1 Peter 4:3
New International Version
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

New Living Translation
You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.

English Standard Version
For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.

Berean Standard Bible
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.

Berean Literal Bible
For the time past is sufficient to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having walked in sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and abominable idolatries.

King James Bible
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

New King James Version
For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

New American Standard Bible
For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries.

NASB 1995
For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

NASB 1977
For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the time already past is sufficient for you to have worked out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

Amplified Bible
For the time already past is [more than] enough for doing what the [unsaved] Gentiles like to do—living [unrestrained as you have done] in a course of [shameless] sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries.

Christian Standard Bible
For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry.

American Standard Version
For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:

Contemporary English Version
You have already lived long enough like people who don't know God. You were immoral and followed your evil desires. You went around drinking and partying and carrying on. In fact, you even worshiped disgusting idols.

English Revised Version
For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You spent enough time in the past doing what unbelievers like to do. You were promiscuous, had sinful desires, got drunk, went to wild parties, and took part in the forbidden worship of false gods.

Good News Translation
You have spent enough time in the past doing what the heathen like to do. Your lives were spent in indecency, lust, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and the disgusting worship of idols.

International Standard Version
For you spent enough time in the past doing what the gentiles like to do, living in sensuality, sinful desires, drunkenness, wild celebrations, drinking parties, and detestable idolatry.

Majority Standard Bible
For we have spent enough of our past lifetime carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.

NET Bible
For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries.

New Heart English Bible
For enough time in the past has been spent doing the will of the unbelievers, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Weymouth New Testament
For you have given time enough in the past to the doing of the things which the Gentiles delight in-- pursuing, as you did, a course of habitual licence, debauchery, hard drinking, noisy revelry, drunkenness and unholy image-worship.

World English Bible
For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for the time has sufficiently passed to have carried out the will of the nations, having walked in licentiousness, lusts, excesses of wines, revelings, drinking-bouts, and unlawful idolatries,

Berean Literal Bible
For the time past is sufficient to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having walked in sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and abominable idolatries.

Young's Literal Translation
for sufficient to us is the past time of life the will of the nations to have wrought, having walked in lasciviousnesses, desires, excesses of wines, revellings, drinking-bouts, and unlawful idolatries,

Smith's Literal Translation
For the time of life passed over sufficient for us to have wrought the will of the nations, having gone in licentiousness, eager desires, drunkenness, revellings, drinkings, and criminal idolatries:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the time past is sufficient to have fulfilled the will of the Gentiles, for them who have walked in riotousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and unlawful worshipping of idols.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the time that has passed is sufficient to have fulfilled the will of the Gentiles, those who have walked in luxuries, lusts, intoxication, feasting, drinking, and the illicit worship of idols.

New American Bible
For the time that has passed is sufficient for doing what the Gentiles like to do: living in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and wanton idolatry.

New Revised Standard Version
You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the time past sufficed to have wrought the will of the pagans when you lived in lasciviousness, drunkenness, revellings, indecent singing, and worship of idols.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For that past time was enough in which you served the pleasure of The Pagans, in debauchery, drunkenness, in whoredom, in orgies and in the worship of demons.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For the time past of our life should be enough for us to have worked the will of the Gentiles, while we walked in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelings, drinkings, and unlawful idolatries.

Godbey New Testament
For the past time is sufficient to have wrought the will of the heathens, walking in impurities, in lusts, in wine-drinkings, in revelries, in intemperance, and in unlawful idolatries:

Haweis New Testament
For the time past of life is enough for us to have wrought the will of the heathen, when we walked in all impurities, lewd appetites, excess of wine, revels, drinking-bouts, and abominable idolatries;

Mace New Testament
for the time past of your lives may suffice, to have liv'd in conformity to the Gentile customs, in impurity, licentiousness, sottishness, in dissolute festivals, and the criminal rites of idolaters.

Weymouth New Testament
For you have given time enough in the past to the doing of the things which the Gentiles delight in-- pursuing, as you did, a course of habitual licence, debauchery, hard drinking, noisy revelry, drunkenness and unholy image-worship.

Worrell New Testament
For the time past is sufficient to have wrought the will of the gentiles, having walked in wantonness, lusts, wine-bibbings, revelings, carousings, and impious idolatries;

Worsley New Testament
For the time past of our life is sufficient for us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, walking in lasciviousness, inordinate desires, excess of wine, revellings, drunkenness, and abominable idolatries:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Living for God's Glory
2Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry. 4Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.…

Cross References
Romans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

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.

Colossians 3:5-7
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. / Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. / When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
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. / And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Titus 3:3
For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

James 4:3-4
And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. / You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. / For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, ...

