1 Peter 4:15

Contextual Overview

¹²Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹² My friends, do not be surprised at the terrible trouble which now comes to test you. Do not think that something strange is happening to you. ¹² Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹² Dear brothers, do not be surprised, as if it was something strange, if your faith is tested as by fire: ¹² Dearely beloued, thinke it not straunge concerning the fierie triall, which thing is to trye you, as though some straunge thyng happened vnto you. ¹² Amen. Moost dere brytheren, nyle ye go in pilgrymage in feruour, that is maad to you to temptacioun, as if ony newe thing bifalle to you; ¹² Beloved, think it not strange at the fiery suffering among you that is coming to try you, as if a strange thing were happening to you, ¹² Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try you: as if some new thing happened to you. ¹² Dear friends, don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

suffer: 1 Peter 2:20, Matthew 5:11, 2 Timothy 2:9

a busybody: ככןפסיןוניףךןנןע [Strong's G244], an inspector of another; meddling with other people's concerns. 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Timothy 5:13

Reciprocal: Job 36:21 - this Acts 21:39 - suffer 1 Corinthians 6:10 - thieves 1 Timothy 3:1 - bishop 1 Timothy 4:10 - therefore 1 Timothy 5:14 - give

Cross-References

Genesis 4:24
If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."

Genesis 4:24
If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."

Genesis 4:24
If Cain is to be avenged seven times as much, then Lamech seventy-seven times!"

Genesis 4:24
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

Genesis 4:24
If Cain shalbe auenged seuen folde, truely Lamech seuentie tymes & seuen tymes.

Genesis 4:24
Because vengeance has been exacted seven times on Cain’s behalf, on Lamech’s it shall be seventy times seven.

Genesis 4:24
For sevenfold is required for Cain, And for Lamech seventy and sevenfold.'

Genesis 4:24
For sevenfold is required for Cain, || And for Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

Genesis 4:24
If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

Genesis 4:24
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But let none of you suffer as a murderer,.... The punishment for murder was death by the law of God, Genesis 9:6

or as a thief; whose fine or mulct, according to the Jewish law, was a fivefold or fourfold restitution, according to the nature of the thing that was stolen, Exodus 22:1

or as an evildoer; a breaker of any of the laws of God or men, which are of a moral nature, and for the good of civil society:

or as a busybody in other men's matters; "or as a bishop in another man's diocese"; that concerns himself in things he has nothing to do with, and neglects his own affairs, and lives in idleness, and upon the spoil of others; or takes upon him to manage, direct, order, and command other men's servants, or persons that do not belong to him, to do his business, or whatsoever he pleases. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "a desirer of other's goods"; and the Ethiopic version, "a covetous desirer of other's things"; and so is led on by an insatiable thirst for them, to obtain them in an evil way, either by secret fraud, or open violence and oppression. To suffer in any such cases is scandalous and dishonourable, and unbecoming the character of a Christian. This last clause is left out in the Syriac version.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But let none of you suffer as a murderer - If you must be called to suffer, see that it be not for crime. Compare the notes at 1Pe 3:14, 1 Peter 3:17. They were to be careful that their sufferings were brought upon them only in consequence of their religion, and not because any crime could be laid to their charge. If even such charges were brought against them, there should be no pretext furnished for them by their lives.

As an evil doer - As a wicked man; or as guilty of injustice and wrong toward others.

Or as a busy-body in other men’s matters - The Greek word used here ἀλλοτριοεπίσκοπος allotrioepiskopos occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, an inspector of strange things, or of the things of others. Prof. Robinson (Lexicon) supposes that the word may refer to one who is “a director of heathenism;” but the more obvious signification, and the one commonly adopted, is that which occurs in our translation - one who busies himself with what does not concern him; that is, one who pries into the affairs of another; who attempts to control or direct them as if they were his own. In respect to the vice here condemned, see the notes at Philippians 2:4. Compare 2 Thessalonians 3:11, and 1 Timothy 5:13.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 15. But let none of you suffer - as a busybody in other men's matters — αλλοτριοεπισκοπος. The inspector of another; meddling with other people's concerns, and forgetting their own; such persons are hated of all men. But some think that meddling with those in public office is here intended, as if he had said: Meddle not with the affairs of state, leave public offices and public officers to their own master, strive to live peaceably with all men, and show yourselves to be humble and unaspiring.