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”。

Chapter 4

Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you should arm yourselves also with the same intention. For anyone who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin and for the remainder of life on earth must be ruled not by human passions but by the will of God.

You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, pursuing a life of debauchery, licentiousness, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and sacrilegious idolatry. They are surprised that you no longer join them in a life of dissipation, and they revile you as a result. However, they will have to render an account to him who stands ready to judge[a] the living and the dead.

And this is the reason why the gospel was preached even to the dead, so that, although they might be judged in the flesh like men, they might enjoy the life of God in the spirit.

Qualities of a Christian Community Waiting for Christ.[b] The end of all things is near. Therefore, lead disciplined lives and be watchful in prayer. Above all, maintain the fervor of your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the varied graces of God, use whatever gift each one of you has received to serve one another.

11 Whoever speaks should do so as one who is speaking the very words of God. Whoever serves should do so with the strength that God provides. In all things, let God be glorified through Jesus Christ, for to him belong all glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

12 Courage and Joy in Suffering.[c] Beloved, do not be surprised that you are being tested by a fiery ordeal,[d] as though it were something extraordinary. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ, so that your joy will be without limit when his glory is revealed.

14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, consider yourself blessed, for upon you rests the Spirit of glory[e] and of God. 15 [f]However, let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, or any other kind of criminal, or as one who meddles in another person’s business. 16 Let it be because you are a Christian,[g] not considering it a disgrace, but glorifying God because you bear this name.

17 The time has come for the judgment of the household of God to begin. If it begins with us, how will it end for those who refuse to obey the gospel of God?

18 And:

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
    what will become of the godless and those who are sinners?”

19 And so, those who suffer in accordance with God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:5 Him who stands ready to judge: the New Testament assigns judgment to both the Father and the Son on the last day (see Jn 5:27; Acts 17:31). The living and the dead: i.e., those who are alive as well as those who have died when the last day arrives.
  2. 1 Peter 4:7 Living in expectation of the Lord’s Second Coming, Christian communities are characterized by a serious atmosphere, by relationships of responsibility and fraternity, and by concern for prayer and the Liturgy.
  3. 1 Peter 4:12 Hostility seems to be unleashed against the communities. We will always be astounded by the conviction of the first Christian generations in the face of persecution. They do not regard it as a strange fate but as something that indicates the arrival of a new age, that of the last times of history. It announces a change in the course of the things of the world. The destiny of Christ is not only an example to consider but a mystery to share in these conditions. However, the persecution in question must be a real one against the faith and not a reaction against the abuses committed by Christians themselves. Concerning the necessity of persecution and the meaning of the announcement of a change, see Mt 5:11-12; Lk 6:22-23; 21:12-19.
  4. 1 Peter 4:12 Fiery ordeal: literally, “fire for testing.” Suffering is a source of purification.
  5. 1 Peter 4:14 Spirit of glory: because the Spirit bestows glory after trials.
  6. 1 Peter 4:15 There is suffering that believers bring down upon themselves by their own sins and weaknesses and suffering that God allows to afflict them. In both instances, they should entrust themselves to God and offer their sufferings to him.
  7. 1 Peter 4:16 Christian: this word occurs only here and in Acts 11:26; 26:28 in the New Testament.