1 Peter 4:15
New International Version
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

New Living Translation
If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.

English Standard Version
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

Berean Standard Bible
Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler.

Berean Literal Bible
For let not any of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a troublesome meddler,

King James Bible
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

New King James Version
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.

New American Standard Bible
Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

NASB 1995
Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

NASB 1977
By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

Legacy Standard Bible
Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

Amplified Bible
Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or a thief, or any sort of criminal [in response to persecution], or as a troublesome meddler interfering in the affairs of others;

Christian Standard Bible
Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.

American Standard Version
For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters:

Contemporary English Version
But you deserve to suffer if you are a murderer, a thief, a crook, or a busybody.

English Revised Version
For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If you suffer, you shouldn't suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker.

Good News Translation
If you suffer, it must not be because you are a murderer or a thief or a criminal or a meddler in other people's affairs.

International Standard Version
Of course, none of you should suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker.

Majority Standard Bible
Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler.

NET Bible
But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.

New Heart English Bible
For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler.

Webster's Bible Translation
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busy-body in other men's matters.

Weymouth New Testament
But let not one of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evil-doer, or as a spy upon other people's business.

World English Bible
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for let none of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or as a meddler into other men’s matters;

Berean Literal Bible
For let not any of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a troublesome meddler,

Young's Literal Translation
for let none of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evil-doer, or as an inspector into other men's matters;

Smith's Literal Translation
For let not any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or doing evil, or as an inspector, in what pertains to others.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a railer, or a coveter of other men's things.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But let none of you suffer for being a murderer, or a thief, or a slanderer, or one who covets what belongs to another.

New American Bible
But let no one among you be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer.

New Revised Standard Version
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But let none of you suffer the fate of a murderer, or a thief, or a malefactor.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Only let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
for no one of you should suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Godbey New Testament
But let no one of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other people's business:

Haweis New Testament
Let no one of you then suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or a meddler in other persons? business.

Mace New Testament
take care therefore not to suffer upon the account of homicide, or thievery, or for any criminal, or pragmatical practices.

Weymouth New Testament
But let not one of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evil-doer, or as a spy upon other people's business.

Worrell New Testament
For let no one of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a meddler in other men's matters;

Worsley New Testament
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as a malefactor, or as an intermeddler with other people's affairs.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Suffering as Christians
14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler. 16But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.…

Cross References
Exodus 20:13-16
You shall not murder. / You shall not commit adultery. / You shall not steal. ...

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

Mark 7:21-23
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

Luke 3:14
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”

Luke 12:58-59
Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison. / I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

John 16:2
They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.

Acts 24:16
In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.

Romans 13:9
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 10:6-10
These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. / Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” / We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ...

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 4:28
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.


Treasury of Scripture

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

suffer.

1 Peter 2:20
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Matthew 5:11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

2 Timothy 2:9
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

a busy-body.

1 Thessalonians 4:11
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

2 Thessalonians 3:11
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

1 Timothy 5:13
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

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Business Busybody Criminal Doer Evil Evildoer Evil-Doer Indeed Inspector Kind Life Matters Mischief-Maker Murderer People's Punishment Spy Suffer Suffers Sure Taker Thief Troublesome Undergo Wrongdoer
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Business Busybody Criminal Doer Evil Evildoer Evil-Doer Indeed Inspector Kind Life Matters Mischief-Maker Murderer People's Punishment Spy Suffer Suffers Sure Taker Thief Troublesome Undergo Wrongdoer
1 Peter 4
1. He exhorts them to cease from sin and live fore God,
12. and comforts them against persecution.














Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer
This phrase emphasizes the moral and ethical standards expected of believers. Murder is explicitly condemned in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:13) and is seen as a grave sin throughout Scripture. Jesus expanded on this in Matthew 5:21-22, teaching that even harboring anger can be akin to murder in the heart. The early Christian community was called to live in stark contrast to the surrounding pagan society, which often resorted to violence. The call here is to avoid actions that would justly bring suffering upon oneself.

or thief
The prohibition against theft is also rooted in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:15). In the New Testament, Paul admonishes believers to work honestly and share with those in need (Ephesians 4:28). Theft undermines trust and community, which are foundational to the Christian fellowship. The early church, as seen in Acts 4:32-35, practiced communal sharing, making theft not only a sin but a betrayal of the community's values.

or wrongdoer
This term encompasses a broad range of sinful behaviors. The Greek word used here can refer to any form of evil or criminal activity. Christians are called to live blameless lives, as seen in Philippians 2:15, where believers are urged to be "children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation." The emphasis is on maintaining a testimony that reflects Christ's righteousness.

or even as a meddler
The inclusion of "meddler" highlights the importance of minding one's own affairs and not interfering in the lives of others unnecessarily. This is consistent with Paul's advice in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 to "aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs." Meddling can lead to unnecessary conflict and suffering, detracting from the Christian witness. The early church faced enough external persecution without adding internal strife through inappropriate involvement in others' matters.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Peter
The apostle Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, is the author of this epistle. He writes to encourage and instruct Christians facing persecution.

2. Early Christians
The recipients of Peter's letter, likely scattered throughout Asia Minor, who were experiencing trials and suffering for their faith.

3. Roman Empire
The broader context in which these Christians lived, where persecution and misunderstanding of Christian practices were common.

