Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Parallel translations
- WEB Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you.
- KJV Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
- NKJV Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
- NASB Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you;
- NLT Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Believers should not be surprised by the fiery trial that tests them, as if something strange were happening. It reframes suffering as a normal, purposeful part of the Christian life.
Overview
Peter addresses his readers tenderly as 'Beloved' before turning to their persecution. He compares their suffering to a refining fire that tests and purifies faith rather than an unexpected misfortune. Understanding trials this way keeps believers from being shaken when opposition comes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 2 Tim 3:12Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
- 1 Pet 1:6–7In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- 1 Pet 5:9Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.
- 1 Th 3:2–4We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
- Dan 11:35Some of the wise will fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
- 1 Cor 10:13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
- 1 Cor 3:13his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.
- 1 Pet 4:4Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.
- Isa 28:21For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The lamb without blemish foreknown before the world, who bore our sins in his body on the tree, by whose wounds we are healed — the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
How 1 Peter 4:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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