Following Christ

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] in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.(B) 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. They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander[d] you. They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.(E) 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:1 Other mss read suffered for us
  2. 4:1 Or perspective, or attitude
  3. 4:1 Or the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with sin
  4. 4:4 Or blaspheme
  5. 4:6 Or those who are dead

The Time for Behaving Like the Gentiles is Past

Therefore, because[a] Christ suffered in the flesh, you also equip yourselves with the same way of thinking, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for the will of God. For the time that has passed was sufficient to do what the Gentiles desire to do[b], having lived in licentiousness, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries, with respect to which they are surprised when[c] you do not run with them into the same flood of dissipation, and so they[d] revile you. They[e] will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Because for this reason also the gospel was preached to those who are dead, so that they were judged by human standards[f] in the flesh, but they may live in the spirit by God’s standards[g].

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:1 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“suffered”) which is understood as causal
  2. 1 Peter 4:3 Literally “to do the intention of the Gentiles”
  3. 1 Peter 4:4 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“run with”) which is understood as temporal
  4. 1 Peter 4:4 Here “and so” is supplied as a component of the participle (“revile”) which is understood as result
  5. 1 Peter 4:5 Literally “who”
  6. 1 Peter 4:6 Literally “according to men”
  7. 1 Peter 4:6 Literally “according to God”

Living for God

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

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