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Amplified Bible

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Charitableness;   Commandments;   Kindness;   Love;   Thompson Chain Reference - Brotherly Love;   Charitableness;   Charitableness-Uncharitableness;   Charity;   Love;   Love-Hatred;   The Topic Concordance - Charity;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Love to Man;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Proverb, the Book of;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Hospitality;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Canaan;   James, the General Epistle of;   Peter, the Epistles of;   Proverbs, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Hospitality;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Brotherly Love;   James, Epistle of;   Person of Christ;   Peter, First Epistle of;   Spiritual Gifts;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Forgiveness;   Peter Epistles of;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Prov'erbs, Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Charity;   Fervent;   Peter, the First Epistle of;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for July 28;   Every Day Light - Devotion for April 8;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.
King James Version (1611)
And aboue all things haue feruent charitie among your selues: for charity shall couer the multitude of sinnes.
King James Version
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
English Standard Version
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
New American Standard Bible
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
New Century Version
Most importantly, love each other deeply, because love will cause people to forgive each other for many sins.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Berean Standard Bible
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Contemporary English Version
Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.
Complete Jewish Bible
More than anything, keep loving each other actively; because love covers many sins .
Darby Translation
but before all things having fervent love among yourselves, because love covers a multitude of sins;
Easy-to-Read Version
Most important of all, love each other deeply, because love makes you willing to forgive many sins.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But aboue all thinges haue feruent loue among you: for loue shall couer the multitude of sinnes.
George Lamsa Translation
And above all things have fervent charity towards one another: because charity covers a multitude of sins.
Good News Translation
Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.
Lexham English Bible
Above all, keep your love for one another constant, because love covers a large number of sins.
Literal Translation
and above all things having fervent love to yourselves, "because love will cover a multitude of sins." Prov. 10:12
American Standard Version
above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:
Bible in Basic English
And most of all be warm in your love for one another; because in love there is forgiveness for sins without number:
Hebrew Names Version
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
International Standard Version
Above all, continue to love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.Proverbs 10:12; 1 Corinthians 13:7; Colossians 3:14; Hebrews 13:1; James 5:20;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And before every thing have ardent love for one another; for love covereth a multitude of sins.
Murdock Translation
And above all things, have fervent love one towards another; for love covereth a multitude of sins.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But aboue all thynges, haue feruent loue among your selues: For loue shall couer the multitude of sinnes.
English Revised Version
above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:
World English Bible
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And above all things, have fervent love to each other; for love will cover a multitude of sins.
Weymouth's New Testament
Above all continue to love one another fervently, for love throws a veil over a multitude of faults.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
bifore alle thingis haue ye charite ech to other in you silf algatis lastynge; for charite couerith the multitude of synnes.
Update Bible Version
above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covers a multitude of sins:
Webster's Bible Translation
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity will cover a multitude of sins.
New English Translation
Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins .
New King James Version
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." Proverbs 10:12">[fn]
New Living Translation
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
New Life Bible
Most of all, have a true love for each other. Love covers many sins.
New Revised Standard
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Before all things, keeping, fervent, your love, among yourselves, because, love, covereth a multitude of sins;
Douay-Rheims Bible
But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covereth a multitude of sins.
Revised Standard Version
Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But above all thinges have fervet love amoge you. For love covereth the multitude of synnes.
Young's Literal Translation
and, before all things, to one another having the earnest love, because the love shall cover a multitude of sins;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
but aboue all thinges haue feruent loue amonge you one to another. For loue couereth the multitude of synnes.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but above all, let your mutual benevolence be intense, for benevolence cancels a multitude of offences.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't ever give up on loving folks. A little bit of love covers a bunch of sin.

Contextual Overview

7The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.] 8Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. 9Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God's multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God's unmerited favor]. 11Whoever speaks [to the congregation], is to do so as one who speaks the oracles (utterances, the very words) of God. Whoever serves [the congregation] is to do so as one who serves by the strength which God [abundantly] supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified [honored and magnified] through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

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
And in the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground.
Genesis 4:6
And the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed?
Genesis 4:9
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he [lied and] said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
Genesis 4:10
The LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's [innocent] blood is crying out to Me from the ground [for justice].
Genesis 4:12
"When you cultivate the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength [it will resist producing good crops] for you; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond [roaming aimlessly] on the earth [in perpetual exile without a home, a degraded outcast]."
Genesis 4:15
And the LORD said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, a sevenfold vengeance [that is, punishment seven times worse] shall be taken on him [by Me]." And the LORD set a [protective] mark (sign) on Cain, so that no one who found (met) him would kill him.
Genesis 4:24
"If Cain is avenged sevenfold [as the LORD said he would be], Then Lamech [will be avenged] seventy-sevenfold."
Genesis 4:26
To Seth, also, a son was born, whom he named Enosh (mortal man, mankind). At that [same] time men began to call on the name of the LORD [in worship through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving].
2 Samuel 3:27
So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak to him privately, and there he struck Abner in the abdomen so that he died, to avenge the blood of Asahel, Joab's brother.
2 Samuel 14:6
"Your maidservant had two sons, but the two of them struggled and fought in the field. There was no one to separate them, so one struck the other and killed him.

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.


 
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