1 Peter 4 (NKJV)

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the
same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men,
but for the will of God.

One who has made the decision between sin and suffering for the sake of Christ has won
the battle over sin – sin no longer has a hold on that man. Not that he won’t ever slip
again – but the battle over sin is over.

3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—
when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and
abominable idolatries.
4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same
flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they
might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the
spirit.

These drunken parties that so dominant the pagans should not be found among
Christians!

4:3 lewdness, aselgeia (as-elg-eye-ah); Strong’s #766: Total debauchery, unashamed

indecency, unbridled lust, unrestrained depravity. The person with this characteristic has
an insolent defiance of public opinion, sinning in broad daylight with arrogance and
contempt. Spirit filled life study Bible

Dissipation - Webster, n.

1. The act of scattering; dispersion; the state of being dispersed; as the dissipation of
vapor or heat.

2. In physics, the insensible loss or waste of the minute parts of a body, which fly off, by
which means the body is diminished or consumed.

3. Scattered attention; or that which diverts and calls off the mind from any subject.

4. A dissolute, irregular course of life; a wandering from object to object in pursuit of

pleasure; a course of life usually attended with careless and exorbitant expenditure of
money, and indulgence in vices, which impair or ruin both health and fortune.

This is an important segue way into the next verse. Pagan living is without focus –
scattered and careless. In contrast Christians are to be sober minded.

7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your
prayers.
The word serious in the NKJV is translated else where as sober minded or to have self
control. The word is

G4993 sound mind

Σωφρονεω sō phroneō
Thayer Definition:
1) to be of sound mind
1a) to be in one’s right mind
1b) to exercise self control
1b1) to put a moderate estimate upon one’s self, think of one’s self soberly
1b2) to curb one’s passions

1Pe 4:7 ESV

(7) The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for
the sake of your prayers.

Mar 5:15 ESV

(15) And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had
the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.

The word used in Mar 5:15 is the same word. The bible teaches us to be in our right
mind and to exercise self-control. Anyone who would teach you to set aside your mind
and lose your self-control is not teaching according to the Scriptures.

1Co 14:32-33 ESV

(32) and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
(33) For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

Anyone who says “I couldn’t control myself” cannot say that it was the Holy Spirit.

G3525 - watch
Νηφω nē phō
Thayer Definition:
1) to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit
2) to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect

be ye therefore sober, or "temperate", as the Arabic version renders it. It may also
signify soundness of mind and judgment in the doctrines of faith, which are words of
truth and soberness; and the rather this may be exhorted to, since towards the close of
time there will be little of the doctrine of faith in the earth, and men will not be able to
endure sound doctrine. Gill

8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a
multitude of sins.”
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
The statement “love will cover a multitude of sins” (Prov. 10:12) should not be taken as
a doctrinal explanation of how sins are put away. The guilt and penalty of sins can only
be removed by the blood of Christ. Neither should the statement be used to condone sin
or to relieve an assembly from its responsibility to discipline an offender. It means that
true love is able to overlook minor faults and failures in other believers. Believer's Bible
Commentary

Fervant love for the brethren is enjoined here, not lukewarm tolerance. We are to love
each other warmly and affectionately. This kind of love doesn’t nitpick or find fault in
every little thing. This does not however say that major sins, heresies or apostasy should
be covered up in the name of love – other verses in the NT exhort us to reprove, rebuke
and correct such.

10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God.
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him
do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
Amen.

4:10 Spiritual gifts (pneumatikōgn, Gk.) or grace gifts (charismata, Gk.) are
gifts sovereignly dispensed by the Holy Spirit. The word “minister” means “to wait upon
one another” in the use of these gifts. Under no circumstances are these gifts to be
employed selfishly or merely for self-edification. Good stewardship demands that all
spiritual gifts be exercised for the edification of the whole church.
Believer’s Study Bible

If any man, whether a minister in public or a Christian in private conference, speak or

teach, he must do it as the oracles of God, which direct us as to the matter of our speech.
What Christians in private, or ministers in public, teach and speak must be the pure word
and oracles of God. As to the manner of speaking, it must be with the seriousness,
reverence, and solemnity that become those holy and divine oracles. Matthew Henry's
commentary

I’m not sure Peter would agree with much of what is called “preaching” today for it bears
little resemblance to the Scriptures. Those who stand before the family of God to preach
bear a responsibility to speak the pure word of God, not cunningly devised fables of man
or the latest psychological theory.

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as
though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His
glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of
glory and of God rests 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, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in
other people’s matters.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify
God in this matter.
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins
with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the
sinner appear?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to
Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

4:18 Modern society expresses amazement that God could condemn anyone. The biblical
perspective is reflected, however, in this declaration. The point of amazement and
astonishment is that the righteous are saved. If the righteous “scarcely” are saved,
prospects for the unconverted sinner are hopeless indeed.
Believer’s Study Bible

So many today think they are suffering for Jesus when they are caught in drunkenness or
adultery! Peter makes it clear that none of us should be caught doing things that are
clearly forbidden in Scripture. The suffering that is rewarded by God is standing for
righteousness.

Judgment will begin at the house of God. This principle is spelled out in the following
verses:

Eze 9:6 ESV

(6) Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch
no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the
elders who were before the house.

Jer 25:29 ESV

(29) For behold, I begin to work disaster at the city that is called by my name, and shall
you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword
against all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of hosts.'

God judges first those who should know better, and then when that judgment is complete,
He pours out His wrath on the unbelievers. Thus the message of Peter is that we as
believers need to get our lives straightened out and be living right before God so that we
can preach the gospel to unbelievers with a pure heart.