1 PETRUS 4
Wie gely het, het met die sonde afgereken
1 Omdat Christus dan liggaamlik gely het, moet julle julle ook met die gedagte wapen dat wie liggaamlik gely het, met die sonde afgereken het: 2 vir die res van sy aardse bestaan word sy lewe nie meer beheers deur menslike begeertes nie, maar deur die wil van God. 3 In die verlede toe julle nog heidene was, is julle lewe lank genoeg beheers deur julle heidense begeertes: losbandigheid, wellus, dronkenskap, swelg- en drinkpartye en afskuwelike afgodery. 4 Nou vind die heidene dit vreemd dat julle nie langer met hierdie stroom van losbandigheid saamgaan nie, en hulle beswadder julle. 5 Hulle sal rekenskap moet gee aan Hom wat klaar staan om oor die lewendes en die dooies te oordeel. 6 Daarom is die evangelie immers ook verkondig aan dié wat nou dood is sodat, hoewel hulle as mense onder die oordeel was om na die liggaam te sterwe, hulle na die gees sou lewe soos God lewe.
Dien mekaar met julle gawes
7 Die einde van alles is naby. Daarom moet julle selfbeheers en nugter wees, sodat julle kan bid. 8 Bo alles moet julle mekaar hartlik liefhê, want die liefde bedek baie sondes. 9 Wees gasvry teenoor mekaar sonder om te kla. 10 As goeie bedienaars van die veelvoudige genade van God moet elkeen, namate hy 'n genadegawe ontvang het, die ander dien. 11 As iemand die gawe ontvang het om te preek, moet God deur hom aan die woord kom; as dit is om in die gemeente te dien, moet hy dien met die krag wat God verleen. So moet julle God in alles verheerlik deur Jesus Christus, aan wie die heerlikheid en die krag behoort tot in alle ewigheid! Amen.
Om as Christen te ly
12 Geliefdes, moenie verbaas wees oor die vuurproef waaraan julle onderwerp word nie. Dit is nie iets vreemds wat met julle gebeur nie. 13 Wees liewer bly hoe meer julle in die lyding van Christus deel, want dan sal julle ook oorloop van vreugde by sy wederkoms in heerlikheid. 14 Geseënd is julle wanneer julle beledig word ter wille van die Naam van Christus. Dit is 'n bewys dat die Gees aan wie die heerlikheid behoort, die Gees van God, op julle bly. 15 As een van julle ly, moet dit nie wees omdat hy 'n moordenaar is of 'n dief of 'n misdadiger of 'n kwaadstoker nie. 16 Maar wanneer iemand ly omdat hy 'n Christen is, moet hy hom nie daaroor skaam nie. Inteendeel, as draer van daardie naam moet hy God verheerlik.
17 Die tyd vir die oordeel het aangebreek; dit begin by die huis van God. En as ook ons geoordeel word, en dit is nog maar die begin, wat sal die uiteinde dan wees van hulle wat nie na die evangelie van God wou luister nie? 18 “As 'n gelowige beswaarlik gered word, wat word dan van 'n goddelose en 'n sondaar?”t
19 Daarom moet dié wat ly omdat God dit wil, hulle lewe toevertrou aan die getroue Skepper, en aanhou goed doen.
1 Peter 4
1 SO, SINCE Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you , arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God],2 So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills.3 For the time that is past already suffices for doing what the Gentiles like to do--living [as you have done] in shameless, insolent wantonness, in lustful desires, drunkenness, reveling, drinking bouts and abominable, lawless idolatries.4 They are astonished and think it very queer that you do not now run hand in hand with them in the same excesses of dissipation, and they abuse [you].5 But they will have to give an account to Him Who is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead.6 For this is why the good news (the Gospel) was preached [in their lifetime] even to the dead, that though judged in fleshly bodies as men are, they might live in the spirit as God does.7 But the end and culmination of all things has now come near; keep sound minded and self-restrained and alert therefore for [the practice of] prayer.8 Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. 9 Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ’s body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him).10 As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].11 Whoever speaks, [let him do it as one who utters] oracles of God; whoever renders service, [let him do it] as with the strength which God furnishes abundantly, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever (through endless ages). Amen (so be it).12 Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you.13 But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly].14 If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you--happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy, and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition], because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or any sort of criminal, or as a mischief-maker (a meddler) in the affairs of others [infringing on their rights].16 But if [one is ill-treated and suffers] as a Christian [which he is contemptuously called], let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is [deemed worthy to suffer] in this name.17 For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God?18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the godless and wicked? 19 Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with God’s will must do right and commit their souls [in charge as a deposit] to the One Who created [them] and will never fail [them].