4. Persecution
The event or situation that Peter addresses, where believers are suffering for their faith, but he distinguishes between suffering for righteousness and suffering for wrongdoing.
Teaching Points
Distinguishing Suffering
Christians should discern the cause of their suffering. Suffering for Christ is honorable, but suffering due to sinful actions is not.

Moral Integrity
Believers are called to live with integrity, avoiding actions that would bring justifiable punishment or shame upon themselves and the name of Christ.

Avoiding Meddling
Christians should focus on their own walk with God and avoid interfering in the affairs of others, which can lead to unnecessary conflict and suffering.

Witness Through Conduct
Our behavior should reflect Christ, serving as a testimony to others, even in the face of persecution.

Community Accountability
The church community should support one another in living righteously and hold each other accountable to avoid actions that lead to suffering for wrongdoing.(15) But let none of you.--The Greek takes exactly the opposite turn: "for let none of you suffer." The connection is a little difficult, but it seems to be this: "I say advisedly that you are happy, and that the Spirit of glory reposes on you who die for the faith; for I am sure that you will not try to deceive yourselves and others by pretending to die as martyrs, when in reality you are dying as criminals." In order to understand this caution, we must recollect how largely the first converts were drawn from actually criminal classes, and how easily they were admitted. In the persecution of Diocletian, Mensurius of Carthage found it necessary to expose those who drew persecution upon themselves to cloke their crimes under pretence of Christian faith. "Some," he says, "are criminals, some debtors, who take the opportunity of persecution to be rid of so burdensome a life, thinking to atone for and wash off their misdeeds thereby." It is conceivable that St. Peter may have had some such danger in view.

As a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer.--The insertion of "as" in the two latter cases obliterates the distinction between the class composed of those three words, and that which follows. It should be, as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer. When Pliny came to govern these men, a little later, he found that on a fixed day they met together before daylight, "and bound themselves by a sacramental oath, not to any crime, but that they would not do or see done any thefts, any robberies, any adulteries; that they would break no promises, and would repudiate no liabilities when called upon." These words will partly explain the general term "evildoer." (See also 1Peter 2:12; 1Peter 2:14; 1Peter 3:16.)

Or as a busybody in other men's matters.--M. Renan writes (Antechrist, p. 42):--"Others, through excess of zeal, declaimed aloud against the pagans, and cast their vices in their teeth. Their more sensible brethren humorously called them 'bishops,' or 'overseers of those who are without.'" Such is, indeed, the meaning of the droll word which St. Peter here gives: except that, instead of "bishops of those without," it means "bishops of other men's matters." It denotes those prying and self-important people who fancy they can set everything to rights, and that everybody they come across is under their personal jurisdiction. Such persons would tend to make Christianity unpopular among the unbelievers, and, in case of persecution, would be the first to "suffer" (i.e., to be picked out for martyrdom; see Note on 1Peter 3:14); and while flattering themselves for the boldness with which they had spoken out, they would incur St. Peter's censure, and their martyrdom would be reckoned no martyrdom by the Church. "Cruel mishaps," continues M. Renan, "befell them; and the wise directors of the community, so far from extolling them, told them pretty plainly that it did but serve them right."

Verse 15. - But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer; literally, for let none of you, etc. They are blessed who suffer in the Name of Christ, because they belong to Christ: for it is not the suffering which brings the blessedness, but the cause, the faith and patience with which the suffering is borne. The word for "evil-doer," κακοποιός, is used by St. Peter in two other places (1 Peter 2:12 and 14). Christians were spoken against as evil-doers; they must be very careful to preserve their purity, and to suffer, if need be, not for evil-doing, but for well-doing (1 Peter 3:17). Or as a busybody in other men's matters. This clause represents one Greek word, ἀλλοτριοεπίσκοπος; it means an ἐπίσκοπος, ill-specter, overseer ("bishop" is the modern form of the word), of other men's matters - of things that do not concern him. St. Peter uses the word ἐπίσκοπος only once (1 Peter 2:25), where he describes Christ as the Bishop of our souls. It cannot be taken here in its ecclesiastical sense, "let no man suffer as a bishop in matters which do not concern him; but if as a Christian (bishop), let him not be ashamed." The Jews were often accused of constituting themselves judges and meddling in other men's matters; it may be that the consciousness of spiritual knowledge and high spiritual dignity exposed Christians to the same temptation. Hilgenfeld sees here an allusion to Trajan's laws against informers, and uses it as an argument for his theory of the late date of this Epistle.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Indeed,
γάρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

[none]
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

of you
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

should suffer
πασχέτω (paschetō)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3958: I am acted upon in a certain way, either good or bad; I experience ill treatment, suffer.

as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

a murderer
φονεὺς (phoneus)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5406: A murderer.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

thief
κλέπτης (kleptēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2812: A thief. From klepto; a stealer.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

wrongdoer,
κακοποιὸς (kakopoios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2555: Doing evil; subst: an evil-doer. From kakos and poieo; a bad-doer;, a criminal.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

even as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

a meddler.
ἀλλοτριεπίσκοπος (allotriepiskopos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 244: From allotrios and episkopos; overseeing others' affairs, i.e. A meddler.


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NT Letters: 1 Peter 4:15 For let none of you suffer as (1 Pet. 1P iP i Pet)
1 Peter 4:14
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