversion offered to unbelievers who had died; why would Peter urge people to suffer in this life for the sake of the gospel if he believed that mercy would be extended to all the dead in the hereafter (cf. 2:7-8; 4:1-5, 12-19)?
  16. 1 Peter 4:6 tn Grk “so that they may be judged…but may live.” Greek emphasizes the contrast between these two clauses more than can be easily expressed in English.
  17. 1 Peter 4:6 tn Or “in their earthly lives,” since “flesh” here denotes the physical, earthly life. The phrase “in the flesh” is retained to preserve the links with 3:18 and 4:1 which use the same wording.
  18. 1 Peter 4:6 tn Grk “according to men.”
  19. 1 Peter 4:6 tn Grk “in spirit,” referring to the heavenly, eternal realm of existence (cf. 3:18).
  20. 1 Peter 4:6 tn Grk “according to God.”
  21. 1 Peter 4:7 tn Grk “for prayers.”
  22. 1 Peter 4:8 tn The primary verb of v. 8 is a participle (“having”) but it continues the sense of command from v. 7.
  23. 1 Peter 4:8 tn Or “constant.”
  24. 1 Peter 4:8 sn The statement of v. 8b, love covers a multitude of sins, is proverbial: It is quoted from Prov 10:12 (cf. Jas 5:20). It speaks of the forbearance that comes with love: Christian love is patient and forgiving toward the offenses of a fellow Christian (Matt 18:21-22; 1 Cor 13:4-7).
  25. 1 Peter 4:9 tn There is no main verb in this verse (“showing hospitality” translates the adjective φιλόξενοι [philoxenoi]), but it continues the sense of command from v. 7.
  26. 1 Peter 4:10 tn Grk “serving it to one another.” The primary verb is a participle but it continues the sense of command from v. 7.
  27. 1 Peter 4:11 tn Grk “if anyone speaks—as God’s words.”
  28. 1 Peter 4:11 tn Or “oracles.”
  29. 1 Peter 4:11 tn Grk “if anyone serves—with strength…”
  30. 1 Peter 4:11 tn Grk “is/are.”
  31. 1 Peter 4:12 tn Or “do not be surprised, taken aback.” The same verb occurs in 4:4.
  32. 1 Peter 4:12 tn Grk “at the burning among you, occurring to you for testing.”
  33. 1 Peter 4:13 tn Grk “in the revelation of his glory.”
  34. 1 Peter 4:13 tn The verb “be glad” is used also in 1:6 and 1:8. The verbs of v. 13b are used together in Matt 5:12 and Rev 19:7.
  35. 1 Peter 4:14 tc Many mss, some of them significant and early ([א] A P 33 81 323 945 1241 1739 pm bo), add καὶ δυνάμεως (kai dunameōs; “and of power”) here. The shorter reading is supported by P72 B K L Ψ 049 pm). Although the evidence is evenly divided, the longer reading looks to be an explanatory or liturgical expansion on the text and for this reason should be considered secondary.
  36. 1 Peter 4:14 tn Grk “the Spirit of glory and of God.”
  37. 1 Peter 4:14 sn A quotation taken from Isa 11:2.
  38. 1 Peter 4:15 tn The meaning of the Greek word used here is uncertain. It may mean “spy, informer,” “revolutionary,” or “defrauder, embezzler.” But the most likely meaning is “busybody, one who meddles in the affairs of others, troublesome meddler.” The translation given in the text is intended to suggest this general idea.
  39. 1 Peter 4:16 tn The verb is implied by the context but not expressed; Grk “but if as a Christian.”
  40. 1 Peter 4:16 tn These are third person imperatives in Greek (“if [one of you suffers] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed…let him glorify”), but have been translated as second person verbs since this is smoother English idiom.
  41. 1 Peter 4:16 tn Grk “in this name.”
  42. 1 Peter 4:17 tn Grk “to begin from the house.”
  43. 1 Peter 4:17 tn Or “the end.”
  44. 1 Peter 4:18 tn Grk “where will he appear.”
  45. 1 Peter 4:18 tn The personal references in v. 18 are generic singulars, but they have been changed to the plural in English to maintain consistency with the plurals of v. 17.sn A quotation from Prov 11:31 (LXX).
  46. 1 Peter 4:19 tn Grk “in doing good.”

