Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto 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.
- BSB Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to 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 3:12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- 1 Pet 1:6–7Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
- 1 Pet 5:9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
- 1 Th 3:2–4And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
- Dan 11:35And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
- 1 Cor 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
- 1 Cor 3:13Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
- 1 Pet 4:4Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
- Isa 28:21For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
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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