Living for God: Love, Service, and Stewardship of Gifts
1 Peter 4:1-11
1Pet.4.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ουν: CONJ
- παθοντος: VERB,aor,act,ptc,gen,sg,m
- σαρκι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
- εννοιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- οπλισασθε: VERB,aor,mid,imp,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- παθων: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- σαρκι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- πεπαυται: VERB,perf,mid,ind,3,sg
- αμαρτιας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
Parallels
- Romans 6:6-7 (verbal): Speaks of the believer's 'old self' being crucified with Christ so that 'the body of sin might be destroyed' and 'he who has died is freed from sin,' closely paralleling Peter's claim that one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
- Galatians 2:20 (thematic): Paul's language of being 'crucified with Christ' and now living by faith connects to Peter's call to take on the same mind as the suffering Christ and the resulting new ethic of life free from enslaving sin.
- 1 Peter 2:21-24 (allusion): Immediate Petrine parallel: Christ's suffering is presented as an example for believers—Christ 'bore our sins' and 'suffered in the flesh'—which grounds the exhortation in 4:1 to adopt the mind of the suffering Savior.
- Colossians 3:3-4 (thematic): Paul's exhortation that 'you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ' and the call to set minds on heavenly realities echoes Peter's appeal to take on Christ's suffering and the resulting break with former sinful life.
- Philippians 3:10 (thematic): Paul's desire to 'know Christ and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings' parallels Peter's emphasis on sharing in Christ's sufferings as formative for Christian identity and conduct (including victory over sin).
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same resolve—because whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
- Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same purpose—because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
1Pet.4.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μηκετι: ADV
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- επιθυμιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- αλλα: CONJ
- θεληματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- επιλοιπον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- σαρκι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- βιωσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- χρονον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 Pet 1:14-16 (structural): Same epistle: calls believers to cease living according to former passions and to be holy, echoing the ethical demand to live by God’s will rather than human desires.
- Romans 6:11-13 (verbal): Commands Christians to reckon themselves dead to sin and to present themselves to God—paralleling Peter’s exhortation to no longer live for human passions but for God’s will.
- Romans 13:13-14 (thematic): Contrasts living in sensuality and orgies with putting on the Lord Jesus Christ—similar juxtaposition of fleshly desires versus living according to God’s will.
- Galatians 5:16-17 (thematic): Exhorts believers to walk by the Spirit so they will not gratify the desires of the flesh, reflecting Peter’s call to live by God’s will rather than human passions.
- Colossians 3:5-10 (thematic): Urges Christians to put to death earthly passions and put on the new self, paralleling the imperative to live the remaining time in the flesh according to God’s will.
Alternative generated candidates
- So live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human passions, but for the will of God.
- So that he no longer lives the rest of his earthly life for human passions, but for the will of God.
1Pet.4.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αρκετος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- παρεληλυθως: VERB,perf,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- χρονος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- βουλημα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- εθνων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- κατειργασθαι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- πεπορευμενους: VERB,perf,mid,part,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- ασελγειαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- επιθυμιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- οινοφλυγιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- κωμοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- ποτοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αθεμιτοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- ειδωλολατριαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
Parallels
- Galatians 5:19-21 (verbal): Paul's catalogue of the 'works of the flesh' (sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, drunkenness, orgies) closely matches Peter's list (ἀσελγεῖαι, ἐπιθυμίαι, οἰνοφλυγίαι, κῶμοι), sharing both vocabulary and theme.
- Romans 13:13-14 (thematic): Urges Christians to live honorably and not in 'orgies and drunkenness' or 'sexual immorality' as those in darkness do—echoing Peter's contrast between past Gentile conduct and a changed Christian life.
- Ephesians 5:3-5; 5:18 (thematic): Ephesians condemns fornication, impurity and covetousness (linked with idolatry) and contrasts drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit, paralleling Peter's condemnation of licentious living, excess drinking, and idolatrous practices.
