But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.
- KJV Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
- NKJV Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
- NASB but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
- NLT But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!
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
If anyone suffers as a Christian, he should not be ashamed but glorify God in that name. It calls believers to wear the name of Christ with honor even under persecution.
Overview
Here is one of the few New Testament uses of the word 'Christian,' likely a term first used by outsiders. Peter tells believers to feel no shame in suffering for it but instead to glorify God. Bearing reproach for Christ's name becomes an opportunity to honor Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Pet 3:17–18For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
- Phil 1:29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
- 1 Pet 4:19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
- Jas 1:2–4Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
- Acts 5:41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
- 2 Tim 1:12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
- Eph 3:13–15So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
- Phil 1:20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
- Rom 5:2–5through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
- Isa 50:7Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame.
- Isa 54:4Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth and will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
- Heb 12:2–3Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Acts 26:28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”
- Isa 24:15Therefore glorify the LORD in the east. Extol the name of the LORD, the God of Israel in the islands of the sea.
- Acts 11:26and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
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 4:16 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.