1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries. 4 They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer. 8 And above all things be earnest in your love amongst yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. 13 But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters. 16 But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgement to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God? 18 “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.
1 Peter · World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
1 Peter 4 World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
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)