I Peter 4:5
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
They who now call you to account falsely, shall have to give account themselves for this very evil-speaking (Jde 1:15), and be condemned justly. ready--very speedily (Pe1 4:7; Pe2 3:10). Christ's coming is to the believer always near.
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 ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom:
And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.
So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’