1 Peter 4
Christian Standard Bible
Following Christ
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered[a] in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding[b]—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished(A) with sin[c]— 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.(B) 3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,(C) drunkenness, orgies,(D) carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander[d] you. 5 They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.(E) 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,[e](F) so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards,(G) they might live(H) in the spirit according to God’s standards.
End-Time Ethics
7 The end of all things is near;(I) therefore, be alert and sober-minded(J) for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain constant love(K) for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.[f](L) 9 Be hospitable(M) to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others,(N) as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides,(O) so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Christian Suffering
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.(P) 13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ,(Q) so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.(R) 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,(S) you are blessed, because the Spirit(T) of glory and of God[g] rests on you. 15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.[h] 16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.[i] 17 For the time has come for judgment(U) to begin with God’s household,(V) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
18 And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?[j](W)
19 So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves(X) to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.
Footnotes
- 4:1 Other mss read suffered for us
- 4:1 Or perspective, or attitude
- 4:1 Or the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin
- 4:4 Or blaspheme
- 4:6 Or those who are dead
- 4:8 Pr 10:12
- 4:14 Or God’s glorious Spirit
- 4:15 Or as one who defrauds others
- 4:16 Other mss read in that case
- 4:18 Pr 11:31 LXX
1 Peter 4
Complete Jewish Bible
4 Therefore, since the Messiah suffered physically, you too are to arm yourselves with the same attitude. For whoever has suffered physically is finished with sin, 2 with the result that he lives the rest of his earthly life no longer controlled by human desires, but by God’s will. 3 For you have spent enough time already living the way the pagans want you to live — in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, wild parties and forbidden idol-worship. 4 They think it strange that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood of dissoluteness, and so they heap insults on you. 5 But they will have to give an account to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 This is why he was proclaimed to those who have died; it was so that, although physically they would receive the judgment common to all humanity, they might live by the Spirit in the way that God has provided.
7 The accomplishing of the goal of all things is close at hand. Therefore, keep alert and self-controlled, so that you can pray. 8 More than anything, keep loving each other actively; because love covers many sins.[a] 9 Welcome one another into your homes without grumbling. 10 As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of God’s many-sided grace — 11 if someone speaks, let him speak God’s words; if someone serves, let him do so out of strength that God supplies; so that in everything God may be glorified through Yeshua the Messiah — to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
12 Dear friends, don’t regard as strange the fiery ordeal occurring among you to test you, as if something extraordinary were happening to you. 13 Rather, to the extent that you share the fellowship of the Messiah’s sufferings, rejoice; so that you will rejoice even more when his Sh’khinah is revealed. 14 If you are being insulted because you bear the name of the Messiah, how blessed you are! For the Spirit of the Sh’khinah, that is, the Spirit of God, is resting on you! 15 Let none of you suffer for being a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or a meddler in other people’s affairs. 16 But if anyone suffers for being Messianic, let him not be ashamed; but let him bring glory to God by the way he bears this name. 17 For the time has come for the judgment to begin. It begins with the household of God; and if it starts with us, what will the outcome be for those who are disobeying God’s Good News? —
18 “If the righteous is barely delivered,
where will the ungodly and sinful end up?”[b]
19 So let those who are suffering according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator by continuing to do what is good.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 4:8 Proverbs 10:12
- 1 Peter 4:18 Proverbs 11:31
1 Peter 4
King James Version
4 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
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Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.