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Change Your Lives

Since Christ suffered while he was in his body, strengthen yourselves with the same way of thinking Christ had. The person who has suffered in the body is finished with sin. Strengthen yourselves so that you will live here on earth doing what God wants, not the evil things people want. In the past you wasted too much time doing what nonbelievers enjoy. You were guilty of sexual sins, evil desires, drunkenness, wild and drunken parties, and hateful idol worship. Nonbelievers think it is strange that you do not do the many wild and wasteful things they do, so they insult you. But they will have to explain this to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the Good News was preached to those who are now dead. Even though they were judged like all people, the Good News was preached to them so they could live in the spirit as God lives.

Use God’s Gifts Wisely

The time is near when all things will end. So think clearly and control yourselves so you will be able to pray. Most importantly, love each other deeply, because love will cause people to forgive each other for many sins. Open your homes to each other, without complaining. 10 Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace. 11 Anyone who speaks should speak words from God. Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Power and glory belong to him forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

12 My friends, do not be surprised at the terrible trouble which now comes to test you. Do not think that something strange is happening to you. 13 But be happy that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings so that you will be happy and full of joy when Christ comes again in glory. 14 When people insult you because you follow Christ, you are blessed, because the glorious Spirit, the Spirit of God, is with you. 15 Do not suffer for murder, theft, or any other crime, nor because you trouble other people. 16 But if you suffer because you are a Christian, do not be ashamed. Praise God because you wear that name. 17 It is time for judgment to begin with God’s family. And if that judging begins with us, what will happen to those people who do not obey the Good News of God?

18 “If it is very hard for a good person to be saved,
    the wicked person and the sinner will surely be lost!”[a]

19 So those who suffer as God wants should trust their souls to the faithful Creator as they continue to do what is right.

Footnotes

  1. 4:18 “If . . . lost!” Quotation from Proverbs 11:31 in the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament.

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 no longer live (E)the rest of the time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the (F)will of God. For (G)the time already past is sufficient for you to have worked 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, (J)maligning you, but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge (K)the living and the dead. For to this (L)the gospel has been [e]proclaimed even to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh as men, they live in the spirit according to the will of God.

(M)The end of all things is at hand; therefore, (N)be of sound thinking and sober spirit for the purpose of [f]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)grumbling. 10 (S)As each one has received a gift, employ it in serving one another as good (T)stewards of the manifold grace of God— 11 (U)whoever speaks, [g]as one speaking the (V)oracles of God; whoever serves, as one serving [h](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 might forever and ever. Amen.

Sharing the Suffering of Christ

12 (Z)Beloved, do not be surprised at the (AA)fiery trial among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. 13 But to the degree you are (AB)sharing 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 insulted [i](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 [j](AI)troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a (AJ)Christian, he is not to be put to shame, but is to (AK)glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment (AL)to begin [k]with (AM)the house 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, [l]what will become of the (AR)godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to (AS)the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.

Footnotes

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