Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
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.
- BSB But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
- 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 the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
- Phil 1:29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
- 1 Pet 4:19Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
- Jas 1:2–4My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
- Acts 5:41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
- 2 Tim 1:12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
- Eph 3:13–15Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
- Phil 1:20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
- Rom 5:2–5By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
- Isa 50:7For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
- Isa 54:4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
- Heb 12:2–3Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Acts 26:28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
- Isa 24:15Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.
- Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in 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.