And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Parallel translations
- WEB And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
- BSB Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- NKJV And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
- NASB Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
- NLT Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
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
Above all, believers should love one another earnestly, because love covers a multitude of sins. It places love at the center of Christian community life.
Overview
Peter prioritizes fervent mutual love within the church. 'Love covers a multitude of sins' (echoing Proverbs 10:12) means that love readily forgives and overlooks offenses rather than exposing them. Such love reflects the forgiving heart of God shown supremely in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Prov 10:12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
- Col 3:14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
- Prov 17:9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
- Jas 5:20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
- 1 Pet 1:22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
- 1 Cor 13:1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
- 1 Th 3:12And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
- 1 Th 4:9–10But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
- Heb 13:1Let brotherly love continue.
- 1 Tim 1:5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
- 2 Th 1:3We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
- 2 Pet 1:6–7And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
- Prov 12:16A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
- Prov 18:13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
- 3 Jn 1:2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
- Jas 5:12But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
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 4:8 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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