Christian Suffering

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.(A) 13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ,(B) so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.(C) 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,(D) you are blessed, because the Spirit(E) of glory and of God[a] rests on you. 15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.[b] 16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.[c] 17 For the time has come for judgment(F) to begin with God’s household,(G) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

18 And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?[d](H)

19 So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves(I) to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4:14 Or God’s glorious Spirit
  2. 4:15 Or as one who defrauds others
  3. 4:16 Other mss read in that case
  4. 4:18 Pr 11:31 LXX

Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God[a] rests upon you.[b] 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? 18 And also,

“If the righteous are barely saved,
    what will happen to godless sinners?”[c]

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4:14a Or for the glory of God, which is his Spirit.
  2. 4:14b Some manuscripts add On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.
  3. 4:18 Prov 11:31 (Greek version).