- Colossians 3:5-8 (structural): Paul commands believers to 'put to death' sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness (which is idolatry) and to put off related behaviors—parallel in content and moral instruction to Peter's list of past Gentile sins.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the past is sufficient for doing the will of the Gentiles: you once walked in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revelry, carousing, and lawless idolatries.
- For the time past is enough to have carried out the will of the Gentiles—living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, revels, drinking parties, and lawless idolatries.
1Pet.4.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ξενιζονται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,pl
- μη: PART
- συντρεχοντων: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,pl,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ασωτιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αναχυσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- βλασφημουντες·: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- 1 Peter 4:3 (verbal): Immediate context: describes the former life 'spent in debauchery, lusts, drunkenness' and the 'same excess of riot' language that verse 4 echoes — the group’s surprise that Christians no longer join them.
- 1 Peter 2:12 (thematic): Admonishes believers to keep an honorable conduct among Gentiles so that when they malign you as evildoers they may see your good deeds; parallels the theme of unbelievers speaking evil because Christians live differently.
- 1 Peter 3:16 (thematic): Urges a good conscience so that when slandered those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame; relates to suffering reproach/blasphemy for righteous conduct.
- Titus 2:11-12 (thematic): The grace of God teaches believers to deny ungodliness and live soberly, righteously and godly — explains the moral break from former debauchery that provokes outsider astonishment and reproach.
- Romans 12:2 (thematic): Calls Christians not to be conformed to this world but transformed — a parallel principle for why believers refuse to 'run with them' and thus elicit opposition or blasphemy from the world.
Alternative generated candidates
- They are astonished that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they blaspheme.
- They are surprised that you do not rush with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they malign you.
1Pet.4.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αποδωσουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ετοιμως: ADV
- εχοντι: VERB,pres,act,part,dat,m,sg
- κριναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ζωντας: PART,pres,act,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- νεκρους·: ADJ,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Romans 14:10-12 (thematic): Both speak of final accounting before God — 'we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God' and 'each of us will give account' parallels Peter's 'they will give account to the one ready to judge the living and the dead.'
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 (verbal): Explicitly states that all must appear before the judgment seat (bema) to receive due recompense, closely matching Peter's language of giving account to the judge of living and dead.
- Acts 10:42 (verbal): Peter (in Acts) testifies that Jesus was 'appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead,' a near verbal parallel to 1 Peter's reference to the one ready to judge the living and the dead.
- John 5:22-29 (allusion): Jesus' teaching that the Father has given all judgment to the Son and that the dead will be raised for judgment echoes 1 Peter's focus on a decisive judgment of both living and dead.
- Revelation 20:11-13 (structural): The eschatological scene of books opened and the dead judged according to deeds provides a structural parallel to Peter's assertion that people will give account before the final judge.
Alternative generated candidates
- They will give account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
- They will give account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1Pet.4.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εις: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- γαρ: PART
- και: CONJ
- νεκροις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- ευηγγελισθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- κριθωσι: VERB,aor,pass,sub,3,pl
- μεν: PART
- κατα: PREP
- ανθρωπους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- σαρκι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ζωσι: VERB,pres,act,sub,3,pl
- δε: CONJ
- κατα: PREP
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- 1 Peter 3:18-20 (verbal): Both verses speak of proclamation to the dead/spirits (Christ’s suffering and then preaching to the spirits in prison), providing the closest verbal and theological parallel to ‘the gospel was preached to the dead.’
- John 5:24 (thematic): Jesus teaches that hearing and believing his word brings passing from death to life — parallels 1 Pet 4:6’s contrast of being judged in the flesh but living in the spirit.
- Romans 8:10-11 (thematic): Paul contrasts the body being ‘dead because of sin’ with the Spirit giving life; echoes the idea of death/judgment in the flesh yet life according to God in the spirit.
- Colossians 2:13 (verbal): Paul’s language of being ‘dead in trespasses’ and then made alive with Christ parallels the dead-to-life motif and the spiritual vivification found in 1 Pet 4:6.
