Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to 1 Peter 3:8-4:19
Close NASB

1 Peter 3:8-4:19
New American Standard Bible

8 [a]To sum up, (A)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, [b](B)loving, (C)compassionate, and (D)humble; 9 (E)not returning evil for evil or (F)insult for insult, but giving a (G)blessing instead; for (H)you were called for the very purpose that you would (I)inherit a blessing. 10 For,

“(J)The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 (K)He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 (L)For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”

13 (M)And who is [c]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should (N)suffer for the sake of righteousness, (O)you [d]are blessed. (P)And do not fear their [e]intimidation, and do not be in dread, 15 but [f]sanctify (Q)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready (R)to make a [g]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the (S)hope that is in you, but (T)with gentleness and (U)respect; 16 [h]and keep a (V)good conscience so that in the thing in which (W)you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For (X)it is better, (Y)if [i]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For (Z)Christ also [j]suffered for sins (AA)once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might (AB)bring us to God, having been put to death (AC)in the flesh, but made alive (AD)in the [k]spirit; 19 in [l]which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who once were disobedient when the (AE)patience of God (AF)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of (AG)the ark, in which a few, that is, (AH)eight (AI)persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 (AJ)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—(AK)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God [m]for a (AL)good conscience—through (AM)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 (AN)who is at the right hand of God, (AO)having gone into heaven, (AP)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Keep Fervent in Your Love

4 Therefore, since (AQ)Christ has [n]suffered in the flesh, (AR)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because (AS)the one who has [o]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 (AT)so as to live (AU)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the (AV)will of God. 3 For (AW)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, [p](AX)having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of (AY)[q]debauchery, and they (AZ)slander you; 5 but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge (BA)the living and the dead. 6 For (BB)the gospel has for this purpose been [r]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

7 (BC)The end of all things [s]is near; therefore, (BD)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of [t]prayer. 8 Above all, (BE)keep fervent in your love for one another, because (BF)love covers a multitude of sins. 9 (BG)Be hospitable to one another without (BH)complaint. 10 (BI)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good (BJ)stewards of the [u]multifaceted grace of God. 11 (BK)Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking (BL)actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving [v](BM)by the strength which God supplies; so that (BN)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, (BO)to whom belongs the glory and [w]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Share the Sufferings of Christ

12 (BP)Beloved, do not be surprised at the (BQ)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you (BR)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the (BS)revelation of His glory (BT)you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. 14 If you are insulted [x](BU)for the name of Christ, (BV)you are blessed, (BW)because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. 15 Make sure that (BX)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a [y](BY)troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a (BZ)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to (CA)glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment (CB)to begin [z]with (CC)the household of God; and if it (CD)begins [aa]with us first, what will be the outcome for those (CE)who do not obey the (CF)gospel of God? 18 (CG)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, [ab]what will become of the (CH)godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to (CI)the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:8 Or Finally
  2. 1 Peter 3:8 I.e., as brothers and sisters
  3. 1 Peter 3:13 Lit the one who will harm you
  4. 1 Peter 3:14 Or would be
  5. 1 Peter 3:14 Lit fear
  6. 1 Peter 3:15 I.e., set apart
  7. 1 Peter 3:15 Or argument; or explanation
  8. 1 Peter 3:16 Lit having a good
  9. 1 Peter 3:17 Lit the will of God
  10. 1 Peter 3:18 One early ms died
  11. 1 Peter 3:18 Or Spirit
  12. 1 Peter 3:19 Or whom
  13. 1 Peter 3:21 Or from
  14. 1 Peter 4:1 I.e., suffered death
  15. 1 Peter 4:1 I.e., suffered death
  16. 1 Peter 4:3 Lit having gone in
  17. 1 Peter 4:4 Or reckless abandon
  18. 1 Peter 4:6 I.e., preached in their lifetimes
  19. 1 Peter 4:7 Lit has come near
  20. 1 Peter 4:7 Lit prayers
  21. 1 Peter 4:10 Or manifold
  22. 1 Peter 4:11 Lit from
  23. 1 Peter 4:11 Or power
  24. 1 Peter 4:14 Lit in
  25. 1 Peter 4:15 Lit one who oversees others’ affairs
  26. 1 Peter 4:17 Lit from
  27. 1 Peter 4:17 Lit from
  28. 1 Peter 4:18 Lit where will appear
Listen to 1 Peter 3:8-4:19
Close NIV

1 Peter 3:8-4:19
New International Version

Suffering for Doing Good

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded,(A) be sympathetic, love one another,(B) be compassionate and humble.(C) 9 Do not repay evil with evil(D) or insult with insult.(E) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,(F) because to this(G) you were called(H) so that you may inherit a blessing.(I) 10 For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[a](J)

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?(K) 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.(L) “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c](M) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer(N) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope(O) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience,(P) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.(Q) 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will,(R) to suffer for doing good(S) than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once(T) for sins,(U) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(V) He was put to death in the body(W) but made alive in the Spirit.(X) 19 After being made alive,[d] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(Y)— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(Z) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(AA) In it only a few people, eight in all,(AB) were saved(AC) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(AD) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(AE) toward God.[e] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(AF) 22 who has gone into heaven(AG) and is at God’s right hand(AH)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(AI)

Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,(AJ) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.(AK) 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,(AL) but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past(AM) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.(AN) 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.(AO) 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.(AP) 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,(AQ) 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.

7 The end of all things is near.(AR) Therefore be alert and of sober mind(AS) so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply,(AT) because love covers over a multitude of sins.(AU) 9 Offer hospitality(AV) to one another without grumbling.(AW) 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,(AX) as faithful(AY) 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.(AZ) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,(BA) so that in all things God may be praised(BB) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.(BC)

Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you(BD) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice(BE) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,(BF) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.(BG) 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,(BH) you are blessed,(BI) 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.(BJ) 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;(BK) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?(BL) 18 And,

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

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

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
  2. 1 Peter 3:14 Or fear what they fear
  3. 1 Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12
  4. 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
  5. 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience
  6. 1 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31 (see Septuagint)
Next
1 Peter 2
1 Peter 5
Next
dropdown
New American Standard Bible (NASB)

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible is made available by The Lockman Foundation
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV