UTN uW Translation Notes:

1 Peter 4 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

1. How believers should endure suffering (3:13–4:6)
2. How believers should act because the end is near (4:7–11)
3. How believers should respond to trials (4:12–19)

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry that is quoted from the Old Testament in 4:18.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Ungodly Gentiles

Although the term “Gentiles” usually refers to people who are not Jewish, in 4:3 Peter uses “Gentiles” to refer to all ungodly people who are not Jews. It does not include Gentiles who have become Christians. Actions like “licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry” were typical of ungodly Gentiles. (See: godly)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

“Let him” and “Let those”

In 4:16–19 Peter uses these phrases to tell his readers what he wants them to do. Although they are commands that he wants his readers to obey, it is as if he were telling one person what he wants other people to do. If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate these as commands, like the UST does.