1 Peter 4:13-19

4:13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed¹ you may also rejoice and be glad.² 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory,³ who is the Spirit of God,⁴ rests⁵ on you. 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.⁶ 4:16 But if you suffer as a Christian,⁷ do not be ashamed, but glorify⁸ God that you bear such a name.⁹ 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house¹⁰ of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate¹¹ of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 4:18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of¹² the ungodly and sinners?¹³ 4:19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.¹⁴

¹tn Grk “in the revelation of his glory.”

²tn The verb “be glad” is used also in 1:6 and 1:8. The verbs of v. 13b are used together in Matt 5:12 and Rev 19:7.

³tc Many mss, some of them important and early ([א] A P 33 81 323 945 1241 1739 pm bo), add καὶ δυνάμεως (kai dunamew"; “and of power”) here. The shorter reading is supported by Ì⁷² B K L Ψ 049 pm). Although the evidence is evenly divided, the longer reading looks to be an explanatory or liturgical expansion on the text and for this reason should be considered secondary.

⁴tn Grk “the Spirit of glory and of God.”

⁵sn A quotation taken from Isa 11:2.

⁶tn The meaning of the Greek word used here is uncertain. It may mean “spy, informer,” “revolutionary,” or “defrauder, embezzler.” But the most likely meaning is “busybody, one who meddles in the affairs of others, troublesome meddler.” The translation given in the text is intended to suggest this general idea.

⁷tn The verb is implied by the context but not expressed; Grk “but if as a Christian.”

⁸tn These are third-person imperatives in Greek (“if [one of you suffers] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed…let him glorify”), but have been translated as second-person verbs since this is smoother English idiom.

⁹tn Grk “in this name.”

¹⁰tn Grk “to begin from the house.”

¹¹tn Or “the end.”

¹²tn Grk “where will he appear.”

¹³tn The personal references in v. 18 are generic singulars, but they have been changed to the plural in English to maintain consistency with the plurals of v. 17.

¹⁴tn Grk “in doing good.”