1 Peter 4:10
in 1 Peter 4As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;
KJV
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
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This verse in 1 Peter 4
Commentary
12 notes on this verseAs every one hath received a gift - Spiritual or temporal, ordinary or extraordinary, although the latter seems primarily intended. So minister it one to another - Employ it for the common good. As good stewards of the manifold grace of God--The talents wherewith his free love has intrusted you.
This site's exposition
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God
on 1 Peter 4:10-11
As every man hath received the gift assumes every believer carries some gift, charisma, from the manifold grace of God, and the charge is stewardship, minister the same one to another, gifts given for the community's use rather than private possession. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God covers teaching and prophetic gifts, and if any man minister names practical service, both traced to the same source, the ability which God giveth. The gifts named here are received as continuing rather than ceased, ministered today by the same grace and toward the same end, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of the diverse grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as if it were the words of God; if anyone ministers, let him do it as with …
God has granted to each of us the special graces needed for the upbuilding of his church, so that we will do what he has indicated should be done, not only without complaint but with joy.
The Medieval Church3 voices
Not to make proper use of what belongs to us and over which we are masters is a matter of extreme injustice. For not only he who has money ought to share with the one who has not, but also he who has other natural …
Our creator and dispenser so orders all things that love is increased when the divine gifts which one does not see in himself are bestowed to be possessed by another. Thus the manifold grace of God is well dispensed when the gift received is believed …
It is not merely that the rich man is obliged to meet the needs of those who are less well off than he is but also that each one of us must use the gifts which we have received either by nature or by the …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The chief of the Apostles, blessed Peter, says: "Each one, as he has received grace, ministering it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Dionysius determines for us the use of grace in the angelic and celestial hierarchy and says …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
As every man hath received the gift,.... That is, from God, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions add.
Some of the strongest and best arguments against all sorts of sin are taken from the sufferings of Christ. All sympathy and tenderness for Christ as a sufferer are lost of you do not put away sin.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Hath received the gift - Χαρισμα· A gift; any blessing of providence or grace. I cannot think that the word means here the Holy Ghost, or any of his supernatural gifts or influences; it may include those, but it signifies any thing given by the mere mercy and bounty of God: but perhaps in this place it may signify some or any office in the Church; and this sense, indeed, the connection seems to require.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
As every man hath received the gift - The word rendered “the gift” (χάρισμα charisma,) in the Greek, without the article, means “endowment” of any kind, but especially that conferred by the Holy Spirit. Here it seems to refer to every kind of endowment by which we can do good to others; especially every kind of qualification furnished by religion by which we can help others. It does not refer here particularly to the ministry of the word - though it is applicable to that, and includes that - but to all the gifts and graces by which we can contribute to the welfare of others. All this is regarded as a gift, or charisma, of God. It is not owing to ourselves, but is to be traced to him. See the word explained in the notes at 1Ti 4:14. Even so minister the same one to another - In anything by which you can benefit another. Regard What you have and they have not as a gift bestowed upon you by God for the common good, and be ready to impart it as the needs of ethers require. The word “minister” here (διακονοῦντες diakonountes) would refer to any kind of ministering, whether by counsel, by advice, by the supply of the needs of the poor, or by preaching. It has here no reference to any one of these exclusively; but means, that in whatever God has favored us more than others, we should be ready to minister to their needs. See 2Ti 1:18; 2Co 3:8; 2Co 8:19-20. As good stewards - Regarding yourselves as the mere stewards of God; that is, as appointed by him to do this work for him, and entrusted by him with what is needful to benefit others. He intends to do them good, but he means to do it through your instrumentality, and has entrusted to you as a steward what he designed to confer on them. This is the true idea, in respect to any special endowments of talent, property, or grace, which we may have received from God. […]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἕκαστος | hekastos | each | G1538 → | |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | |
| ἔλαβεν | elaben | has received | G2983 → | |
| χάρισμα | charisma | a gift | G5486 → | |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ἑαυτοὺς | he'autous | each other | G1438 → | 322 times |
| αὐτὸ | auto | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| διακονοῦντες | diakonountes | serving | G1247 → | 37 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| καλοὶ | kaloi | good | G2570 → | 101 times |
| οἰκονόμοι | oikonomoi | stewards | G3623 → | |
| ποικίλης | poikiles | of [the] manifold | G4164 → | |
| χάριτος | charitos | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| θεοῦ· | theou | of God: | G2316 → | 1312 times |
ἕκαστοςeach
hekastosG1538 →
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →
ἔλαβενhas received
elabenG2983 →
χάρισμαa gift
charismaG5486 →
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ἑαυτοὺςeach other
he'autousG1438 →322 times
αὐτὸthem
autoG846 →5565 times
διακονοῦντεςserving
diakonountesG1247 →37 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
καλοὶgood
kaloiG2570 →101 times
οἰκονόμοιstewards
oikonomoiG3623 →
ποικίληςof [the] manifold
poikilesG4164 →
χάριτοςgrace
charitosG5485 →153 times
θεοῦ·of God:
theouG2316 →1312 times
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
Mark 10:45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
it leads to
- Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
- Philippians 2:5–8
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
- Titus 2:14
He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- John 13:14
So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
- Matthew 20:28
Through
Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Matthew 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
- Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- Hebrews 13:16
Where this verse is studied
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About 1 Peter
This page draws on 12 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); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Augustine of Hippo, ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 1.15; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1; Braulio of Zaragoza, LETTERS 5; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.