1 Peter 4 - 1 John 4

New International Version

Living for God

4 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) 2} 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. ³ 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) 4} They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.^{(F) 5} But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(G) 6} 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.

⁷ The end of all things is near.^(I) Therefore be alert and of sober mind^(J) so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply,^(K) because love covers over a multitude of sins.^{(L) 9} 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,

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

To the Elders and the Flock

5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder^(AF) and a witness^(AG) of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:^{(AH) 2} Be shepherds of God’s flock^(AI) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;^(AJ) not pursuing dishonest gain,^(AK) but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over^(AL) those entrusted to you, but being examples^(AM) to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd^(AN) appears, you will receive the crown of glory^(AO) that will never fade away.^(AP)

⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves^(AQ) to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility^(AR) toward one another, because,

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.^{(AT) 7} Cast all your anxiety on him^(AU) because he cares for you.^(AV)

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind.^(AW) Your enemy the devil prowls around^(AX) like a roaring lion^(AY) looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him,^(AZ) standing firm in the faith,^(BA) because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.^(BB)

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you^(BC) to his eternal glory^(BD) in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,^(BE) will himself restore you and make you strong,^(BF) firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(BG)

Final Greetings

¹² With the help of Silas,^[c](BH) whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly,^(BI) encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.^(BJ)

¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.^{(BK) 14} Greet one another with a kiss of love.^(BL)

Peace^(BM) to all of you who are in Christ.

1 Simon Peter, a servant^(BN) and apostle of Jesus Christ,^(BO)

To those who through the righteousness^(BP) of our God and Savior Jesus Christ^(BQ) have received a faith as precious as ours:

² Grace and peace be yours in abundance^(BR) through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.^(BS)

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

³ His divine power^(BT) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him^(BU) who called us^(BV) by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,^(BW) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,^(BX) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.^(BY)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(BZ) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(CA) and to self-control, perseverance;^(CB) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(CC) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^{(CD) 8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive^(CE) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(CF) 9} But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,^(CG) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.^(CH)

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[d] make every effort to confirm your calling^(CI) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,^{(CJ) 11} and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom^(CK) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(CL)

Prophecy of Scripture

¹² So I will always remind you of these things,^(CM) even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth^(CN) you now have. ¹³ I think it is right to refresh your memory^(CO) as long as I live in the tent of this body,^{(CP) 14} because I know that I will soon put it aside,^(CQ) as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.^{(CR) 15} And I will make every effort to see that after my departure^(CS) you will always be able to remember these things.

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power,^(CT) but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.^{(CU) 17} He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”^{[e](CV) 18} We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.^(CW)

¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable,^(CX) and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light^(CY) shining in a dark place, until the day dawns^(CZ) and the morning star^(DA) rises in your hearts.^{(DB) 20} Above all, you must understand^(DC) that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God^(DD) as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.^(DE)

False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 But there were also false prophets^(DF) among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.^(DG) They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord^(DH) who bought them^(DI)—bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their depraved conduct^(DJ) and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed^(DK) these teachers will exploit you^(DL) with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

⁴ For if God did not spare angels when they sinned,^(DM) but sent them to hell,^[f] putting them in chains of darkness^[g] to be held for judgment;^{(DN) 5} if he did not spare the ancient world^(DO) when he brought the flood on its ungodly people,^(DP) but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;^{(DQ) 6} if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes,^(DR) and made them an example^(DS) of what is going to happen to the ungodly;^{(DT) 7} and if he rescued Lot,^(DU) a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless^{(DV) 8} (for that righteous man,^(DW) living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— ⁹ if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials^(DX) and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.^{(DY) 10} This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire^(DZ) of the flesh^[h] and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;^{(EA) 11} yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from^[i] the Lord.^{(EB) 12} But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.^(EC)

¹³ They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.^(ED) They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.^{[j](EE) 14} With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce^(EF) the unstable;^(EG) they are experts in greed^(EH)—an accursed brood!^{(EI) 15} They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam^(EJ) son of Bezer,^[k] who loved the wages of wickedness. ¹⁶ But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.^(EK)

