Following Christ

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] in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires,[f] but for God’s will.(B) 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. So they are surprised that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood[h] of wild living—and they slander 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,(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]

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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

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”