1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. 4 Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining. 10 As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 11 If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler. 16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
1 Peter · Berean Standard Bible
1 Peter 4 Berean Standard Bible
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)