¹⁷ These people are springs without water^(EL) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.^{(EM) 18} For they mouth empty, boastful words^(EN) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping^(EO) from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”^{(EP) 20} If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing^(EQ) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ^(ER) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.^{(ES) 21} It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.^{(ET) 22} Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”^[l](EU) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

The Day of the Lord

3 Dear friends,^(EV) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders^(EW) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. ² I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets^(EX) and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.^(EY)

³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days^(EZ) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.^{(FA) 4} They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?^(FB) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”^{(FC) 5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word^(FD) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.^{(FE) 6} By these waters also the world of that time^(FF) was deluged and destroyed.^{(FG) 7} By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,^(FH) being kept for the day of judgment^(FI) and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.^{(FJ) 9} The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,^(FK) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient^(FL) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.^(FM)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.^(FN) The heavens will disappear with a roar;^(FO) the elements will be destroyed by fire,^(FP) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^[m](FQ)

¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward^(FR) to the day of God and speed its coming.^[n](FS) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.^{(FT) 13} But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,^(FU) where righteousness dwells.

¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless^(FV) and at peace with him. ¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience^(FW) means salvation,^(FX) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.^{(FY) 16} He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable^(FZ) people distort,^(GA) as they do the other Scriptures,^(GB) to their own destruction.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard^(GC) so that you may not be carried away by the error^(GD) of the lawless^(GE) and fall from your secure position.^{(GF) 18} But grow in the grace^(GG) and knowledge^(GH) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(GI) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.^(GJ)

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning,^(GK) which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,^(GL) which we have looked at and our hands have touched^(GM)—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ² The life appeared;^(GN) we have seen it and testify to it,^(GO) and we proclaim to you the eternal life,^(GP) which was with the Father and has appeared to us. ³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard,^(GQ) so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.^{(GR) 4} We write this^(GS) to make our^[o] joy complete.^(GT)

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

⁵ This is the message we have heard^(GU) from him and declare to you: God is light;^(GV) in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,^(GW) we lie and do not live out the truth.^{(GX) 7} But if we walk in the light,^(GY) as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[p] sin.^(GZ)

⁸ If we claim to be without sin,^(HA) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.^{(HB) 9} If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins^(HC) and purify us from all unrighteousness.^{(HD) 10} If we claim we have not sinned,^(HE) we make him out to be a liar^(HF) and his word is not in us.^(HG)

2 My dear children,^(HH) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate^(HI) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,^(HJ) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.^(HK)

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

³ We know^(HL) that we have come to know him^(HM) if we keep his commands.^{(HN) 4} Whoever says, “I know him,”^(HO) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.^{(HP) 5} But if anyone obeys his word,^(HQ) love for God^[q] is truly made complete in them.^(HR) This is how we know^(HS) we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.^(HT)

⁷ Dear friends,^(HU) I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.^(HV) This old command is the message you have heard. ⁸ Yet I am writing you a new command;^(HW) its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing^(HX) and the true light^(HY) is already shining.^(HZ)

⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister^[r](IA) is still in the darkness.^{(IB) 10} Anyone who loves their brother and sister^[s] lives in the light,^(IC) and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.^{(ID) 11} But anyone who hates a brother or sister^(IE) is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.^(IF) They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.^(IG)

Reasons for Writing

On Not Loving the World

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world.^(IS) If anyone loves the world, love for the Father^[t] is not in them.^{(IT) 16} For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh,^(IU) the lust of the eyes,^(IV) and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away,^(IW) but whoever does the will of God^(IX) lives forever.

