1 Peter 4 1

1 Peter 4:1 kjv

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;

1 Peter 4:1 nkjv

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,

1 Peter 4:1 niv

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.

1 Peter 4:1 esv

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

1 Peter 4:1 nlt

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.

1 Peter 4 verses

1 Peter 4 1 Meaning

1 Peter 4:1 calls believers to adopt the resolute mindset of Christ regarding suffering, as Christ himself suffered in His physical body for humanity. This verse asserts that identifying with Christ's suffering, specifically embracing a Christ-like attitude towards enduring hardship and dying to selfish desires, empowers one to cease from the habitual practice and dominion of sin. It presents Christ's suffering as both a foundational act for salvation and a practical model for righteous living, enabling believers to live free from sin's power through a decisive break with their former sinful ways, viewing themselves as dead to sin because of their union with Christ.

1 Peter 4 1 Context

First Peter is addressed to dispersed believers ("elect exiles") throughout Asia Minor, who were experiencing various forms of hostility, societal ostracization, and perhaps official persecution because of their Christian faith. The letter's overarching theme is perseverance in the midst of suffering and living holy lives as God's people in a hostile world. Chapter 4 begins directly after a discourse on Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, which serves as the ultimate example for believers. Peter reminds his audience that if Christ, the innocent, suffered, then they, too, should expect and prepare for suffering, understanding that such experiences can lead to spiritual transformation and a definitive break from sin. The ethical exhortations throughout 1 Peter are grounded in the redemptive work and example of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4 1 Word analysis

• Forasmuch then (Greek: οὖν, oun): A conjunction connecting this verse logically and grammatically to the preceding verses (1 Pet 3:18-22), especially Christ's suffering and victorious ascension. It establishes Christ's action as the basis and motivation for the believers' conduct.
• as Christ: Refers to Jesus, the Anointed One, who is central to the Christian faith, His life, death, and resurrection being the foundation for redemption and the pattern for life.
• hath suffered (Greek: ἔπαθεν, epathen): Aorist tense of πάσχω (paschō), indicating a definitive, completed action with lasting effects. It refers specifically to Christ's passion—His enduring of pain, humiliation, and death for human sin.
• for us: Emphasizes the substitutionary and vicarious nature of Christ's suffering; it was not for Himself but for humanity, for our salvation.
• in the flesh (Greek: σαρκί, sarki): Refers to Christ's physical body and His human nature, indicating His real, corporeal suffering as a man. It distinguishes His physical suffering from any spiritual suffering (which also occurred).
• arm yourselves (Greek: ὁπλίσασθε, hoplisasthe): A command, an imperative in the aorist middle voice, meaning "prepare yourselves" or "equip yourselves." It employs a military metaphor (like putting on armor), indicating an active, conscious, and resolute decision to prepare for and engage in a spiritual struggle. It's not passive resignation but active readiness.
• likewise: Indicates similarity or in the same way, connecting the believer's call to suffering/attitude with Christ's suffering.
• with the same mind (Greek: τὴν αὐτὴν ἔννοιαν, tēn autēn ennoian): Refers to a shared mental disposition, attitude, or purpose—Christ's purposeful readiness to suffer obediently and definitively deal with sin through His passion. It's about adopting His resolute will to complete God's purpose through suffering. It signifies a complete internal alignment, not just agreement with a concept.
• for he that hath suffered: The conjunction "for" (Greek: ὅτι, hoti) introduces the rationale for the command. "Hath suffered" again uses the aorist of paschō, here likely referring to believers who have truly entered into the experience of dying to self/sin, often through embracing hardship for Christ's sake.
• in the flesh: In this context for believers, it signifies enduring physical hardship, persecution, or the mortification of fleshly desires (dying to the sinful nature and its impulses) by identifying with Christ's death. It refers to a transformative, experiential participation in suffering.
• hath ceased from sin (Greek: πέπαυται ἁμαρτίας, pepautai hamartias): The perfect tense of παύω (pauō, to cease, stop) followed by a genitive indicates a complete and definitive break from sin. This is not necessarily sinless perfection, but rather ceasing from sin's power, mastery, and practice. When one fully identifies with Christ's death (experientially suffering in the flesh by dying to self and worldly desires), sin loses its dominion and ceases to be the defining characteristic or controlling force in one's life. It signifies a radical rupture with one's past sinful lifestyle.

1 Peter 4 1 Bonus section

The military metaphor "arm yourselves" is powerful; it suggests spiritual combat readiness. This is not merely an intellectual agreement with suffering but a profound reorientation of one's entire being towards a resolute identification with Christ's finished work on the cross, impacting both thought and action. The emphasis on "mind" (ἔννοιαν) implies that inner resolve and determination are paramount for enduring trials and living victoriously over sin. It points to a deep theological understanding: believers are not only saved by Christ's suffering but transformed through identification with Christ's suffering in a way that leads to a definitive ethical break from sin. This cessation from sin is not a self-attained perfection, but the experiential result of walking in newness of life (Rom 6:4), where the old way of sin is cut off by embracing the attitude that Christ had in His decisive defeat of sin.

1 Peter 4 1 Commentary

1 Peter 4:1 is a crucial bridge in Peter's letter, moving from the example of Christ's suffering to the practical implications for believers. It’s an urgent call to prepare for and embrace the reality of suffering as a normal part of the Christian life, particularly for those facing persecution. The directive to "arm yourselves with the same mind" as Christ emphasizes a deliberate and strategic decision, much like a soldier donning armor before battle. This mindset involves a Christ-like resolve to endure suffering for righteousness and to align one's will with God's.

The second part of the verse, "for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin," clarifies the profound outcome of adopting this Christ-like posture toward suffering. This suffering in the flesh is not merely passive victimization, but an active identification with Christ's death to sin (Rom 6:2, 6-7; Col 3:3-5). When a believer truly embraces this dying-to-self, whether through literal physical persecution or through the daily discipline of crucifying fleshly desires, they experience a decisive break from the dominion of sin. It's a fundamental change where sin no longer has controlling power. This "ceasing from sin" refers to no longer living under the power of sin or for sin, indicating a transformation in practice, where the believer no longer walks in habitual sin. This ethical freedom from sin is not achieved through human strength but is a divine empowerment stemming from spiritual union with Christ's death and resurrection. Therefore, suffering endured in Christ's likeness acts as a catalyst for deeper sanctification, separating the believer further from worldly values and sinful living.

Examples of practical application:

• Choosing to forgive someone who has wronged you, rather than seeking revenge, thereby suffering the pain of injustice in Christ-like forbearance, which breaks the power of bitterness.
• Enduring social ostracism or ridicule for standing firm in Christian convictions, rather than compromising truth for popularity, thereby "dying" to the fear of man and living freely for Christ.
• Choosing to mortify fleshly desires and passions (e.g., lust, greed, anger) through disciplined spiritual effort, which involves "suffering" the denial of immediate gratification but leads to freedom from sin's enslavement.