Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if 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:
- 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;
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 3:12Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
- 1 Pet 1:6–7Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials,
- 1 Pet 5:9Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.
- 1 Th 3:2–4and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;
- Dan 11:35Some of those who are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed.
- 1 Cor 10:13No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
- 1 Cor 3:13each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.
- 1 Pet 4:4They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming:
- Isa 28:21For Yahweh will rise up as on Mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his unusual work, and bring to pass his act, his extraordinary act.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.