Saints Translation

By Vincent Melli

1 Peter — Greek text and reception

ClericFaithful suffering

1 Peter 4 — Greek text and reception

Saints Translation: 1 Peter [V2]

Each card preserves the Greek reading and its textual and reception notes. This source provides a Greek study edition; Hebrew counterparts and Hebrew–Greek classifications are not supplied.

Chapter 4

Life for God amid suffering

Living for the will of God

Verse 4:1

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Therefore, since Christ suffered in flesh, arm yourselves also with the same thought, because the one who has suffered in flesh has ceased from sin,

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: G does not add “for us” after Christ's suffering here. The assertion about ceasing from sin is retained without adding an explanation that removes its difficulty. Reception [R25]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:1-5 below.

Verse 4:2

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

so as to live the remaining time in flesh no longer for human desires but for the will of God.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: The purpose or result of the preceding clause is maintained, with the two competing directions of life. Reception [R25]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:1-5 below.

Verse 4:3

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

For the time that has passed is enough for doing the will of the Gentiles, having walked in debaucheries, desires, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and lawless idolatries.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: All six descriptions remain; the emphatic sufficiency of past time is preserved. Reception [R25]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:1-5 below.

Verse 4:4

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

They are surprised that you do not run with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they slander you.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: The running and flood imagery remains. “You” supplies the contextual object of the slander. Reception [R25]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:1-5 below.

Verse 4:5

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

They will give an account to the One who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: Accountability and both groups to be judged remain explicit. Reception [R25]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:1-5 below.

Verse 4:6

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

For this is why the good news was proclaimed even to the dead: so that they might be judged according to human beings in flesh, but live according to God in spirit.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: The verse does not say “now dead” or “spiritually dead”; neither identification is inserted. Reception [R26]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:6-11 below. Augustine, Letter 164.10–11 [A164]: asks how judgment in flesh applies if the recipients have died; the difficulty remains explicit in this discussion.

Love, hospitality, and service

Verse 4:7

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

But the end of all things has drawn near. Therefore, be sound-minded and sober for prayers.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: Nearness is expressed as a completed approach. Both exhortations serve prayer. Reception [R26]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:6-11 below. Polycarp, Philippians 7 [P]: reuses watchfulness for prayer in an exhortation to perseverance.

Verse 4:8

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Above all, maintain earnest love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: The covering metaphor remains without replacing it with an explanation of forgiveness's precise mechanism. Reception [R26]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:6-11 below. Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 49 [CL]: reuses love’s covering of sins in praise of concord; the wording is shared biblical tradition, not proof of literary dependence.

Verse 4:9

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: Mutual hospitality and the negative qualification are both retained. Reception [R26]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:6-11 below.

Verse 4:10

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

As each has received a gift, use it in serving one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: The gift is individually received and mutually exercised; the steward metaphor and variety of grace remain. Reception [R26]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:6-11 below.

Verse 4:11

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

If anyone speaks, let it be as oracles of God; if anyone serves, let it be as from strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: The two conditional forms are completed naturally in English. The relative “to whom” is preserved without introducing an additional named antecedent into the doxology. Reception [R26]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:6-11 below.

Sharing Christ’s sufferings

Verse 4:12

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for testing, as though something strange were happening to you.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: The fire image, testing purpose, and denial of strangeness all remain. Reception [R27]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:12-17 below.

Verse 4:13

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

But insofar as you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that you may also rejoice with exultation at the revelation of His glory.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: Present participation in suffering is related to future rejoicing; both joy expressions remain. Reception [R27]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:12-17 below.

Verse 4:14

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: G ends with the Spirit resting upon you; no further contrast about others blaspheming and believers glorifying is appended. Reception [R27]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:12-17 below.

Verse 4:15

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a meddler in others' affairs.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: The four categories remain. Allotriepiskopos is rendered descriptively as meddling in others' affairs; the word's precise social application is uncertain. Reception [R27]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:12-17 below.

Verse 4:16

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: G has “in this name.” The repeated “suffers” supplies the verb from the preceding sentence. Reception [R27]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:12-17 below. Polycarp, Philippians 8 [P]: applies suffering for Christ’s name to glorifying Him.

Text [G]: NA28 reads ἐν τῷ μέρει τούτῳ, with TR and Byz (NA27 and SBLGNT ὀνόματι); the rendering above follows SBLGNT, and NA28 would read "in this respect".[G][R27][P]

Verse 4:17

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

For it is time for judgment to begin from the house of God; and if it begins first from us, what will be the outcome for those who disobey the good news of God?

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: The beginning from God's house and the rhetorical question about disobedience remain. Reception [R28]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:17-19 below.

Verse 4:18

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

And “If the righteous one is saved with difficulty, where will the ungodly person and sinner appear?”

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: “With difficulty” preserves molis; the question is not converted into a numerical claim about salvation. Reception [R28]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:17-19 below.

Verse 4:19

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)

Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Textual & Reception Notes

Text [G]: Trust in the Creator and continued good action remain joined; suffering is expressly qualified by God's will. Reception [R28]: see Calvin’s unit exposition of 4:17-19 below.