1 Peter 4:15
in 1 Peter 4Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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:
KJV
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
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This verse in 1 Peter 4
Commentary
11 notes on this verseBut I hear that some infect your number, and destroy the praise of a distinguished name by their corrupt conversation; whom you yourselves, even as being lovers and guardians of your own praise, should rebuke and check and correct. For what a disgrace is suffered by your name, when one spends his days in intoxication and debauchery, another returns to that country whence he was banished, to perish when arrested, not now as being a Christian, but as being a criminal!
This site's exposition
suffer as a murderer
on 1 Peter 4:15-16
Suffering has worth only when undeserved, so none should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler. The name Christian appears for the third time in the New Testament, after Acts 11:26 and 26:28; believers glorify God that you bear that name.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Our suffering must not be like that of the thief on the cross, who suffered because he was a murderer, even though he himself confessed that Christ had done no wrong. Nor should we be like Ananias and Sapphira, who tried to steal what belonged …
"even as a bigmouth," who curiously scrutinizes what belongs to others, in order to have an occasion for slander. This, however, is the disposition of a wicked and deceitful mind, and one that is quick and ready for every evil.
The Medieval Church2 voices
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, etc. For he suffers as a blasphemer who, at the time of his suffering, is carried away into the injury of his persecutor.
"One who meddles in others' affairs" is he who is excessively curious about the business of others in order to have occasion for slander. But such an occupation is characteristic of an impure soul, one that is villainous and ready for every evil.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But let none of you suffer as a murderer,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
To this caution he adds a direction, that if any man suffer for the cause of Christianity, and with a patient Christian spirit, he ought not to account it a shame, but an honour to him; and ought to glorify God who hath thus dignified him,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But let none of you suffer as a murderer - If you must be called to suffer, see that it be not for crime. Compare the notes at 1Pe 3:14, 1Pe 3:17. They were to be careful that their sufferings were brought upon them only in consequence of their religion, and not because any crime could be laid to their charge. If even such charges were brought against them, there should be no pretext furnished for them by their lives. As an evil doer - As a wicked man; or as guilty of injustice and wrong toward others.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
But--Greek, "For." "Reproached in the name of Christ" I say (1Pe 4:14), "FOR let none," &c. as . . . as . . . as . . . as--the "as" twice in italics is not in the Greek.
But let none of you suffer - as a busybody in other men’s matters - Αλλοτριοεπισκοπος· The inspector of another; meddling with other people’s concerns, and forgetting their own; such persons are hated of all men. But some think that meddling with those in public office is here intended, as if he had said: Meddle not with the affairs of state, leave public offices and public officers to their own master, strive to live peaceably with all men, and show yourselves to be humble and unaspiring.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Μὴ | me | Not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| τις | tis | any | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| πασχέτω | pascheto | should suffer | G3958 → | 42 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| φονεὺς | phoneus | a murderer | G5406 → | |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| κλέπτης | kleptes | a thief | G2812 → | |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| κακοποιὸς | kakopoios | an evildoer | G2555 → | 3 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἀλλοτριεπίσκοπος· | allotriepiskopos | a troublesome meddler; | G244 → |
ΜὴNot
meG3361 →1066 times
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
τιςany
tisG5100 →528 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
πασχέτωshould suffer
paschetoG3958 →42 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
φονεὺςa murderer
phoneusG5406 →
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
κλέπτηςa thief
kleptesG2812 →
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
κακοποιὸςan evildoer
kakopoiosG2555 →3 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ἀλλοτριεπίσκοπος·a troublesome meddler;
allotriepiskoposG244 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 4:11and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:28
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
- Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
- 1 Peter 3:4
but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
- Titus 3:14
And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.
- Proverbs 17:1
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
- Ephesians 4:28
Through
1 Peter 3:17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:14
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
- 1 Peter 3:14
Through
2 Thessalonians 3:11Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 5:13
At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received…
- 1 Timothy 5:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About 1 Peter
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Cyprian, Epistle VI; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 1 PETER; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.