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”。

Therefore for Christ suffered in flesh, be ye also armed by the same thinking; for he that suffered in flesh ceased from sins,

that that is left now of time in flesh live not now to the desires of men, but to the will of God. [that he live not now to the desires of men, but to the will of God, that that is more of time in flesh.]

For the time that is passed [Soothly the time passed] is enough to the will of heathen men to be ended, which walked in lecheries, and lusts, in much drinking of wine, in unmeasurable eatings [in oft eatings], and drinkings, and unleaveful worshipping of maumets [and unleaveful worshippings of idols].

In which now they be astonished, in which thing they wonder, for ye run not together into the same confusion of lechery, and blaspheme [blaspheming].

And they shall give reason to him, that is ready to deem the quick and the dead.

For why for this thing it is preached also to dead men, that they be deemed by men in flesh, and that they live by God in spirit.[a]

For the end of all things shall approach [Forsooth the end of all things shall nigh]. Therefore be ye prudent, and wake ye in prayers;

before all things have ye charity each to other in yourselves always [all-gates] lasting; for charity covereth the multitude of sins.

Hold ye hospitality together without grudging [without grutching];

10 each man as he hath received grace, ministering it into each other [ministering each to other], as good dispensers of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speaketh, speak he as the words of God; if any man ministereth, as of the virtue which God ministereth; that God be honoured in all things by Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom is glory and lordship into worlds of worlds. Amen.

12 Most dear brethren, do not ye go in pilgrimage in fervor, that is made to you to temptation [Most dear, do not ye go in pilgrimage in fervor, that is made to you into temptation], as if any new thing befall to you;

13 but commune ye with the passions of Christ, and have ye joy, that also ye be glad, and have joy in the revelation of his glory. [but ye communing to the passions of Christ, have joy, that and ye gladding withoutforth, have joy in the revelation of his glory.]

14 If ye be despised for the name of Christ, ye shall be blessed; for that that is of the honour, and of the glory, and of the virtue of God, and the Spirit that is his, shall rest on you [for that that is of the glory and virtue of God, and the Spirit that is his, resteth on you].

15 But no man of you suffer as a manslayer, either a thief, either curser, either a desirer of other men's goods; [Forsooth no man of you suffer as a manslayer, or a thief, or curser, or desirer of other men's things;]

16 but if he suffer as a christian man, shame he not, but glorify he God in this name.

17 For time is, that doom begin at God's house [For time is, that doom begin of God's house]; and if it begin first at us, what end shall be of them, that believe not to the gospel?

18 And if a just man scarcely shall be saved, where shall the unfaithful man and the sinner appear [where shall the unpious man and sinner appear]?

19 Therefore and they that suffer by the will of God [And so, and they that suffer after the will of God], betake their souls in good deeds to the faithful maker of nought.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:6 For why for this thing to dead men it is evangelized also, that they be deemed soothly after men in flesh, but that they live after God in spirit.

Living for God

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,(A) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.(B) As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,(C) but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past(D) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.(E) They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.(F) But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.(G) For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,(H) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The end of all things is near.(I) Therefore be alert and of sober mind(J) so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply,(K) because love covers over a multitude of sins.(L) Offer hospitality(M) to one another without grumbling.(N) 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,(O) as faithful(P) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.(Q) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,(R) so that in all things God may be praised(S) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.(T)

Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you(U) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice(V) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,(W) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.(X) 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,(Y) you are blessed,(Z) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.(AA) 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;(AB) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?(AC) 18 And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[a](AD)

19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will(AE) should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31 (see Septuagint)

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.