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Therefore Arm Yourselves With The Same Intention

Therefore, Christ having suffered in the flesh, you also arm-yourselves with the same intention[a]. Because the one having suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for[b] the desires of humans, but for[c] the will of God. For the time having passed is enough for you to have worked-out the will of the Gentiles, having walked in sensualities, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking-parties and unlawful idolatries, in connection with which they are thinking-it-strange that you are not running-with them into the same excess[d] of wild-living, while they continue blaspheming— who shall render an account to the One being ready to judge the living and the dead. For to this end it[e] was announced-as-good-news even to the dead[f]: that they might be judged according-to[g] people in the flesh[h], but be living according to God in the spirit[i]. And[j] the end of all things has drawn-near.

So Be Sober In Prayer, Loving One Another, And Good Stewards of God’s Gifts To You

Therefore be sound-minded and be sober in[k] your prayers— above all, having fervent love for each other, because love covers a multitude of sins; being hospitable to one another without grumbling; 10 as each received a grace-gift, ministering it to each other as good stewards[l] of the diversified grace of God— 11 if anyone speaks, as speaking oracles[m] of God; if anyone serves, as serving by strength which God supplies— in order that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ, to Whom is the glory and the dominion forever and ever, amen.

Beloved, Be Rejoicing To Share In The Sufferings of Christ

12 Beloved, do not be thinking-strange the fiery[n] suffering among you coming upon you for a trial[o], as-though a strange thing were happening to you, 13 but be rejoicing to-the-degree you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ, in order that you may also rejoice while being overjoyed at the revelation of His glory! 14 If you are being reproached[p] in[q] the name of Christ, you are blessed[r] ones! because the Spirit of glory and of God is resting upon you. 15 For let none of you be suffering as a murderer or thief or evil-doer, or as a meddler[s]. 16 But if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him be glorifying God in this name. 17 Because it is time that the judgment begin from the household[t] of God. But if it begins first from us, what will be the outcome of the ones disobeying the good-news of God? 18 “And if the righteous one is saved with-difficulty, where will the ungodly and sinner appear[u]?” [Prov 11:31].

Entrust Your Souls To God While Doing Good

19 So then, let indeed the ones suffering according to the will of God be entrusting their souls in good-doing to a faithful Creator.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:1 Or, thought, way of thinking. That is, to suffer for righteousness (3:14) like Christ (3:18).
  2. 1 Peter 4:2 Or, in, by.
  3. 1 Peter 4:2 Or, in, by.
  4. 1 Peter 4:4 Or, flood, pouring-out.
  5. 1 Peter 4:6 That is, the gospel. Or, He; that is, Christ (as the judge in v 5; Act 17:31).
  6. 1 Peter 4:6 the dead... spirit. That is, to spiritually dead ones, that having become Christians, they might be judged in accordance with human standards while living on earth (and thus suffer for righteousness like Christ), but be living in accordance with God’s standards now and forever (continuing the main argument from v 1-4); or, to now dead Christians while they were still alive, that they might have been judged by human standards while on earth, but now be living with God as He desires, in accordance with His nature and likeness (continuing on from v 5).
  7. 1 Peter 4:6 Or, by way of, in keeping with.
  8. 1 Peter 4:6 That is, in the sphere of the flesh, in connection with mankind’s human fleshly nature.
  9. 1 Peter 4:6 Or, Spirit.
  10. 1 Peter 4:7 A final reason we should arm ourselves with this intention. Or, Now; the beginning of the next paragraph.
  11. 1 Peter 4:7 Or, for, for the purpose of.
  12. 1 Peter 4:10 Or, managers, administrators.
  13. 1 Peter 4:11 Or, sayings, pronouncements, declarations.
  14. 1 Peter 4:12 That is, painful, intense.
  15. 1 Peter 4:12 Or, test.
  16. 1 Peter 4:14 Or, insulted, scolded.
  17. 1 Peter 4:14 That is, in connection with.
  18. 1 Peter 4:14 Or, fortunate, from God’s point of view.
  19. 1 Peter 4:15 Or, busybody.
  20. 1 Peter 4:17 Or, family.
  21. 1 Peter 4:18 Or, show-themselves, make-their-appearance. If Christians suffer such fiery trials on earth while entering into the kingdom of God, where in God’s kingdom will unbelievers be seen?

Living for God

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,(A) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.(B) As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,(C) but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past(D) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.(E) They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.(F) But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.(G) For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,(H) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The end of all things is near.(I) Therefore be alert and of sober mind(J) so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply,(K) because love covers over a multitude of sins.(L) Offer hospitality(M) to one another without grumbling.(N) 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,(O) as faithful(P) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.(Q) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,(R) so that in all things God may be praised(S) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.(T)

Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you(U) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice(V) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,(W) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.(X) 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,(Y) you are blessed,(Z) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.(AA) 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;(AB) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?(AC) 18 And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[a](AD)

19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will(AE) should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31 (see Septuagint)

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.