Keep Fervent in Your Love

Therefore, since (A)Christ has [a]suffered in the flesh, (B)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because (C)the one who has [b]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (D)so as to live (E)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the (F)will of God. For (G)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, [c](H)having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of (I)[d]debauchery, and they (J)slander you; but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge (K)the living and the dead. For (L)the gospel has for this purpose been [e]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:1 I.e., suffered death
  2. 1 Peter 4:1 I.e., suffered death
  3. 1 Peter 4:3 Lit having gone in
  4. 1 Peter 4:4 Or reckless abandon
  5. 1 Peter 4:6 I.e., preached in their lifetimes

Good Managers of God’s Grace

Therefore, since the Messiah[a] suffered in a mortal body,[b] you, too, must arm yourselves with the same determination, because the person who has suffered in a mortal body has stopped sinning, so that he can live the rest of his mortal life[c] guided, not by human desires, but by the will of God. For you spent enough time in the past doing what the gentiles like to do, living in sensuality, sinful desires, drunkenness, wild celebrations, drinking parties, and detestable idolatry. They insult you now because they are surprised that you are no longer joining them in the same excesses of wild living. They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Indeed, this is why the gospel was proclaimed even to those who have died, so that they could be judged in their mortal flesh like all humans and live in the spiritual realm like God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:1 Or Christ
  2. 1 Peter 4:1 Other mss. read suffered for us; still other mss. read suffered for you
  3. 1 Peter 4:2 Lit. time