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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. 1 Peter 4:8 Proverbs 10:12
  2. 1 Peter 4:18 Proverbs 11:31
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1 Peter 4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 4

Christian Restraint.[a] 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same attitude (for whoever suffers in the flesh has broken with sin), 2 so as not to spend what remains of one’s life in the flesh on human desires, but on the will of God. 3 For the time that has passed is sufficient for doing what the Gentiles like to do: living in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and wanton idolatry.(A) 4 They are surprised that you do not plunge into the same swamp of profligacy, and they vilify you; 5 but they will give an account to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.(B) 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead[b] that, though condemned in the flesh in human estimation, they might live in the spirit in the estimation of God.

Christian Charity.[c] 7 The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and sober for prayers. 8 (C)Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.[d] 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.(D) 10 As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.(E) 11 Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,(F) to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.[e]

IV. Advice to the Persecuted

Trial of Persecution.[f] 12 Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you.(G) 13 But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.(H) 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.(I) 15 But let no one among you be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer. 16 But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name. 17 For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, how will it end for those who fail to obey the gospel of God?(J)

18 “And if the righteous one is barely saved,
    where will the godless and the sinner appear?”(K)

19 As a result, those who suffer in accord with God’s will hand their souls over to a faithful creator as they do good.

Footnotes

  1. 4:1–6 Willingness to suffer with Christ equips the Christian with the power to conquer sin (1 Pt 4:1). Christ is here portrayed as the judge to whom those guilty of pagan vices must render an account (1 Pt 4:5; cf. Jn 5:22–27; Acts 10:42; 2 Tm 4:1).
  2. 4:6 The dead: these may be the sinners of the flood generation who are possibly referred to in 1 Pt 3:19. But many scholars think that there is no connection between these two verses, and that the dead here are Christians who have died since hearing the preaching of the gospel.
  3. 4:7–11 The inner life of the eschatological community is outlined as the end (the parousia of Christ) and the judgment draws near in terms of seriousness, sobriety, prayer, and love expressed through hospitality and the use of one’s gifts for the glory of God and of Christ.
  4. 4:8 Love covers a multitude of sins: a maxim based on Prv 10:12; see also Ps 32:1; Jas 5:20.
  5. 4:11 Some scholars feel that this doxology concludes the part of the homily addressed specifically to the newly baptized, begun in 1 Pt 1:3; others that it concludes a baptismal liturgy. Such doxologies do occur within a New Testament letter, e.g., Rom 9:5. Some propose that 1 Pt 4:11 was an alternate ending, with 1 Pt 4:12–5:14 being read in places where persecution was more pressing. But such doxologies usually do not occur at the end of letters (the only examples are 2 Pt 3:18, Jude 25, and Rom 16:27, the last probably a liturgical insertion).
  6. 4:12–19 The suffering to which the author has already frequently referred is presented in more severe terms. This has led some scholars to see these verses as referring to an actual persecution. Others see the heightening of the language as only a rhetorical device used at the end of the letter to emphasize the suffering motif.
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1 Peter 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,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[a](AD)

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

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31 (see Septuagint)
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1 Peter 4
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Following Christ

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered[a] in the flesh,[b] equip[c] yourselves also with the same resolve[d]—because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished(A) with sin[e]— 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires,[f] but for God’s will.(B) 3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do:[g] carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,(C) drunkenness, orgies,(D) carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 So they are surprised that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood[h] of wild living—and they slander 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,(F) so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly(G) realm,[i] they might live(H) by God in the spiritual realm.[j]

End-Time Ethics

7 Now the end of all things is near;(I) therefore, be serious and disciplined(J) for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain an intense love(K) for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.(L)[k] 9 Be hospitable(M) to one another without complaining. 10 Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others,(N) as good managers of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides,(O) so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Christian Suffering

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal[l] 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 the Messiah,(Q) so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation(R) of His glory. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,(S) you are blessed, because the Spirit(T) of glory and of God rests on you.[m] 15 None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.[n] 16 But if anyone suffers as a “Christian,” he should not be ashamed but should glorify God in having that name. 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?(W)[o]

19 So those who suffer according to God’s will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves(X) to a faithful Creator.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:1 Other mss read suffered for us
  2. 1 Peter 4:1 The phrase “in the flesh” probably means in human experience.
  3. 1 Peter 4:1 Or arm
  4. 1 Peter 4:1 Or perspective, or attitude
  5. 1 Peter 4:1 Or the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin
  6. 1 Peter 4:2 Lit for desires of human beings
  7. 1 Peter 4:3 Or Gentiles
  8. 1 Peter 4:4 Lit you don’t run with them into the same pouring out
  9. 1 Peter 4:6 Or in the flesh
  10. 1 Peter 4:6 Or in the spirit
  11. 1 Peter 4:8 Pr 10:12
  12. 1 Peter 4:12 Lit the burning
  13. 1 Peter 4:14 Other mss add He is blasphemed because of them, but He is glorified because of you.
  14. 1 Peter 4:15 Or as one who defrauds others
  15. 1 Peter 4:18 Pr 11:31 LXX
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Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.

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