Matthew 5:27-28
You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

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 21:34
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

Proverbs 23:29-35
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes? / Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks. / Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. ...

Isaiah 28:7-8
These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments. / For all their tables are covered with vomit; there is not a place without filth.

Jeremiah 9:2-6
If only I had a traveler’s lodge in the wilderness, I would abandon my people and depart from them, for they are all adulterers, a crowd of faithless people. / “They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD. / “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. ...


Treasury of Scripture

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have worked the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, parties, and abominable idolatries:

the time.

Ezekiel 44:6
And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,

Ezekiel 45:9
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.

Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

to have.

1 Peter 1:14
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

Deuteronomy 12:30,31
Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise…

Romans 1:20-32
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: …

lasciviousness.

Mark 7:22
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

2 Corinthians 12:21
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

excess.

2 Samuel 13:28
Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

Proverbs 23:29-35
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? …

Isaiah 5:11
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

revellings.

Galatians 5:21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

and.

1 Kings 21:26
And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

Jump to Previous
Abominable Already Carousing Carried Choose Course Debauchery Delight Desire Drinking Drunken Drunkenness Enough Excess Gentiles Habitual Hard Idolatries Idolatry Lasciviousness Lewdness Licentiousness Noisy Orgies Pagans Parties Passions Past Pursued Pursuing Revelings Revellings Revelry Revels Sensuality Spent Suffice Sufficient Time Unholy Walked Wine Wrought
Jump to Next
Abominable Already Carousing Carried Choose Course Debauchery Delight Desire Drinking Drunken Drunkenness Enough Excess Gentiles Habitual Hard Idolatries Idolatry Lasciviousness Lewdness Licentiousness Noisy Orgies Pagans Parties Passions Past Pursued Pursuing Revelings Revellings Revelry Revels Sensuality Spent Suffice Sufficient Time Unholy Walked Wine Wrought
1 Peter 4
1. He exhorts them to cease from sin and live fore God,
12. and comforts them against persecution.














For you have spent enough time in the past
This phrase emphasizes the sufficiency of past sinful living. The Greek word for "spent" (ἀρκετός, arketos) suggests a sense of completion or sufficiency. The apostle Peter is urging believers to recognize that their previous life of sin is more than enough; they should no longer indulge in such behaviors. Historically, this reflects the transformative power of the Gospel, calling believers to a new life in Christ, distinct from their former ways.

carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles
The term "desires" (ἐπιθυμίαις, epithymiais) refers to strong cravings or lusts, often associated with sinful nature. "Gentiles" (ἔθνη, ethne) in this context refers to those outside the covenant community, often living without the moral and ethical guidelines of the Jewish law. Peter contrasts the life of believers with that of the Gentiles, highlighting the call to holiness and separation from worldly passions.

living in debauchery
"Debauchery" (ἀσέλγειαν, aselgeian) denotes a lack of self-restraint, often manifesting in excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures. This word paints a picture of moral abandon, a lifestyle that is contrary to the disciplined and holy life expected of Christians. The historical context of the Roman Empire, known for its moral laxity, provides a backdrop for understanding the radical call to purity in the early church.

lust
"Lust" (ἐπιθυμίαις, epithymiais) is a term that encompasses a broad range of desires, often with a sexual connotation. It signifies a yearning that is misaligned with God's will. In the scriptural context, believers are called to control their desires, aligning them with the Spirit's leading rather than the flesh.

drunkenness
"Drunkenness" (οἰνοφλυγίαις, oinophlugiais) refers to excessive consumption of alcohol, leading to impaired judgment and moral compromise. In the ancient world, as today, drunkenness was often associated with a loss of self-control and was condemned by early Christian teachings as incompatible with a life led by the Spirit.

orgies
"Orgies" (κωμοῖς, komois) in the Greek context refers to revelries or wild parties, often involving excessive drinking and immoral behavior. This term underscores the call for Christians to abstain from such activities, which were common in pagan religious practices and social gatherings of the time.

carousing
"Carousing" (πότοις, potois) suggests drinking parties or feasts characterized by excessive indulgence. The early church was called to a counter-cultural lifestyle, avoiding the excesses that were prevalent in Roman society, and instead, living soberly and righteously.

and detestable idolatry
"Detestable idolatry" (ἀθεμίτοις εἰδωλολατρίαις, athemitois eidololatriais) refers to the worship of idols, which was abhorrent to God. The term "detestable" highlights the abomination of idol worship, which was rampant in the Greco-Roman world. For Christians, idolatry was not only the physical worship of idols but also placing anything above God in their lives. This call to reject idolatry is a call to exclusive devotion to the one true God, a theme consistent throughout Scripture.

