1 Peter 4:3–4

4:3 For 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 4:4 So9 they are astonished10 when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.11

4	tn Grk “the Gentiles,” used here of those who are not God’s people.
5	tn Grk “to accomplish the desire of the Gentiles.”
6	tn Grk “having gone along,” referring to the readers’ behavior in time past.
7	tn According to BDAG 857 s.v. πότος the term refers to a social gathering at which wine is served, hence “drinking parties” (cf. TEV, NASB). 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	tn The Greek words here all occur in the plural to describe their common practice in the past.
9	tn 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	tn Or “are surprised, are taken aback.” The same verb occurs in 4:12.
11	tn Grk “blaspheming,” giving the result of their astonishment. Here the target of their “blasphemy/vilification” is not God but the Christian.