1 Peter 4
EasyEnglish Bible
4 Christ had trouble and pain while he lived in his human body. So you should prepare yourselves to have trouble and pain too. Think about it in the same way that Christ did. If someone has trouble and pain in his body, he stops doing wrong things. 2 As a result, that person will want to do what God wants him to do. In his life in this world, he will not want to do the bad things that people think are good.
3 You have already had enough time in your life to do bad things. Those are the kinds of things that people who do not know God like to do. You did many evil things that your bodies wanted to do. You had sex in a wrong way. You often became drunk. You went to wild parties where you drank too much alcohol. You also worshipped useless idols.[a]
4 But now you no longer live in the same wicked way as those people do. They continue to enjoy those wrong things all the time. But you do not join with them. So they insult you. 5 But those people will have to explain to God what they have done. He is ready to judge every person, whether they are alive now or they have already died. 6 That is why even dead people needed to hear the good news about Christ. Their bodies had to die, as all people must die. But they heard the good news so that their spirits could live, as God wants them to live.[b]
We must use God's gifts properly
7 All things in this world will soon come to an end. So you must think clearly. Then you will be able to pray in a serious way. 8 Continue to love each other very much. That is more important than anything else. If you love people, you will forgive them for any wrong things that they have done. 9 Always be happy to have other believers as visitors in your homes.
10 God has helped each of you in a certain way. Think carefully about how to use that gift from God well. Remember that God has given many different gifts to his people so that they can help each other. 11 Has God helped you to speak well? Then speak God's messages to people. Or has God helped you to serve other people? Then let God make you strong to do that. Do everything so that people will praise God. They will say that God is great, because of Jesus Christ. He is the one who has all authority and power for ever. Everyone should praise him! Amen! This is true!
Christians must be ready to have trouble and pain
12 My friends, I know that people are causing you to have bad trouble. It is like a fire that is burning you. Do not be surprised about that. These things are happening to you, to show whether you really trust God. Do not think that something strange is happening to you. 13 Instead, be happy when you have trouble. Remember that Christ also received much trouble and pain. If you have trouble like he did, then you will be happy when he returns. At that time, everyone will see how great Christ really is. Then you will be very happy with a great joy. 14 People may insult you because you belong to Christ. But God will bless you when that happens. It shows that the Holy Spirit is with you. He is God's great Spirit.
15 Do not murder anyone. Do not rob anyone. Do not do evil things. Do not try to cause trouble for other people. If you do those things, you deserve to have trouble. 16 But if you receive trouble because you are a Christian, do not be ashamed about that. Instead, you should praise God that you belong to Christ.
17 The time has come when God will start to judge people. He will first judge the people who belong to him. If he will start with his own people, what will happen to other people? They have refused to obey God's good news, so it will surely be very bad for them. 18 The Bible says:
‘When God saves righteous people, that is a difficult thing.
It will surely be much worse for people who turn away from God and who do bad things.’[c]
19 So remember this. If you receive trouble because that is what God wants, you should continue to trust him. God made you and he always does what he has promised. So you should continue to do what is good.
Footnotes
- 4:3 There is only one true God. He is the only one that we should worship.
- 4:6 The ‘dead people’ may mean all the believers who had died during the time that the New Testament describes. Or, the ‘dead people’ may mean all the people who died before Christ came to live on earth. They had no chance to hear the good news about Christ while they lived on earth. So this may mean that Christ went to tell them about what he had done on their behalf. Then they had the chance to believe in him, as we do.
- 4:18 See Proverbs 11:31.
1 Petrusbrevet 4
Svenska Folkbibeln
Ett liv i Guds vilja
4 Då nu Kristus har lidit till kroppen, skall också ni beväpna er med samma sinne. Ty den som får lida till kroppen har slutat synda, 2 så att han den tid som är kvar inte längre lever efter människors begär utan efter Guds vilja. 3 Det är nog med att ni förr levde på hedningarnas vis - i utsvävningar och begär, i fylleri och supkalas, i vilda fester och förbjudna avgudakulter. 4 Därför är de förvånade och hånar er, när ni inte längre tillsammans med dem störtar er ned i samma ström av utsvävningar. 5 Men de skall stå till svars inför honom som är redo att döma levande och döda. 6 Ty avsikten med att evangeliet predikades också för dem som nu är döda, var att de visserligen skulle dömas kroppsligen som människor döms, men leva andligen, liksom Gud lever.
7 Slutet på allting är nära. Var därför förståndiga och nyktra, så att ni kan be. 8 Framför allt skall ni älska varandra innerligt, ty kärleken överskyler många synder. 9 Var gästfria mot varandra utan att klaga. 10 Tjäna varandra, var och en med den nådegåva han har fått, som goda förvaltare av Guds mångfaldiga nåd. 11 Om någon talar skall han tala i enlighet med Guds ord. Har någon en tjänst skall han tjäna efter den kraft Gud ger, så att Gud i allt blir ärad genom Jesus Kristus. Hans är äran och makten i evigheternas evigheter, amen.
Glädje mitt under lidandet
12 Mina älskade, var inte förvånade över den eld som ni måste gå igenom till er prövning, som om det hände er något oväntat. 13 Nej, gläd er ju mer ni delar Kristi lidanden. Då skall ni också jubla och vara glada, när han uppenbarar sig i sin härlighet. 14 Saliga är ni, om ni hånas för Kristi namns skull, ty härlighetens Ande, Guds Ande, vilar över er. 15 Men ingen av er skall lida för att han är en mördare eller tjuv, förbrytare eller förskingrare.[a] 16 Men om någon får lida för att han är kristen, skall han inte skämmas utan prisa Gud för det namnet. 17 Ty tiden är inne för domen, och den börjar med Guds hus. Men om den börjar med oss, vad skall då slutet bli för dem som inte lyder Guds evangelium? 18 Och om den rättfärdige med knapp nöd blir frälst, vad blir det då av den ogudaktige och syndaren? [b] 19 Därför skall de som efter Guds vilja får lida anförtro sina själar åt sin trofaste Skapare, under det att de gör vad som är gott.
Footnotes
- 1 Petrusbrevet 4:15 förskingrare Grundtextens innebörd är osäker. Ordet finns inte tidigare i den grekiska litteraturen. Av sammanhanget framgår att det uttrycker något olagligt, inte enbart något omoraliskt.
- 1 Petrusbrevet 4:18 Ords 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.
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 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31 (see Septuagint)
1 Peter 4
New King James Version
Christ’s Example to Be Followed
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered [a]for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, (A)but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past [b]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready (B)to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason (C)the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but (D)live according to God in the spirit.
Serving for God’s Glory
7 But (E)the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for (F)“love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 (G)Be hospitable to one another (H)without grumbling. 10 (I)As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, (J)as good stewards of (K)the manifold grace of God. 11 (L)If anyone speaks, let him speak as the [c]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that (M)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the [d]dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Suffering for God’s Glory
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice (N)to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that (O)when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are [e]reproached for the name of Christ, (P)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [f]On their part He is blasphemed, (Q)but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a [g]busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this [h]matter.
17 For the time has come (R)for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, (S)what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now
(T)“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God (U)commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 4:1 NU omits for us
- 1 Peter 4:3 NU time
- 1 Peter 4:11 utterances
- 1 Peter 4:11 sovereignty
- 1 Peter 4:14 insulted or reviled
- 1 Peter 4:14 NU omits the rest of v. 14.
- 1 Peter 4:15 meddler
- 1 Peter 4:16 NU name
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