1 So that as Jesus was put to death in the flesh, do you yourselves be of the same mind; for the death of the flesh puts an end to sin; 2 So that you may give the rest of your lives in the flesh, not to the desires of men, but to the purpose of God. 3 Because for long enough, in times past, we have been living after the way of the Gentiles, given up to the desires of the flesh, to drinking and feasting and loose behaviour and unclean worship of images; 4 And they are wondering that you no longer go with them in this violent wasting of life, and are saying evil things of you: 5 But they will have to give an account of themselves to him who is ready to be the judge of the living and the dead. 6 For this was the reason why the good news of Jesus was given even to the dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but might be living before God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is near: so be serious in your behaviour and keep on the watch with prayer; 8 And most of all be warm in your love for one another; because in love there is forgiveness for sins without number: 9 Keep open house for all with a glad heart; 10 Making distribution among one another of whatever has been given to you, like true servants of the unmeasured grace of God; 11 If anyone has anything to say, let it be as the words of God; if anyone has the desire to be the servant of others, let him do it in the strength which is given by God; so that in all things God may have the glory through Jesus Christ, whose are the glory and the power for ever. 12 Dear brothers, do not be surprised, as if it was something strange, if your faith is tested as by fire: 13 But be glad that you are given a part in the pains of Christ; so that at the revelation of his glory you may have great joy. 14 If men say evil things of you because of the name of Christ, happy are you; for the Spirit of glory and of God is resting on you. 15 Let no one among you undergo punishment as a taker of life, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as one who is over-interested in other men's business; 16 But if he undergoes punishment as a Christian, that is no shame to him; let him give glory to God in this name. 17 For the time has come for the judging, starting with the church of God; but if it makes a start with us, what will be the end of those who are not under the rule of God? 18 And if it is hard for even the good man to get salvation, what chance has the man without religion or the sinner? 19 For this reason let those who by the purpose of God undergo punishment, keep on in well-doing and put their souls into the safe hands of their Maker.
1 Peter · Bible in Basic English
1 Peter 4 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (19)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Galatians 5:24; 1 Peter 3:18; Colossians 3:3–5; Romans 6:11; Galatians 2:20
- 2 Ephesians 4:22–24; 1 Peter 1:14; Ephesians 6:6; Romans 6:11; Titus 3:3–8
- 3 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:5; 1 Peter 1:14; Ephesians 2:2–3
- 4 1 Peter 3:16; 1 Peter 2:12; Jude 10; Acts 18:6; Acts 13:45
- 5 James 5:9; 2 Timothy 4:1; Acts 10:42; Romans 14:10–12; John 5:22–23
- 6 Romans 8:2; 1 Peter 3:19; John 5:25–26; Romans 8:9–11; Ephesians 2:3–5
- 7 James 5:8–9; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Luke 21:34
- 8 Proverbs 10:12; Colossians 3:14; Proverbs 17:9; James 5:20; 1 Peter 1:22
- 9 Hebrews 13:2; Romans 12:13; Philippians 2:14; Hebrews 13:16; 1 Timothy 3:2
- 10 Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; 1 Corinthians 4:1–2; Mark 10:45; Hebrews 6:10
- 11 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 4:10; Ephesians 6:10; Ephesians 4:29; 1 Corinthians 12:4
- 12 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 1:6–7; 1 Peter 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:2–4; Daniel 11:35
- 13 Romans 8:17; James 1:2–3; Romans 5:3; Philippians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 1:7
- 14 1 Peter 3:14; Luke 6:22; Matthew 5:11; 1 Peter 3:16; James 1:12
- 15 2 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Peter 2:19–20; 1 Timothy 5:13; 1 Peter 3:17
- 16 1 Peter 3:17–18; Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 4:19; James 1:2–4; Acts 5:41
- 17 Jeremiah 25:29; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:9; Ezekiel 9:6; 1 Peter 2:8
- 18 Proverbs 11:31; Ezekiel 18:24; Luke 23:31; 2 Peter 2:5–6; Jude 15
- 19 Psalm 37:5; 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 Peter 3:17; Psalm 138:8; Psalm 146:5–6
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Love covers a multitude of sins. Love beareth all things, is long-suffering in all things.
Wherefore, forsaking the vanity of many, and their false doctrines, let us return to the word which has been handed down to us from the beginning; "watching unto prayer," and persevering in fasting; beseeching in our supplications the all-seeing God "not to lead us into temptation," as the Lord has said: "The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is …
"Love moreover is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." And because it is through sin that we are alienated from the possession of true good, "Love covereth a multitude of sins." So then the Father is Himself the True Origin to the Son, who is the Truth, and the Son is the …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
Let us then be imitators of His patience; and if we suffer for His name's sake, let us glorify Him.
Before all, then, confession; then, love: for of charity what is said? "Charity covereth a multitude of sins." Now let us see whether he commendeth charity in regard of the sins which subsequently overtake us: because charity alone extinguisheth sins.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)