1 Peter 4:8

Contextual Overview

⁷ But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer: ⁷The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray. ⁷ Everything will soon come to an end. So be serious and be sensible enough to pray. ⁷ The accomplishing of the goal of all things is close at hand. Therefore, keep alert and self-controlled, so that you can pray. ⁷ But the end of all things is drawn nigh: be sober therefore, and be watchful unto prayers; ⁷ The time is near when all things will end. So keep your minds clear, and control yourselves. This will help you in your prayers. ⁷ But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer: ⁷ But the end of all things is near: so be serious in your behaviour and keep on the watch with prayer; ⁷ Now the ende of all things is at hand. Be ye therefore sober, and watching in prayer. ⁷ But the end of all things is at hand: be devout therefore, and be mindful of prayer.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

above: Colossians 3:14, James 5:12, 3 John 1:2

fervent: דבנחם וךפוםח [Strong's G1618], "intense love; for love shall cover (or covers, ךבכץנפוי [Strong's G2572], in the present tense, as several copies read) a multitude of sins;" which seems a reference to the proverb, "love covereth all sins," Proverbs 10:12. 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 14:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Timothy 1:5, Hebrews 13:1, 2 Peter 1:6, 2 Peter 1:7

for: Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 12:16, Proverbs 17:9, Proverbs 18:13, 1 Corinthians 13:7, James 5:20

shall: or, will

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:23 - General Genesis 13:8 - brethren Genesis 24:18 - General Daniel 4:27 - break John 15:12 - General Romans 12:9 - love Romans 12:11 - fervent 1 Corinthians 13:4 - suffereth 1 Corinthians 16:14 - General Ephesians 5:2 - walk Philippians 4:8 - are lovely 1 John 3:11 - that we 1 John 3:23 - love 1 John 4:21 - General 2 John 1:5 - that we Revelation 2:19 - charity

Cross-References

Genesis 4:3
So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,

Genesis 4:3
And in processe of time it came to passe, that Cain brought of the fruite of the ground, an offering vnto the LORD.

Genesis 4:3
One day, Cain gave part of his harvest to the Lord ,

Genesis 4:3
In the course of time Kayin brought an offering to Adonai from the produce of the soil;

Genesis 4:3
And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to Jehovah.

Genesis 4:3
At harvest time, Cain brought a gift to the Lord . He brought some of the food that he grew from the ground, but Abel brought some animals from his flock. He chose some of his best sheep and brought the best parts from them. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift.

Genesis 4:3
In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,

Genesis 4:3
And after a time, Cain gave to the Lord an offering of the fruits of the earth.

Genesis 4:3
And in processe of dayes it came to passe, that Cain brought of the fruite of the grounde, an oblation vnto ye lorde:

Genesis 4:3
And in the course of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the LORD.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves,.... Not but that charity, or love, is to be exercised towards all men, even towards enemies, but more especially towards the saints, and that under such a consideration in which it cannot be exercised towards others; namely, as their brethren in Christ, and as belonging to him, as the children of God, as redeemed by Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit; and these not only such as are of the same nation, and belong to the same particular church and community, or of the same denomination, but all the saints everywhere, whether Jews or Gentiles, or of whatsoever name, and in whatsoever state and condition: and this love ought to be mutual and reciprocal, and to be warm and fervent, and not lukewarm and indifferent, as it too often is; and should be constant, "continued", and "perpetual", as the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions here read: and this the apostle exhorts to above all things else; since outward sobriety, and watchings, and prayer, and all other duties, are nothing without this; this is the sum and substance of the law, and the fulfilling of it; and without this a mere knowledge of the Gospel, and a profession of it, are in vain, and therefore in the first place to be attended to. And especially for the following reason,

for charity shall cover the multitude of sins; referring to

Proverbs 10:12 not a man's own sins, but the sins of others; and not from the sight of God, for from that only the blood and righteousness of Christ cover sins, even all the sins, the whole multitude of the sins of God's elect; but from the sight of men, both of those against whom they are committed, and others; since charity, or true love, thinks no ill, but puts the best constructions upon the words and actions of fellow Christians, and does not take them up, and improve and exaggerate them, but lets them lie buried in oblivion: it takes no notice of injuries, offences, and affronts, but overlooks them, bears with them, and forgives them, so that they are never raked up, and seen any more; which prevents much scandal, strife, and trouble. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read, "covereth", as in

Proverbs 10:12.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And above all things - More than all things else.

Have fervent charity among yourselves - Warm, ardent love toward each other. On the nature of charity, see the notes at 1 Corinthians 13:1. The word rendered “fervent,” means properly extended; then intent, earnest, fervent.

For charity shall cover the multitude of sins - Love to another shall so cover or hide a great many imperfections in him, that you will not notice them. This passage is quoted from Proverbs 10:12; “Love covereth all sins.” For the truth of it we have only to appeal to the experience of everyone:

1. True love to another makes us kind to his imperfections, charitable toward his faults, and often blind even to the existence of faults. We would not see the imperfections of those whom we love; and our attachment for what we esteem their real excellencies, makes us insensible to their errors.
2. If we love them we are ready to cover over their faults, even those which we may see in them. Of love the Christian poet says:

“Tis gentle, delicate, and kind,

To faults compassionate or blind.

The passage before us is not the same in signification as that in James 5:20, “He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” See the notes at that passage. That passage means, that by the conversion of another the sins of him who is converted shall be covered over, or not brought to judgment for condemnation; that is, they shall be covered over so far as God is concerned: this passage means that, under the influence of love, the sins of another shall be covered over so far as we are concerned; that is, they shall be unobserved or forgiven. The language used here does not mean, as the Romanists maintain, that “charity shall procure us pardon for a multitude of sins;” for, besides that such a doctrine is contrary to the uniform teachings of the Scriptures elsewhere, it is a departure from the obvious meaning of the passage. The subject on which the apostle is treating is the advantage of love in our conduct toward others, and this he enforces by saying that it will make us kind to their imperfections, and lead us to overlook their faults. It is nowhere taught in the Scriptures that our “charity” to others will be an atonement or expiation for our own offences. If it could be so, the atonement made by Christ would have been unnecessary. Love, however, is of inestimable value in the treatment of others; and imperfect as we are, and liable to go astray, we all have occasion to cast ourselves on the charity of our brethren, and to avail ourselves much and often of that “love which covers over a multitude of sins.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 8. Have fervent charity — αγαπηνεκτενη. Intense love; for love shall cover a multitude of sins. A loving disposition leads us to pass by the faults of others, to forgive offences against ourselves, and to excuse and lessen, as far as is consistent with truth, the transgressions of men. It does not mean that our love to others will induce God to pardon our offences. James 5:20; James 5:20.