1 Peter 4:1-6

Expanded Bible

Change Your Lives

4 [^LTherefore] Since Christ suffered while he was in his ·body [^Tflesh], ·strengthen [arm] yourselves with the same ·way of thinking Christ had [intention; attitude; resolve]. [^LBecause] The person who has suffered in the ·body [^Tflesh] ·is finished with sin [or has broken from the power of sin]. ² ·Strengthen [Arm] yourselves so that you will live ·here on earth [^Lthe rest of the time in the flesh] doing ·what God wants [the will of God], ·not the evil things people want [or not pursuing your own human desires]. ³ ·In the past you wasted too much time [or For you have spent enough time in the past] doing what ·nonbelievers [Gentiles; pagans] enjoy. You were guilty of sexual sins, evil desires, drunkenness, wild and drunken parties, and ·hateful [lawless; detestable] idol worship. ⁴ ·Nonbelievers [The Gentiles/pagans] think it is ·strange [surprising] that you do not ·do the many wild and wasteful things they do [^Lrun with them into the same flood/excess of debauchery], so they ·insult you [abuse/slander you; or blaspheme]. ⁵ But they will have to ·explain [^Tgive account of] this to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this reason the ·Good News [Gospel] was preached to those who are now dead. Even though they were judged ·like all people [^Laccording to human beings in the flesh], the Good News was preached to them so they could live ·in the spirit as God lives [or in the Spirit as God lives; ^Laccording to God in the spirit/Spirit; ^Cthough Christians will die physically, because of the Good News they will live forever with God].