1 Petro 4
Maisha mapya
1 Maadamu Kristo aliteseka kimwili, nanyi pia mnapaswa kujiimarisha kwa nia hiyo yake; maana mtu akisha teseka kimwili hahusiki tena na dhambi. 2 Tangu sasa, basi, maisha yaliyowabakia kuishi hapa duniani yanapaswa kuongozwa na matakwa ya Mungu, sio na tamaa za kibinadamu. 3 Wakati uliopita mlikuwa na muda mrefu wa kufanya mambo wanayofanya watu wasiomjua Mungu. Mliishi maisha ya anasa, ubinafsi, ulevi, ugomvi, kunywa mno na ya ibada haramu za sanamu. 4 Sasa, watu hao wasiomjua Mungu wanashangaa wanapoona kwamba hamwandamani nao tena katika hali ya kuishi vibaya, na hivyo wanawatukaneni. 5 Lakini watapaswa kutoa hoja juu ya jambo hilo mbele yake Mungu aliye tayari kuwahukumu walio hai na waliokufa! 6 Ndiyo maana Habari Njema ilihubiriwa hata kwa hao waliokufa, ili baada ya kuhukumiwa katika maisha yao ya kimwili kama wengine, waishi kwa ajili ya Mungu kwa njia ya Roho.
Wakili mwema wa zawadi za Mungu
7 Mwisho wa vitu vyote umekaribia. Kwa hiyo mnapaswa kuwa na utaratibu na kukesha ili muweze kusali. 8 Zaidi ya yote pendaneni kwa moyo wote, maana upendo hufunika dhambi nyingi. 9 Muwe na ukarimu nyinyi kwa nyinyi bila kunung'unika. 10 Kila mmoja anapaswa kutumia kipaji alichojaliwa na Mungu kwa faida ya wengine kama wakili mwema wa zawadi mbalimbali za Mungu. 11 Anayesema kitu, maneno yake na yawe kama maneno ya Mungu; anayetumikia anapaswa kutumikia kwa nguvu anayojaliwa na Mungu, ili katika mambo yote, Mungu atukuzwe kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo ambaye utukufu na nguvu ni vyake milele na milele! Amina.
Kuteseka Kikristo
12 Wapenzi wangu, msishangae kuhusu majaribio makali mnayopata kana kwamba mnapatwa na kitu kisicho cha kawaida. 13 Ila furahini kwamba mnashiriki mateso ya Kristo ili muweze kuwa na furaha tele wakati utukufu wake utakapofunuliwa. 14 Heri yenu ikiwa mnatukanwa kwa sababu ya jina la Kristo; jambo hilo lamaanisha kwamba Roho mtukufu, yaani Roho wa Mungu, anakaa nanyi. 15 Asiwepo mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu ambaye anapaswa kuteseka kwa sababu ni mwuaji, mwizi, mhalifu au mwovu. 16 Lakini kama mtu akiteseka kwa sababu ni Mkristo, basi, asione aibu, bali amtukuze Mungu, kwa sababu mtu huyo anaitwa kwa jina la Kristo.
17 Wakati wa hukumu umefika, na hukumu hiyo inaanza na watu wake Mungu mwenyewe. Ikiwa hukumu hiyo inaanzia kwetu sisi, basi, mwisho wake utakuwa namna gani kwa wale wasioamini Habari Njema ya Mungu? 18 Kama yasemavyo Maandiko Matakatifu: “Ni vigumu kwa watu waadilifu kuokolewa; itakuwaje basi, kwa wasiomcha Mungu na wenye dhambi?”
19 Kwa hiyo, wale wanaoteseka kufuatana na matakwa ya Mungu, wanapaswa, kwa matendo yao mema, kujiweka chini ya Muumba wao ambaye ni wa kuaminika kabisa.
1 Peter 4
1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;2 that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.3 For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:4 wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:5 who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.6 For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer:8 above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:9 using hospitality one to another without murmuring:10 according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;11 if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; is any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you:13 but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy.14 If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.15 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men’s matters:16 but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.17 For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?18 And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?19 Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.