跟随基督

所以,基督既然在肉身上[a]受过苦,你们也应该以同样的心志装备自己,因为那在肉身上受过苦的,就已经与罪断绝了, 以致不再顺着人的欲望,而是顺着神的旨意,在世上[b]度余下的时间。 要知道,[c]过往的日子[d],你们做了外邦人愿意做的事,活在好色、私欲、酗酒、荒宴、狂饮和律法所禁止的[e]拜偶像之中——这已经够了。 如今在这些事上,因你们不与他们一起跑进那同样放荡的洪流中,他们就感到奇怪,毁谤你们。 他们将要向那预备好审判活人和死人的神[f]做出交代。 原来福音也是为此而传给了那些死去的人,以致照着肉身说,他们按人的意思[g]被定罪;但照着灵说,却按神的意思[h]活着。

末世的道德规范

万物的结局临近了,所以你们为了祷告的缘故应当清醒、谨慎。 最要紧的是:要持守彼此之间热切的爱,因为爱能遮盖众多的罪孽。[i] 你们要毫无怨言地彼此款待。 10 每个人要照着自己所领受的恩赐来彼此服事,做神各种恩典的好管家。 11 如果有人讲说,要照着神的话语讲说;如果有人服事,要照着神所赐的力量服事,好让神在一切事上藉着耶稣基督得荣耀。愿荣耀和权能都归于他,直到永永远远!阿们。

为基督受苦

12 各位蒙爱的人哪,当火一样的考验临到你们中间,给你们试炼的时候,你们不要感到奇怪,好像发生了怪异的事。 13 相反,你们既然在基督的苦难上有份,就应该照此欢喜,好使你们在他荣耀显现的时候,也可以欢喜、快乐。 14 你们如果因基督的名受责骂,就是蒙福的,因为荣耀的灵,就是神的灵,住在你们身上。[j] 15 你们当中不可有人因杀人、偷窃、作恶[k]、好管闲事而受苦; 16 但如果有人因为是基督徒而受苦,他不应该感到羞耻,反要奉这名[l]来荣耀神; 17 因为时候到了,审判要从神的家开始。如果先从我们开始,那么,那些不肯信从神福音的人会有什么样的结局呢?

18 “如果连义人都好不容易得救,
那么,不敬神的人和罪人将会怎么样呢[m]?”[n]

19 因此,那些照着神的旨意受苦的人,要藉着行善把自己的灵魂[o]交托给那位信实的造物主。

Footnotes

  1. 彼得前书 4:1 有古抄本附“为我们”。
  2. 彼得前书 4:2 在世上——原文直译“在肉身中”。
  3. 彼得前书 4:3 有古抄本附“对我们来说,”。
  4. 彼得前书 4:3 有古抄本附“的生活里”。
  5. 彼得前书 4:3 律法所禁止的——或译作“可憎的”。
  6. 彼得前书 4:5 神——辅助词语。
  7. 彼得前书 4:6 的意思——辅助词语。
  8. 彼得前书 4:6 的意思——辅助词语。
  9. 彼得前书 4:8 《箴言》10:12。
  10. 彼得前书 4:14 有古抄本附“就他们而言,他确实是受到了亵渎;而就你们而言,他却得到了荣耀。”
  11. 彼得前书 4:15 不可有人因杀人、偷窃、作恶——原文直译“不可有人因作为一个凶手、盗贼、为非作歹者”。
  12. 彼得前书 4:16 奉这名——有古抄本作“因这事”。
  13. 彼得前书 4:18 怎么样呢——原文直译“出现在哪里呢”。
  14. 彼得前书 4:18 《箴言》11:31。
  15. 彼得前书 4:19 灵魂——或译作“生命”。