- Acts 2:31-32 (allusion): Peter’s Pentecost sermon links Jesus’ death, descent, and vindication/resurrection with proclamation to the dead; provides an early-praxis context for preaching about the risen Christ to those associated with death.
Alternative generated candidates
- For to this purpose the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, that, judged in the flesh like humans, they might live in the spirit as God.
- For this reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead—so that, in the flesh, they might be judged as men, but in the spirit might live before God.
1Pet.4.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τελος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ηγγικεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- σωφρονησατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- ουν: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- νηψατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- εις: PREP
- προσευχας·: NOUN,acc,pl,f
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 (verbal): Both passages pair the imminence of the Lord's coming with exhortations to 'be sober' and 'be watchful' (νηφάτε/σώφρονες), urging moral vigilance in light of the approaching day of the Lord.
- Colossians 4:2 (verbal): Directly connects prayer with watchful persistence ('Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful'), mirroring 1 Pet 4:7's command to be sober and watchful in prayer.
- Mark 13:33 (thematic): Emphasizes wakeful watchfulness in view of an unknown imminent time (the coming of the Son of Man), paralleling Peter's call to vigilance because 'the end is near.'
- Romans 13:11 (thematic): Uses the nearness of salvation/appointed time to urge醒ness and action ('it is high time to awake out of sleep'), a similar motive employed in 1 Pet 4:7 for sobriety and prayerful alertness.
- 1 Peter 1:13 (structural): Within the same epistolary context Peter issues parallel ethical imperatives (girding minds, being sober) that reflect a consistent rhetorical pattern of urging mental sobriety and readiness.
Alternative generated candidates
- The end of all things has drawn near. Therefore be sober-minded and watchful in your prayers.
- The end of all things is near; therefore be sober-minded and watchful in prayer.
1Pet.4.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- προ: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- εαυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- αγαπην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εκτενη: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- εχοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- αγαπη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- καλυπτει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- πληθος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αμαρτιων·: NOUN,gen,pl,f
Parallels
- Proverbs 10:12 (verbal): Wisdom proverb: 'Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions' — close verbal and conceptual parallel to love 'covering a multitude of sins.'
- Proverbs 17:9 (verbal): Says one who 'covers an offense' promotes love; parallels the idea that love hides/forgives faults and preserves relationships.
- James 5:20 (verbal): Uses the same phrase 'cover a multitude of sins' in the context of restoring a sinner — a direct verbal echo of the concept of love or restoration effecting forgiveness.
- 1 Peter 1:22 (thematic): Within the same epistle: believers are urged to 'love one another earnestly/from a pure heart' — a closely related exhortation to fervent mutual love as ethical demand.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (thematic): Paul's portrait of love (patient, kind, bears/forgives) echoes the ethical force of love that endures and forbearance implied by 'covering' sins.
Alternative generated candidates
- Above all, maintain fervent love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.
- Above all, hold unceasingly to brotherly love, for love covers a multitude of sins.
1Pet.4.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- φιλοξενοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- αλληλους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ανευ: PREP
- γογγυσμου·: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Philippians 2:14 (verbal): Both verses use the language of doing things 'without grumbling/complaining' (Greek γογγυσμῷ/γογγυσμοῖς), linking hospitable conduct to a complaint-free attitude.
- 1 Timothy 3:2 (verbal): Uses the adjectival form φιλοξενος ('hospitable') as a qualification for church leaders, sharing the same lexical root as 1 Pet 4:9's φιλοξενοι.
- Romans 12:13 (thematic): Exhorts believers to contribute to needs and to practice hospitality (τὴν φιλοξενίαν), closely related in theme to mutual hospitality in 1 Pet 4:9.
- Hebrews 13:2 (thematic): Commands believers not to neglect hospitality ('Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers'), a parallel ethical injunction and rationale for welcoming others.
