^4:1So, since Christ suffered¹ in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin,²^4:2in that he spends the rest of his time³ on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires. ^4:3For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians⁴ desire.⁵ You lived then⁶ in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts,⁷ and wanton idolatries.⁸^4:4So⁹ they are astonished¹⁰ when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.¹¹^4:5They will face a reckoning before¹² Jesus Christ¹³ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. ^4:6Now it was for this very purpose¹⁴ that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead,¹⁵ so that though¹⁶ they were judged in the flesh¹⁷ by human standards¹⁸ they may live spiritually¹⁹ by God’s standards.²⁰

Service, Suffering, and Judgment

^4:7For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.²¹^4:8Above all keep²² your love for one another fervent,²³ because love covers a multitude of sins.²⁴^4:9Show hospitality²⁵ to one another without complaining. ^4:10Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another²⁶ as good stewards of the varied grace of God. ^4:11Whoever speaks, let it be with²⁷ God’s words.²⁸ Whoever serves, do so with the strength²⁹ that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong³⁰ the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

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Footnotes

1 Most (א2 A P 𝔐) add ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν (huper hēmōn, “for us”); others (א* 69 1505 ) add ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν (huper humōn, “for you”), the first hand of א also has ἀποθανόντος (apothanontos, “since he died”) instead of παθόντος (pathontos, “since he suffered”). But the reading without ὑπὲρ ἡ/ὑμῶν best explains the rise of the other readings, for not only is there confusion as to which pronoun belongs here, but the longer readings, being clarifications, are evidently motivated readings. The shortest reading is found in important and early Alexandrian and Western witnesses (𝔓72 B C Ψ 0285 323 1739) and is strongly preferred.
2 Has finished with sin. The last sentence in v. 1 may refer to Christ as the one who suffered in the flesh (cf. 2:21, 23; 3:18; 4:1a) and the latter part would then mean, “he has finished dealing with sin.” But it is more likely that it refers to the Christian who suffers unjustly (cf. 2:19–20; 3:14, 17). This shows that he has made a break with sin as vs. 2 describes.
3 This verse may give the purpose or result of their “arming” themselves as called for in v. 1b and then the translation would be: “so that you may spend the rest of your time …” But it is better to take it as explanatory of the last phrase in v. 1: what it means to be finished with sin.
4 Grk “the Gentiles,” used here of those who are not God’s people.
5 Grk “to accomplish the desire of the Gentiles.”
6 Grk “having gone along,” referring to the readers’ behavior in time past.
7 According to πότος the term refers to a social gathering at which wine is served, hence “drinking parties” (cf. , ). However, the collocation with the other terms in v. 4 suggests something less sophisticated and more along the lines of wild and frenzied drinking bouts.
8 The Greek words here all occur in the plural to describe their common practice in the past.
9 Grk “in/by which,” referring to the change of behavior described in v. 3. The unbelievers are astonished by the readers’ moral transformation. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
10 Or “are surprised, are taken aback.” The same verb occurs in 4:12.
11 Grk “blaspheming,” giving the result of their astonishment. Here the target of their “blasphemy/vilification” is not God but the Christian.
12 Grk “give an account to.”
13 Grk “the one”; the referent (Jesus Christ) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
14 Grk “since for this purpose the gospel was preached even to the dead,” referring to the purpose described in the clause to follow in v. 6b.
15 In context the phrase those who are dead refers to those now dead who had accepted the gospel while they were still living and had suffered persecution for their faith. Though they “suffered judgment” in this earthly life (i.e., they died, in the midst of physical abuse from the ungodly), they will enjoy life from God in the spiritual, heavenly realm because of the gospel (v. 6b). It clearly does not assume a second chance for conversion offered to unbelievers who had died; why would Peter urge people to suffer in this life for the sake of the gospel if he believed that mercy would be extended to all the dead in the hereafter (cf. 2:7–8; 4:1–5, 12–19)?
16 Grk “so that they may be judged … but may live.” Greek emphasizes the contrast between these two clauses more than can be easily expressed in English.
17 Or “in their earthly lives,” since “flesh” here denotes the physical, earthly life. The phrase “in the flesh” is retained to preserve the links with 3:18 and 4:1 which use the same wording.
18 Grk “according to men.”
19 Grk “in spirit,” referring to the heavenly, eternal realm of existence (cf. 3:18).
20 Grk “according to God.”
21 Grk “for prayers.”
22 The primary verb of v. 8 is a participle (“having”) but it continues the sense of command from v. 7.
23 Or “constant.”
24 The statement of v. 8b, love covers a multitude of sins, is proverbial: It is quoted from Prov 10:12 (cf. Jas 5:20). It speaks of the forbearance that comes with love: Christian love is patient and forgiving toward the offenses of a fellow Christian (Matt 18:21–22; 1 Cor 13:4–7).
25 There is no main verb in this verse (“showing hospitality” translates the adjective φιλόξενοι [philoxenoi]), but it continues the sense of command from v. 7.
26 Grk “serving it to one another.” The primary verb is a participle but it continues the sense of command from v. 7.
27 Grk “if anyone speaks—as God’s words.”
28 Or “oracles.”
29 Grk “if anyone serves—with strength …”
30 Grk “is/are.”