1 Peter 4
The Voice
4 Since the Anointed suffered in the flesh, prepare yourselves to do the same—anyone who has suffered in the flesh for the Lord is no longer in the grip of sin— 2 so that you may live the rest of your life on earth controlled not by earthly desires but by the will of God.
The reality of suffering in the world causes many to question the existence of an all-powerful and all-loving God. A God of power and love is expected to be both able and willing to remove suffering from our lives. Ultimately, God will make all things new and end suffering, but for now God allows it and calls us to rejoice in the midst of it. Though we may not understand it, pain and suffering have a purpose in God’s plan, and our Creator is not immune to it. Through Jesus God enters into our suffering; now we are called to enter into His.
3 You have already wasted enough time living like those outsiders in the society around you: losing yourselves in sex, in addictions and desires, in drinking and lawless idolatry, in giving your time and allegiance to things that are not godly. 4 When you don’t play the same games they do, they notice that you are living by different rules. That’s why they say such terrible things about you. 5 Someday they, too, will have to give an account of themselves to the One who judges the living and the dead. 6 (This is why the good news had to be brought to those who are dead so that although they are judged in the flesh, they might live in the spirit in the way that pleases God.)
7 We are coming to the end of all things, so be serious and keep your wits about you in order to pray more forcefully. 8 Most of all, love each other steadily and unselfishly, because love makes up for many faults. 9 Show hospitality to each other without complaint. 10 Use whatever gift you’ve received for the good of one another so that you can show yourselves to be good stewards of God’s grace in all its varieties. 11 If you’re called upon to talk, speak as though God put the words in your mouth; if you’re called upon to serve others, serve as though you had the strength of God behind you. In these ways, God may be glorified in all you do through Jesus the Anointed, to whom belongs glory and power, now and forever. Amen.
12 Dear ones, don’t be surprised when you experience your trial by fire. It is not something strange and unusual, 13 but it is something you should rejoice in. In it you share the Anointed’s sufferings, and you will be that much more joyful when His glory is revealed. 14 If anyone condemns you for following Jesus as the Anointed One, consider yourself blessed. The glorious Spirit of God rests on you. 15 But none of you should ever merit suffering like those who have murdered or stolen, meddled in the affairs of others or done evil things. 16 But if you should suffer for being a Christian, don’t think of it as a disgrace, as it would be if you had done wrong. Praise God that you’re permitted to carry this name.
People often suffer because of poor decisions that result in shame, but the people of God face persecution for their faithfulness that leads to honor and glory.
17 For the time for judgment has come, and it is beginning with the household of God. If it is starting with us, what will happen to those who have rejected God’s good news? 18 It is written in Proverbs,
If it is hard for the righteous ones to be saved,
what will happen to the ungodly and the sinners?[a]
19 So even if you should suffer now for doing God’s will, continue doing good and trust your futures to the judgment and mercy of a faithful Creator.
Footnotes
Kefa I 4
Orthodox Jewish Bible
4 Therefore, als (since) Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach underwent bodily yissurim (sufferings [4:13]), also you arm yourselves with the same way of thinking as Moshiach, because the one having suffered in the basar (flesh) has finished with chet (sin)
2 So as no longer to live the remaining time of the Olam Hazeh in the basar, in the ta’avot Bnei Adam (lusts of men), but in the ratzon Hashem (will of G-d).
3 For you have already spent sufficient time (time already gone by) in the Olam Hazeh participating in the ta’avot (lusts) of the Goyim, walking in darchei zimah (the ways of licentiousness), ta’avot (lusts), shichrut (drunkenness), orgiastic drinking mesibot (parties), and unlawful avodas elilim (idolatry).
4 The Goyim think it strange [4:12] that you are not running with them into the same mabbul (flood) of dissipation, and so they blaspheme and commit Chillul Hashem.
5 But they will give an account to the One being ready to take his moshav (seat) as the Shofet of HaChayyim v’HaMesim (the Living and the Dead).
6 For, indeed, this is the reason that the Besuras HaGeulah was preached to the mesim (dead ones, i.e., those who have died in the L-rd), that, though judged in the basar according to men [MJ 12:23; Yn 5:25; 1Th 4:13-18], they might live according to G-d in the spirit.
7 The Ketz (End) of all things now has drawn near. Let your thinking be one of zililut da’as (sobermindedness), therefore, and exercise kibush hayetzer (self-control), for the sake of your tefillos.
8 Above all else, have fervent ahavah among yourselves, for AHAVAH KOL PEYSHA’IM T’CHASSEH ("love covers all wrongs” MISHLE 10:12).
9 Practice hachnosas orchim (hospitality) with one another without kevetching,
10 Each one according as he received a mattanah (gift), as k’lei kodesh ministering to one another, mefakkechim tovim (good stewards, supervisors) of the varied Chen v’Chesed Hashem.
11 If anyone speaks, let it be as though it were the oracles of Hashem; if anyone ministers, let it be as by the chozek (strength) which Hashem supplies, that in all things Hashem may be glorified through Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua. Lo HaKavod V’HaOz L’Olemei Olamim. Omein (To whom be the glory and the power into the ages of the ages. Omein.)
12 Chaverim, do not be surprised at the masah (trial) of eish (fire) among you coming for you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.
13 But in so far as you share in the yissurim (sufferings) of Moshiach, in the Chevlei HaMoshiach, be glad that also in the Hisgalus (Revelation, Apocalypse) of his Kavod, you may have simcha and sasson.
14 If you are reproached for the Shem HaMoshiach, ashrei (happy, blessed) are you, because the Ruach of Kavod and of Hashem [YESHAYAH 11:2] rests upon you.
15 Let not any of you suffer as a rotzeach (murderer) or a ganav (thief) or an oseh ra’ah (an evil doer) or as one who is mitarev (meddlesome).
16 But if any one of you suffers as a ma’amin b’Moshiach (believer in Moshiach), let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify Hashem by this Name.
17 Because the time has come to begin the Mishpat from the Beis Hashem; and if the Mishpat begins with us, what will be the toitzaa (outcome) of the ones without mishma’at (obedience) to the Besuras HaGeulah of Hashem?
18 And if indeed the Tzaddik is saved with difficulty, where will appear the man without chasidus [in Moshiach], the choteh and the rashah [see quoted MISHLE 11:31]?
19 Therefore, the ones undergoing sevalot (sufferings, yissurim) according to the ratzon Hashem, let them commit their nefashot to a trustworthy Yotzer (Creator) while they continue to do ma’asim tovim.
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