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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
1 Pet 4 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19
OET (OET-LV) If anyone is_speaking, as oracles of_god, if anyone is_serving, as of strength of_which the god is_supplying, in_order_that in all things the god may_be_being_glorified through Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) chosen_one/messiah, to_whom is the glory and the power to the ages of_the ages.
Truly.
OET (OET-RV) Anyone who shares wisdom that came from God or uses the strength that God’s given them to serve others needs to be honouring God through Yeshua the messiah. He’s the one who deserves the honour and power throughout all time.
In this section, Peter said that the end of the world is near, and therefore Christians should be self-controlled and prayerful. They should love each other, be hospitable, and use their special abilities to help each other. In this way they would bring glory to God.
Some other headings for this section include:
Use God’s Gifts Wisely (NCV)
Your attitude in these last days
If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God.
The person who speaks about God, should say what God tells him to say.
If you teach others, you should give/declare God’s message.
If anyone speaks: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as If, in this context, is better understood as “when.” Many English versions do not translate the conjunction. Some other ways to translate this word are:
When someone speaks…
anyone who speaks… (NCV)
speaks: The word speaks in this context refers to preaching or teaching about God. This is another way to translate this verb:
preach (GNT)
he should speak as one conveying the words of God: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the very words of God is literally “the oracles/utterances of God.” The BSB has supplied the words he speak as one conveying. Peter was saying that anyone who spoke about God should realize his responsibility and speak God’s word truthfully. Other ways to translate this include:
Those who preach must preach God’s messages (GNT)
Anyone who speaks should speak words from God (NCV)
Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God (NRSV)
the words of God: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the words of God in this context means “messages from God.” Here is another way to translate this phrase:
God’s message (CEV)
If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides,
The person who helps others should do it with the strength that God supplies.
If you serve others, you should serve/work with the energy/power that God gives you.
If anyone serves: Again, Peter was not questioning whether this would happen. He meant “whenever anyone serves,” so it may be more natural to say:
When someone serves…
serves: The Greek word that the BSB translates as serves refers to any kind of service to other people. Some examples of this are caring for the sick, helping the orphans and widows, and welcoming strangers. See how you translated this word in 4:10a.
he should serve with the strength God provides: A person who wants to help others should serve with the strength God gives. This implies that he should work hard and enthusiastically. In some languages it may be necessary to translate the abstract noun strength as a verb phrase or an adjective:
he should serve as God makes him strong/able
he should work hard as God strengthens him
Peter was using the third person to speak about the people he was writing to. In some languages it may be clearer to change the 3rd person “he” to the 2nd person plural “you” as in 4:2:
If you speak, you should give God’s message. If you serve, you should do it with the strength God provides.
Are you a speaker? Speak as one who utters God’s oracles. Do you give service? Give it in the strength which God supplies. (REB)
so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
Do this so that all your behavior/actions will cause people to honour God because of Jesus Christ.
Act like this in order that everything you do will bring God honour made possible by what Jesus Christ did.
so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ: This is a purpose clause. Believers should speak God’s message and serve in God’s strength in order that God might receive praise.
God may be glorified: In this context, the Greek word that the BSB translates as glorified means “honored.” People would thank and honor God for what his people had been doing to help others. This is a passive. If it is more natural to use an active verb you may say:
God may receive praise/glory/ honor
People may praise/glorify God
to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
To God are glory and power throughout eternity. This is true.
Indeed, to God belong glory and authority through unending ages.
to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever: There are two ways of translating this doxology:
It is a statement. For example:
To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. (RSV) (GNT, CEV, ESV, NJB, NASB, NET, GW, NLT, REB, NCV, RSV)
It is a wish. For example:
…to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. (KJV) (BSB, NIV, KJV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
to whom: There are two ways of understanding the pronoun whom:
It refers to God. For example:
[so that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ,] since to him alone belong all glory and power… (NJB) (NJB; implied by REB, NET, NLT, NCV, RSV, NIV)
It refers to Christ. For example:
Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ…! (GW) (BSB, GNT, KJV, NASB, CEV, GW)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), since in the previous verse part Peter had been talking about glorifying God.
Amen: The word Amen means “let it be so.” Many languages transliterate this word. Some other ways to translate this word in English are:
Truly!
Indeed!
So it shall be.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
εἴ τις λαλεῖ, ὡς λόγια Θεοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τὶς λαλεῖ ὡς λόγια Θεοῦ εἰ τὶς διακονεῖ ὡς ἐξ ἰσχύος ἧς χορηγεῖ ὁ Θεός ἵνα ἐν πᾶσιν δοξάζηται ὁ Θεός διά Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ᾧ ἐστίν ἡ δόξα καί τό κράτος εἰς τούς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων Ἀμήν)
Peter is leaving out some of the words that a clause would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: [if anyone speaks, let him speak as if he is speaking the words of God]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
εἴ τις διακονεῖ, ὡς ἐξ ἰσχύος ἧς χορηγεῖ ὁ Θεός
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τὶς λαλεῖ ὡς λόγια Θεοῦ εἰ τὶς διακονεῖ ὡς ἐξ ἰσχύος ἧς χορηγεῖ ὁ Θεός ἵνα ἐν πᾶσιν δοξάζηται ὁ Θεός διά Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ᾧ ἐστίν ἡ δόξα καί τό κράτος εἰς τούς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων Ἀμήν)
Peter is leaving out some of the words that a clause would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: [if anyone serves others, let him serve others as if he were serving them with the strength that God supplies]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
δοξάζηται ὁ Θεὸς
˓may_be_being˒_glorified ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τὶς λαλεῖ ὡς λόγια Θεοῦ εἰ τὶς διακονεῖ ὡς ἐξ ἰσχύος ἧς χορηγεῖ ὁ Θεός ἵνα ἐν πᾶσιν δοξάζηται ὁ Θεός διά Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ᾧ ἐστίν ἡ δόξα καί τό κράτος εἰς τούς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων Ἀμήν)
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [you might glorify God]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ᾧ ἐστιν ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος
˱to˲_whom (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τὶς λαλεῖ ὡς λόγια Θεοῦ εἰ τὶς διακονεῖ ὡς ἐξ ἰσχύος ἧς χορηγεῖ ὁ Θεός ἵνα ἐν πᾶσιν δοξάζηται ὁ Θεός διά Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ᾧ ἐστίν ἡ δόξα καί τό κράτος εἰς τούς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων Ἀμήν)
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of glory and power, you can express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [may he be recognized as glorious and powerful]
4:11 All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen: This doxology has led some to suggest that one original letter of Peter ended here and that another one was added to it. Doxologies in the New Testament do appear at the end of letters (Rom 16:25-27; Phil 4:20; Heb 13:21; 2 Pet 3:18; Jude 1:24-25), but also at the end of sections within letters (Rom 11:36; Gal 1:5; Eph 3:21; 1 Tim 1:17). Since there is no textual evidence for the existence of two separate letters, it is better to assume that this doxology marks the end of a major section of the letter.
OET (OET-LV) If anyone is_speaking, as oracles of_god, if anyone is_serving, as of strength of_which the god is_supplying, in_order_that in all things the god may_be_being_glorified through Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) chosen_one/messiah, to_whom is the glory and the power to the ages of_the ages.
Truly.
OET (OET-RV) Anyone who shares wisdom that came from God or uses the strength that God’s given them to serve others needs to be honouring God through Yeshua the messiah. He’s the one who deserves the honour and power throughout all time.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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