彼得前書 4
上帝恩賜的好管家
1 既然基督在肉身受苦，你們也該將這樣的心志作為兵器，因為在肉身受過苦的已經與罪斷絕了， 2 使你們從今以後不再隨從人的情慾，只順從上帝的旨意，在世度餘下的光陰。 3 因為你們從前隨從外邦人的心意，生活在淫蕩、情慾、醉酒、荒宴、狂飲和可憎的偶像崇拜中，時候已經夠了。 4 在這些事上，他們見你們不與他們同奔放蕩無度的路就以為怪，毀謗你們。 5 他們必須在那位將要審判活人死人的主面前交賬。 6 為此，死人也曾有福音傳給他們，要使他們的肉體按著人受審判，他們的靈卻靠上帝活著。
7 萬物的結局近了。所以你們要謹慎自守，要警醒禱告。 8 最要緊的是彼此切實相愛，因為愛能遮掩許多的罪。 9 你們要互相款待，不發怨言。 10 人人要照自己所得的恩賜彼此服事，作上帝各種恩賜的好管家。 11 若有人講道，他要按著上帝的聖言講；若有人服事，他要按著上帝所賜的力量服事，好讓上帝在凡事上因耶穌基督得榮耀。願榮耀和權能都歸給他，直到永永遠遠。阿們！
基督徒的受苦
12 親愛的，有火一般的考驗臨到你們，不要奇怪，似乎是遭遇非常的事； 13 倒要歡喜，因為你們是與基督一同受苦，使你們在他榮耀顯現的時候也可以歡喜快樂。 14 你們若為基督的名受辱罵是有福的，因為榮耀的靈，就是上帝的靈，在你們身上。 15 你們中間，不可有人因為殺人、偷竊、作惡、好管閒事而受苦。 16 若有人因是基督徒而受苦，不要引以為恥，倒要因這名而歸榮耀給上帝。 17 因為時候到了，審判要從上帝的家開始；若是先從我們開始，那麼，不信從上帝福音的人將有何等的結局呢？
18 「若是義人還僅僅得救， 不虔敬和犯罪的人將有何地可站呢？」
19 所以，照上帝旨意受苦的人要一心為善，將自己的靈魂交給那信實的造物主。
1 PETER 4
Being Faithful to God
1 Christ suffered here on earth. Now you must be ready to suffer as he did, because suffering shows that you have stopped sinning. 2 It means you have turned from your own desires and want to obey God for the rest of your life. 3 You have already lived long enough like people who don't know God. You were immoral and followed your evil desires. You went around drinking and partying and carrying on. In fact, you even worshiped disgusting idols. 4 Now your former friends wonder why you have stopped running around with them, and they curse you for it. 5 But they will have to answer to God, who judges the living and the dead.
6 The good news has even been preached to the dead, t so that after they have been judged for what they have done in this life, their spirits will live with God.
7 Everything will soon come to an end. So be serious and be sensible enough to pray.
8 t Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.
9 Welcome people into your home and don't grumble about it.
10 Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.
11 If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.Suffering for Being //a Christian
12 Dear friends, don't be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire.
13 Be glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered. It will prepare you for even greater happiness when he makes his glorious return.
14 Count it a blessing when you suffer for being a Christian. This shows that God's glorious Spirit is with you. 15 But you deserve to suffer if you are a murderer, a thief, a crook, or a busybody. 16 Don't be ashamed to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God that you belong to him.
17 God has already begun judging his own people. And if his judgment begins with us, imagine how terrible it will be for those who refuse to obey his message. The Scriptures say,
18 t “If good people barely escape,
what will happen to sinners
and to others
who don't respect God?”
19 If you suffer for obeying God, you must have complete faith in your faithful Creator and keep on doing right.