Warnings Against Denying the Son

¹⁸ Dear children, this is the last hour;^(IY) and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming,^(IZ) even now many antichrists have come.^(JA) This is how we know it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us,^(JB) but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.^(JC)

²⁰ But you have an anointing^(JD) from the Holy One,^(JE) and all of you know the truth.^{[u](JF) 21} I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it^(JG) and because no lie comes from the truth. ²² Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.^{(JH) 23} No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.^(JI)

²⁴ As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning^(JJ) remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.^{(JK) 25} And this is what he promised us—eternal life.^(JL)

²⁶ I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.^{(JM) 27} As for you, the anointing^(JN) you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things^(JO) and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.^(JP)

God’s Children and Sin

²⁸ And now, dear children,^(JQ) continue in him, so that when he appears^(JR) we may be confident^(JS) and unashamed before him at his coming.^(JT)

²⁹ If you know that he is righteous,^(JU) you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.^(JV)

3 See what great love^(JW) the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!^(JX) And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.^{(JY) 2} Dear friends,^(JZ) now we are children of God,^(KA) and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,^[v](KB) we shall be like him,^(KC) for we shall see him as he is.^{(KD) 3} All who have this hope in him purify themselves,^(KE) just as he is pure.^(KF)

⁴ Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.^{(KG) 5} But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.^(KH) And in him is no sin.^{(KI) 6} No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.^(KJ) No one who continues to sin has either seen him^(KK) or known him.^(KL)

⁷ Dear children,^(KM) do not let anyone lead you astray.^(KN) The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.^{(KO) 8} The one who does what is sinful is of the devil,^(KP) because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God^(KQ) appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.^{(KR) 9} No one who is born of God^(KS) will continue to sin,^(KT) because God’s seed^(KU) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. ¹⁰ This is how we know who the children of God^(KV) are and who the children of the devil^(KW) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love^(KX) their brother and sister.^(KY)

More on Love and Hatred

¹¹ For this is the message you heard^(KZ) from the beginning:^(LA) We should love one another.^{(LB) 12} Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one^(LC) and murdered his brother.^(LD) And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.^{(LE) 13} Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,^[w] if the world hates you.^{(LF) 14} We know that we have passed from death to life,^(LG) because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.^{(LH) 15} Anyone who hates a brother or sister^(LI) is a murderer,^(LJ) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.^(LK)

¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.^(LL) And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.^{(LM) 17} If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,^(LN) how can the love of God be in that person?^{(LO) 18} Dear children,^(LP) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.^(LQ)

¹⁹ This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: ²⁰ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹ Dear friends,^(LR) if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God^{(LS) 22} and receive from him anything we ask,^(LT) because we keep his commands^(LU) and do what pleases him.^{(LV) 23} And this is his command: to believe^(LW) in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,^(LX) and to love one another as he commanded us.^{(LY) 24} The one who keeps God’s commands^(LZ) lives in him,^(MA) and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.^(MB)

On Denying the Incarnation

4 Dear friends,^(MC) do not believe every spirit,^(MD) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.^{(ME) 2} This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh^(MF) is from God,^{(MG) 3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,^(MH) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.^(MI)

⁴ You, dear children,^(MJ) are from God and have overcome them,^(MK) because the one who is in you^(ML) is greater than the one who is in the world.^{(MM) 5} They are from the world^(MN) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.^(MO) This is how we recognize the Spirit^[x] of truth^(MP) and the spirit of falsehood.^(MQ)

God’s Love and Ours

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another,^(MR) for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God^(MS) and knows God.^{(MT) 8} Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.^{(MU) 9} This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^(MV) into the world that we might live through him.^{(MW) 10} This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us^(MX) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.^{(MY) 11} Dear friends,^(MZ) since God so loved us,^(NA) we also ought to love one another.^{(NB) 12} No one has ever seen God;^(NC) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.^(ND)

¹³ This is how we know^(NE) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.^{(NF) 14} And we have seen and testify^(NG) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.^{(NH) 15} If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,^(NI) God lives in them and they in God.^{(NJ) 16} And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.^(NK) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.^{(NL) 17} This is how love is made complete^(NM) among us so that we will have confidence^(NN) on the day of judgment:^(NO) In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,^(NP) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.^{(NQ) 20} Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister^(NR) is a liar.^(NS) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,^(NT) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.^{(NU) 21} And he has given us this command:^(NV) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.^(NW)