(3) For the time past of our life.--There are two words in the English here which do not stand in the true text, and sadly impede the sense. They are "of our life," and "us." The first is added by some scribe to point the contrast with "the rest of his time." The second--which should be "you," if anything at all--is simply put to fill the gap after the word "suffice." If "our life" and "us" were right, we should have St. Peter, quite unlike his wont, identifying himself with the bad life here described, as though he himself had shared in it.

May suffice.--It is the same word as in Matthew 6:34; Matthew 10:25, and would be, literally, For sufficient is the past. There is an irony in the word similar to that in 1Peter 3:17, "it is better."

To have wrought.--Rather, to have perpetrated. The Greek word denotes the accomplishment of a criminal purpose, as in Romans 2:9; 1Corinthians 5:3; and one passage more horrid still. . . .

Verse 3. - For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles; rather, as in the Revised Version, the time past may suffice. The words, "of our life" and "us," are not found in the best manuscripts. St. Peter could not include himself among those who wrought the will of the Gentiles. The Greek word for "will" here is, according to the best manuscripts, βούλημα; in ver. 2 "the will of God" is θέλημα. The general distinction is that θέλω implies choice and purpose, βούλομαι merely inclination (compare, in the Greek, Philemon 1:13, 14). The change of word seems to point to such a distinction here. God's will is a fixed, holy purpose; the will, or rather wish, of the Gentiles was uncertain inclination, turned this way or that way by changeful lusts. The perfect infinitive, "to have wrought," implies that that part of life ought to be regarded as a thing wholly past and gone. The whole sentence has a tone of solemn irony. "Fastidium peccati apud resipiscentes" (Bengel); comp. Romans 6:21. St. Peter is here addressing Gentile Christians. Fronmüller's objection is peculiar: "Suppose that the readers of Peter's Epistle had formerly been heathens, his reproaching them with having formerly done the will of the Gentiles would surely be singular." They had done the will of the Gentiles; they were now, as Christians, to do the will of God. When we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries; better, as in the Revised Version, and to have walked. There is no pronoun. Lusts are the hidden sins of unclean thought, which lead to outbreaks of lasciviousness. The Greek word for "revellings" (κῶμοι) is one often used of drunken youths parading the streets, or of festal processions in honor of Bacchus. The word translated "banquetings" means rather "drinking-bouts." The word for "abominable" is ἀθεμίτοις, unlawful, nefarious, contrary to the eternal principles of the Divine Law; "quibus sanctissimum Dei jus violatur" (Bengel). St. Peter is probably referring, not only to the sin of idolatry in itself, but also to the many licentious practices connected with it. After the persecution of Nero, in which St. Peter perished, Christianity was regarded by the state as a religio illicita. Christianity was condemned by the law of Rome; idolatry is opposed to the eternal Law of God. This verse could not have been addressed to Hebrew Christians.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

[you have spent] enough
ἀρκετὸς (arketos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 713: Sufficient, enough. From arkeo; satisfactory.

time
χρόνος (chronos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5550: A space of time or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay.

in the past
παρεληλυθὼς (parelēlythōs)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3928: From para and erchomai; to come near or aside, i.e. To approach, go by, perish or neglect, avert.

carrying out
κατειργάσθαι (kateirgasthai)
Verb - Perfect Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 2716: From kata and ergazomai; to work fully, i.e. Accomplish; by implication, to finish, fashion.

the same
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

desires
βούλημα (boulēma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1013: Will, counsel, purpose. From boulomai; a resolve.

as the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

pagans:
ἐθνῶν (ethnōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.

living
πεπορευμένους (peporeumenous)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

debauchery,
ἀσελγείαις (aselgeiais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 766: From a compound of a and a presumed selges; licentiousness.

lust,
ἐπιθυμίαις (epithymiais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1939: Desire, eagerness for, inordinate desire, lust. From epithumeo; a longing.

drunkenness,
οἰνοφλυγίαις (oinophlygiais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3632: Drunkenness, debauchery. From oinos and a form of the base of phluaros; an overflow of wine, i.e. Vinolency.

orgies,
κώμοις (kōmois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2970: A feasting, reveling, carousal. From keimai; a carousal.

carousing,
πότοις (potois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4224: A drinking, carousing. From the alternate of pino; a drinking-bout or carousal.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

detestable
ἀθεμίτοις (athemitois)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 111: Illegal, unlawful, criminal, lawless. By implication, flagitious.

idolatry.
εἰδωλολατρίαις (eidōlolatriais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1495: Service (worship) of an image (an idol). From eidolon and latreia; image-worship.


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NT Letters: 1 Peter 4:3 For we have spent enough of our (1 Pet. 1P iP i Pet)
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