Keep Fervent in Your Love

Therefore, since (A)Christ has [a]suffered in the flesh, (B)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because (C)he who has [b]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (D)so as to live (E)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the (F)will of God. For (G)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, [c](H)having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and [d]abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of (I)dissipation, and they (J)malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge (K)the living and the dead. For (L)the gospel has for this purpose been [e]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

(M)The end of all things [f]is near; therefore, (N)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of [g]prayer. Above all, (O)keep fervent in your love for one another, because (P)love covers a multitude of sins. (Q)Be hospitable to one another without (R)complaint. 10 (S)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good (T)stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 (U)Whoever speaks, is to do so [h]as one who is speaking the (V)utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving [i](W)by the strength which God supplies; so that (X)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, (Y)to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Share the Sufferings of Christ

12 (Z)Beloved, do not be surprised at the (AA)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you (AB)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the (AC)revelation of His glory (AD)you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled [j](AE)for the name of Christ, (AF)you are blessed, (AG)because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that (AH)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a [k](AI)troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a (AJ)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to (AK)glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment (AL)to begin [l]with (AM)the household of God; and if it (AN)begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those (AO)who do not obey the (AP)gospel of God? 18 (AQ)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, [m]what will become of the (AR)godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to (AS)the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:1 I.e. suffered death
  2. 1 Peter 4:1 I.e. suffered death
  3. 1 Peter 4:3 Lit having gone in
  4. 1 Peter 4:3 Lit lawless
  5. 1 Peter 4:6 I.e. preached in their lifetimes
  6. 1 Peter 4:7 Lit has come near
  7. 1 Peter 4:7 Lit prayers
  8. 1 Peter 4:11 Lit as utterances
  9. 1 Peter 4:11 Lit from
  10. 1 Peter 4:14 Lit in
  11. 1 Peter 4:15 Lit one who oversees others’ affairs
  12. 1 Peter 4:17 Lit from
  13. 1 Peter 4:18 Lit where will appear

Christ, then, having suffered for us in the flesh, ye also with the same mind arm yourselves, because he who did suffer in the flesh hath done with sin,

no more in the desires of men, but in the will of God, to live the rest of the time in the flesh;

for sufficient to us [is] the past time of life the will of the nations to have wrought, having walked in lasciviousnesses, desires, excesses of wines, revelings, drinking-bouts, and unlawful idolatries,

in which they think it strange -- your not running with them to the same excess of dissoluteness, speaking evil,

who shall give an account to Him who is ready to judge living and dead,

for for this also to dead men was good news proclaimed, that they may be judged, indeed, according to men in the flesh, and may live according to God in the spirit.

And of all things the end hath come nigh; be sober-minded, then, and watch unto the prayers,

and, before all things, to one another having the earnest love, because the love shall cover a multitude of sins;

hospitable to one another, without murmuring;

10 each, according as he received a gift, to one another ministering it, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;

11 if any one doth speak -- `as oracles of God;' if any one doth minister -- `as of the ability which God doth supply;' that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the power -- to the ages of the ages. Amen.

12 Beloved, think it not strange at the fiery suffering among you that is coming to try you, as if a strange thing were happening to you,

13 but, according as ye have fellowship with the sufferings of the Christ, rejoice ye, that also in the revelation of his glory ye may rejoice -- exulting;

14 if ye be reproached in the name of Christ -- happy [are ye], because the Spirit of glory and of God upon you doth rest; in regard, indeed, to them, he is evil-spoken of, and in regard to you, he is glorified;

15 for let none of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evil-doer, or as an inspector into other men's matters;

16 and if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; and let him glorify God in this respect;

17 because it is the time of the beginning of the judgment from the house of God, and if first from us, what the end of those disobedient to the good news of God?

18 And if the righteous man is scarcely saved, the ungodly and sinner -- where shall he appear?

19 so that also those suffering according to the will of god, as to a stedfast Creator, let them commit their own souls in good doing.