15 [a]But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or an evil doer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

16 But if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God in this behalf.

17 [b]For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. [c]If it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them which obey not the Gospel of God?

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:15 The third difference: for the godly are not afflicted for their evil doings, but for righteousness’ sake as Christians: whereby it cometh to pass that the cross, seeing it is a testimony unto them of faith and righteousness, ministereth unto them not an occasion of sorrow, but of unspeakable joy: now the Apostle propoundeth the third difference under the form of an exhortation.
  2. 1 Peter 4:17 The third reason because the Lord of all the world being especially careful for them of his household, doth therefore chastise them first of all, yet so that he keepeth a measure in his greatest severity: And as he hath always used to do heretofore, so doth he now specially when as he exhibited himself in person to his Church.
  3. 1 Peter 4:17 Lest the godly should be offended and stumble at that vain shadow of felicity of the wicked, as though God were not the governor of the world, for that the wicked are in good case, and the godly in evil, the Apostle teacheth by an argument of a comparison of them together, that God who spareth not his own, but nurtureth them under the cross, will at length in his time handle the rebellious and wicked far otherwise, whom he hath appointed to utter destruction.

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