I Peter 4:3
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
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.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
may suffice--Greek, "is sufficient." Peter takes the lowest ground: for not even the past time ought to have been wasted in lust; but since you cannot recall it, at least lay out the future to better account. us--omitted in oldest manuscripts. wrought--Greek, "wrought out." Gentiles--heathen: which many of you were. when, &c.--"walking as ye have done [ALFORD] in lasciviousness"; the Greek means petulant, immodest, wantonness, unbridled conduct: not so much filthy lust. excess of wine--"wine-bibbings" [ALFORD]. abominable--"nefarious," "lawless idolatries," violating God's most sacred law; not that all Peter's readers (see on Pe1 1:1) walked in these, but many, namely, the Gentile portion of them.
Open source ↗The work of a Christian is twofold - doing the will of God and suffering his pleasure. This chapter directs us in both. The duties we are here exhorted to employ ourselves in are the mortification of sin, living to God, sobriety, prayer, charity, hospitality, and the best improvement of our talents, which the apostle presses upon Christians from the consideration of the time they have lost in their sins, and the approaching end of all things (Pe1 4:1-11). The directions for sufferings are that we should not be surprised at them, but rejoice in them, only take care not to suffer as evil-doers. He intimates that their trials were near at hand, that their souls were in danger as well as their bodies, and that the best way to preserve their souls is to commit them to God in well-doing.
Open source ↗4:3 godless people (literally the Gentiles): Peter takes this term from his Jewish heritage to describe those who do not know God.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
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.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
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.
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
Tell the rebellious house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I have had enough of all your abominations, O house of Israel.
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.
You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.