- Matthew 25:35 (thematic): Jesus' teaching ('I was a stranger and you welcomed me') gives theological significance to welcoming/hosting strangers, resonating with the call to mutual hospitality in 1 Pet 4:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
- Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
1Pet.4.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εκαστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- καθως: CONJ
- ελαβεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- χαρισμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εις: PREP
- εαυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- αυτο: PRON,acc,sg,neut
- διακονουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ως: ADV
- καλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οικονομοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ποικιλης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- χαριτος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- θεου·: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Romans 12:6-8 (thematic): Speaks of differing gifts received and exhorts believers to use them in ministry to the body (prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation), echoing the call to serve one another according to received gifts.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11 (verbal): Discusses the variety of spiritual gifts given by the Spirit for the common good and the distribution of gifts, paralleling Peter’s emphasis on diverse gifts and mutual service.
- Ephesians 4:11-12 (thematic): Describes Christ giving gifts (apostles, prophets, teachers, etc.) to equip the saints for ministry and building up the body—aligning with Peter’s focus on gifting and service for the church’s benefit.
- 1 Corinthians 4:1 (verbal): Calls believers to regard apostles as servants and stewards of the mysteries of God, using the stewardship language that Peter employs (good stewards of God’s manifold grace).
- Matthew 25:14-30 (allusion): The parable of the talents frames believers as stewards entrusted with resources/abilities by a master—an apt background for Peter’s stewardship metaphor about faithfully administering God’s varied grace.
Alternative generated candidates
- As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.
- As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another—good stewards of God's varied grace.
1Pet.4.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- λαλει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ως: ADV
- λογια: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- θεου·ει: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- διακονει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ως: ADV
- εξ: PREP
- ισχυος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- χορηγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος·ινα: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- πασιν: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- δοξαζηται: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δοξα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- κρατος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- εις: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αιωνας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αιωνων·αμην: NOUN,gen,pl,m+INTJ
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 (verbal): Both issue an explicit command to do everything for God's glory (Greek: "πάντα εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ ποιεῖτε"), closely paralleling 1 Pet 4:11's "ἵνα ἐν πᾶσιν δοξάζεται ὁ θεός."
- Colossians 3:17 (thematic): Connects speech and action done in the Lord's name and oriented toward God ("ὅ,τι ἐὰν ποιῇτε ἐν λόγῳ ἢ ἔργῳ... ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου Ἰησοῦ"), echoing 1 Pet 4:11's call that speaking and serving glorify God through Jesus Christ.
- Romans 12:6–8 (thematic): Gives parallel ethical instruction on exercising diverse gifts (prophecy, service, teaching, etc.) in proportion to grace—the same categories (speaking, serving) and the expectation that gifts be used faithfully for God's purposes as in 1 Pet 4:11.
- 1 Peter 4:10 (structural): Immediate context: v.10 exhorts each to use received gifts to serve one another as stewards of God's varied grace, which directly leads into v.11's specification about speaking and serving so that God is glorified.
- Romans 11:36 (verbal): A Pauline doxology ("αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας") closely parallels the final doxological formula of 1 Pet 4:11 ("ἥ ἐστὶν ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων· ἀμήν").
Alternative generated candidates
- If anyone speaks, let him speak as one who utters God's words; if anyone serves, let him serve by the strength God supplies, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
- If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God; if anyone serves, let him serve with the strength God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ—glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose—because whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. So that in the remaining time of your life in the flesh you should no longer live for human passions, but for the will of God.
For the time past of your life is sufficient to have carried out the desires of the Gentiles—when you lived in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, revelries, carousing, and lawless idolatries.
They are astonished that you do not join them in the same flood of excess, and they malign you. But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
For to this purpose the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, that they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, but live in the spirit according to God.
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be sober-minded and watchful in your prayers.
Above all, keep fervent love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.
If anyone speaks, let him speak as one who utters the oracles of God; if anyone serves, let him serve with the strength God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.