The New Testament – Open Canon

Peter — Chapter 4

Peter explains why the gospel is preached to the dead—Saints should speak as the oracles of God—The righteous will be tried and tested in all things.

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same ^amind: ^bfor he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from ^csin;

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the ^alusts of men, but to the will of God.

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, ^aexcess of wine, ^brevellings, banquetings, and ^cabominable ^didolatries:

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to ^ajudge the ^bquick and the dead.

6 ^aFor for this cause was the ^bgospel ^cpreached also to them that are ^ddead, that they might be ^ejudged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7 ^aBut the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and ^bwatch unto prayer.

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: ^afor ^bcharity shall cover the multitude of sins.

9 Use ^ahospitality one to another without ^bgrudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so^aminister the same one to another, as good ^bstewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man ^aspeak, let him speak as the ^boracles 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.

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

13 But ^arejoice, inasmuch as ye are ^bpartakers of Christ’s ^csufferings; that, when his glory shall be ^drevealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be ^areproached for the name of Christ, ^bhappy 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.

15 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.

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

17 For the time is come that ^ajudgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that ^bobey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the ^arighteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ^bungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the ^awill of God commit the ^bkeeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.