Devine Scripture

1 Peter 4:1

What does 1 Peter 4:1 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Peter 4:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Peter 4:1 means

Peter urges believers to adopt Christ’s mindset toward suffering. Christ “suffered in the flesh,” and His readiness to obey the Father even through pain sets the pattern for His people. To “arm” oneself is to prepare deliberately, as a soldier puts on armor, choosing a resolve that treats sin as an enemy and obedience as nonnegotiable. “He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin” points to a decisive break with sin’s rule, not sinless perfection. When a believer is willing to endure loss for doing right, it shows that sin no longer holds the highest claim on the heart; God’s will does. Suffering becomes a mark of new allegiance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So that as Jesus was put to death in the flesh, do you yourselves be of the same mind; for the death of the flesh puts an end to sin;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Christ, then, having suffered for us in the flesh, ye also with the same mind arm yourselves, because he who did suffer in the flesh hath done with sin,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Christ therefore having suffered in the flesh, be you also armed with the same thought: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sins:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Christ, then, having suffered for us in [the] flesh, do ye also arm yourselves with the same mind; for he that has suffered in [the] flesh has done with sin,

Context

Coming out of chapter 3’s focus on Christ’s suffering and vindication, Peter now turns that theology into practice. Verse 1 launches the chapter’s major theme: believers should think about pain and persecution the way Christ did. This sets the baseline for the moral exhortations that follow. Verses 2–4 will spell out how this mindset leads to a changed lifestyle, and verses 5–6 will place that change in light of divine judgment. The opening call to “arm yourselves” prepares readers for both ethical change and the reality of coming trials.

v.1This passage

v.2that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Philippians 2:5

    Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

  • Hebrews 4:10

    For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

  • Romans 6:2

    God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?

  • 1 Peter 3:18

    Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

  • Galatians 5:24

    And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.

  • Galatians 2:20

    I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

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