1 Peter 4

Living for God

1So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.#4:1 Or For the one [or One] who has suffered physically has finished with sin. 2You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.

4Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. 5But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. 6That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead#4:6a Greek preached even to the dead.—so although they were destined to die like all people,#4:6b Or so although people had judged them worthy of death. they now live forever with God in the Spirit.#4:6c Or in spirit.

7The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

10God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Suffering for Being a Christian

12Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13Instead, 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.

14If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God#4:14a Or for the glory of God, which is his Spirit. rests upon you.#4:14b Some manuscripts add On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. 15If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17For 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? 18And also,

“If the righteous are barely saved,

what will happen to godless sinners?”#4:18 Prov 11:31 (Greek version).

19So 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.

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1 Peter 4

Stewards of God’s Grace

1Since therefore #ch. 3:18Christ suffered in the flesh,#4:1 Some manuscripts add for us; some for you #[Eph. 6:13] arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for #Rom. 6:2, 7; Gal. 5:24; Col. 3:3, 5whoever has suffered in the flesh #[2 Pet. 2:14]has ceased from sin, 2#Rom. 6:14; 14:7; 2 Cor. 5:15so as to live for #ch. 1:14the rest of the time in the flesh #Titus 2:12; 1 John 2:16no longer for human passions but #Rom. 6:11for the will of God. 3For the time that is past #Ezek. 44:6; 45:9; Acts 17:30suffices #Eph. 4:17-19; 1 Thess. 4:5; [1 Cor. 12:2]for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of #See Eph. 5:18debauchery, and #ch. 2:12; 3:16they malign you; 5but they will give account to him who is ready #[James 5:9]; See Acts 10:42to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is why #ch. 3:19the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

7 # See James 5:8 The end of all things is at hand; therefore #See ch. 1:13be self-controlled and sober-minded #Matt. 26:41; Luke 21:36for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since #[1 Cor. 13:5, 6]; See James 5:20love covers a multitude of sins. 9#Heb. 13:2; [1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8]Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10#Rom. 12:6, 7; 1 Cor. 4:7; [Matt. 25:15] As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, #Luke 12:42; 1 Cor. 4:1, 2; Titus 1:7as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks #Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2; Heb. 5:12oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves #Rom. 12:3by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything #1 Cor. 10:31God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. #See Rom. 11:36To him belong glory and #ch. 5:11; Jude 25; Rev. 1:6; 5:13dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

12Beloved, do not be surprised at #ch. 1:7the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice #Phil. 3:10, 11; See Acts 5:41insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad #[ch. 1:5-7; 5:1; Rom. 8:17, 18; Jude 24]when his glory is revealed. 14#Ps. 89:51; Matt. 5:11If you are insulted #John 15:21; [Heb. 11:26]for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory#4:14 Some manuscripts insert and of power and of God rests upon you. 15But #ch. 2:19, 20; 3:14, 17let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or #1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:11; 1 Tim. 5:13as a meddler. 16Yet #[See ver. 15 above] if anyone suffers as a #See Acts 26:28Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God #[See ver. 14 above]in that name. 17For it is time for judgment #Jer. 25:29; Ezek. 9:6; Amos 3:2; Rom. 2:9to begin at the household of God; and #[Luke 23:31] if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who #[2 Thess. 1:8]do not obey the gospel of God? 18And

# Prov. 11:31 “If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”#4:18 Greek where will the ungodly and sinner appear?

19Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will #Ps. 31:5; Luke 23:46; [Ps. 10:14; 2 Tim. 1:12]entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

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