BOOK 60 OF 66 · GENERAL EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Peter 4

1 Peter book home•Chapter 4 of 5•19 verses

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1 Peter 4 Overview

Peter tells believers to arm themselves with Christ’s mind toward suffering and no longer live for former lusts. He urges fervent charity, hospitality, faithful stewardship of gifts, and God-glorifying speech and service. He warns them not to think fiery trials strange, distinguishes suffering for Christ from suffering as an evildoer, and calls those suffering according to God’s will to entrust themselves to the faithful Creator.

1 PeterBook

4Chapter

19Verses

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Before you read 1 Peter 4

Coming from

Peter gives instructions to wives and husbands, emphasizing godly conduct, inner character, understanding, and honor. He then addresses all believers with unity, compassion, blessing rather than retaliation, readiness to answer for their hope, and willingness to suffer for righteousness. Christ suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God.

In this chapter

Leads into

Peter exhorts elders to feed God’s flock willingly, not for filthy lucre or domination, but as examples, awaiting the Chief Shepherd’s crown of glory. Younger believers should submit appropriately, all should be clothed with humility, cast cares on God, remain sober and vigilant against the devil, resist him steadfast in faith, and trust the God of all grace to establish them after suffering.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Peter does not glorify suffering caused by wrongdoing; he explicitly distinguishes suffering as a Christian from suffering as a murderer, thief, evildoer, or busybody.

‘Judgment must begin at the house of God’ concerns purifying/testing judgment among God’s people, not condemnation of believers to hell.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Past life should not govern present conduct

Believers have spent enough time in former excess.

Spiritual gifts are stewardship

Every person should minister the gift received for God’s glory.

Suffering for Christ is not shameful

Believers can glorify God in that name.

God remains trustworthy in suffering

Believers commit their souls to Him while doing well.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Romans 6:1–14

Believers are to live differently because of union with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:4–7

Spiritual gifts are given for service to others.

Hebrews 12:5–11

God’s fatherly dealings with His people include discipline and purification.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not call every hardship persecution for Christ

Peter excludes suffering caused by criminal or meddling conduct.

Do not read judgment beginning at God’s house as loss of eternal life

The passage addresses God’s purifying dealings with His own people.

Do not make gifts a platform for self-glory

Service is so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

Read 1 Peter 4 watching for…

The break with former lifestyle.

Charity and hospitality.

Stewardship of gifts.

Fiery trial language.

Suffering as Christian versus evildoer.

Entrusting the soul to the faithful Creator.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-6Believers are to arm themselves against former lusts and live for the will of God despite opposition 7-11Because the end is near, believers should watch in prayer, love one another, show hospitality, and use gifts as stewards 12-19Fiery trials should not surprise believers; they should rejoice in suffering for Christ and commit themselves to God while doing well

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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1 Peter 4:2

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