1 Peter 4

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

AI-assisted, sourced

Since "Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh," readers are to arm themselves with the same mind and live "to the will of God," not as they once lived. "The end of all things is at hand," so be sober, pray, and "above all things have fervent charity," for "charity shall cover the multitude of sins," using every gift "as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." They are to "think it not strange concerning the fiery trial," but rejoice as "partakers of Christ's sufferings," and "if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed." 1 Peter 4:1 1 Peter 4:2 1 Peter 4:7 1 Peter 4:8 1 Peter 4:10 1 Peter 4:12 1 Peter 4:13 1 Peter 4:16

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

Peter writes to believers whose former companions "think it strange that ye run not with them." 1 Peter 4:3 1 Peter 4:4 1 Peter overview

Where

The chapter names no place; the readers live in Asia Minor. 1 Peter overview

When

"The end of all things is at hand." Traditionally about AD 62-64, shortly before Peter's death in Rome under Nero. Many scholars think it was written in Peter's name, about AD 70-95; others accept that Peter wrote it. 1 Peter 4:7 1 Peter overview

How it fits

Chapter 3 ended with Christ "gone into heaven"; this chapter calls readers to share his mind in suffering. Chapter 5 turns to the elders: "Feed the flock of God which is among you." 1 Peter 3:22 1 Peter 4:1 1 Peter 5:1 1 Peter 5:2

Key verses

Verse 8
"Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." Proverbs 10:12 says, "love covereth all sins." 1 Peter 4:8 Proverbs 10:12
Verse 12
"Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." 2 Timothy 3:12 says, "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 1 Peter 4:12 1 Peter 4:13 2 Timothy 3:12
Verse 16
"If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." 1 Peter 4:15 1 Peter 4:16

Takeaway

Live for God's will, love deeply, serve with your gifts, and when you suffer for Christ, do not be surprised or ashamed but trust your faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:2 1 Peter 4:8 1 Peter 4:10 1 Peter 4:16 1 Peter 4:19

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-30.

Living for the will of God

¹Forasmuch 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; ²That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ³For 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: ⁴Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁵Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. ⁶For 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.

Good stewards of grace

⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. ⁸And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. ⁹Use hospitality one to another without grudging. ¹⁰As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹If 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.

The fiery trial

¹²Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³But 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. ¹⁴If 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. ¹⁵But 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. ¹⁶Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. ¹⁷For 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? ¹⁸And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? ¹⁹Wherefore 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.