1 Peter 4:16

Easy-to-Read Version

But if you suffer because you are a "Christ-follower," don't be ashamed. You should praise God for that name.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.

King James Version (1611)
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorifie God on this behalfe.

King James Version
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

English Standard Version
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

New American Standard Bible
but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

New Century Version
But if you suffer because you are a Christian, do not be ashamed. Praise God because you wear that name.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

Berean Standard Bible
But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.

Contemporary English Version
Don't be ashamed to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God that you belong to him.

Complete Jewish Bible
But if anyone suffers for being Messianic, let him not be ashamed; but let him bring glory to God by the way he bears this name.

Darby Translation
but if as a christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God in this name.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not bee ashamed: but let him glorifie God in this behalfe.

George Lamsa Translation
If any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God through that very name.

Good News Translation
However, if you suffer because you are a Christian, don't be ashamed of it, but thank God that you bear Christ's name.

Lexham English Bible
But if someone suffers as a Christian, he must not be ashamed, but must glorify God with this name.

Literal Translation
But if one suffers as a Christian, do not let him be ashamed, but to glorify God in this respect.

Amplified Bible
but if anyone suffers [ill-treatment] as a Christian [because of his belief], he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God [because he is considered worthy to suffer] in this name.

American Standard Version
but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.

Bible in Basic English
But if he undergoes punishment as a Christian, that is no shame to him; let him give glory to God in this name.

Hebrew Names Version
But if one of you suffers for being a Messianic, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.

International Standard Version
But if you suffer for being a Christian, do not feel ashamed, but glorify God with that name.Acts 5:41;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But if he suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify Aloha in that very name.

Murdock Translation
But if he suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on account of this name.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yf any [man suffer] as a Christian man, let hym not be ashamed, but let him glorifie God on this behalfe.

English Revised Version
but if [a man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.

World English Bible
But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Yet if any suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Weymouth's New Testament
If, however, any one suffers because he is a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God for being permitted to bear that name.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but if as a cristen man, schame he not, but glorifie he God in this name.

Update Bible Version
but if [a man suffers] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.

Webster's Bible Translation
Yet if [any man suffereth] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

New English Translation
But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.

New King James Version
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. [fn]

New Living Translation
But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

New Life Bible
But if a man suffers as a Christian, he should not be ashamed. He should thank God that he is a Christian.

New Revised Standard
Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but be glorifying God in this name.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But, if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God in that name.

Revised Standard Version
yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Yf eny man suffre as a Christe man let him not be ashamed: but let him glorifie god on his behalfe.

Young's Literal Translation
and if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; and let him glorify God in this respect;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf eny man suffre as a Christen man, let him not be ashamed, but let him prayse God on this behalfe.

Mace New Testament (1729)
but whoever suffers as a christian, let him not be asham'd, but rather give thanks to God upon that account.

Simplified Cowboy Version
I'm talking about suffering for doing something right. Don't be ashamed or hard on yourself. Give thanks to God for making you stronger.

Contextual Overview

¹² My friends, don't be surprised at the painful things that you are now suffering, which are testing your faith. Don't think that something strange is happening to you. ¹³ But you should be happy that you are sharing in Christ's sufferings. You will be happy and full of joy when Christ shows his glory. ¹⁴ When people say bad things to you because you follow Christ, consider it a blessing. When that happens, it shows that God's Spirit, the Spirit of glory, is with you. ¹⁵ You may suffer, but don't let it be because you murder, steal, make trouble, or try to control other people's lives. ¹⁶ But if you suffer because you are a "Christ-follower," don't be ashamed. You should praise God for that name. ¹⁷ It is time for judging to begin. That judging will begin with God's family. If it begins with us, then what will happen to those who don't accept the Good News of God? ¹⁸ "If it is hard for even a good person to be saved, what will happen to the one who is against God and full of sin?" ¹⁹ So if God wants you to suffer, you should trust your lives to him. He is the one who made you, and you can trust him. So continue to do good.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

as: 1 Peter 4:19, 1 Peter 3:17, 1 Peter 3:18, Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, Ephesians 3:13-15

let him not: Isaiah 50:7, Isaiah 54:4, Philippians 1:20, 2 Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 12:3

but: Isaiah 24:15, Acts 5:41, Romans 5:2-5, Philippians 1:29, James 1:2-4

Reciprocal: Job 36:21 - this Matthew 24:9 - shall they Acts 21:39 - suffer Acts 27:35 - in Romans 1:16 - I am Romans 5:3 - but we

Cross-References

Genesis 3:8
During the cool part of the day, the Lord God was walking in the garden. The man and the woman heard him, and they hid among the trees in the garden.

Genesis 4:14
You are forcing me to leave the land, and I will not be able to be near you or have a home! Now I must wander from place to place, and anyone I meet could kill me."

Exodus 20:18
During all this time, the people in the valley heard the thundering and saw the lightning on the mountain. They saw smoke rising from the mountain and heard the sound of the trumpet. They were afraid and shook with fear. They stood away from the mountain and watched.

2 Kings 13:23
But the Lord was kind to the Israelites. He had mercy and showed his care for them because of his agreement with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He did not want them to be destroyed. He has never completely left them.

2 Kings 24:20
The Lord became so angry with Jerusalem and Judah that he threw them away. Zedekiah rebelled and refused to obey the king of Babylon.

Job 1:12
The Lord said to Satan, "All right, do whatever you want with anything that he has, but don't hurt Job himself." Then Satan left the meeting.

Job 2:7
So Satan left the meeting with the Lord and gave Job painful sores all over his body, from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head.

Job 20:17
He will never again enjoy so much wealth— rivers flowing with honey and cream.

Psalms 5:11
But let those who trust in you be happy forever. Protect and strengthen those who love your name.

Psalms 68:2
May your enemies be scattered like smoke blown away by the wind. May your enemies be destroyed like wax melting in a fire.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian,.... Because he is one, and professes himself to be one. This name was first given to the disciples at Antioch, either by themselves, or by the Gentiles; however, it being agreeable to them, was retained; it is only mentioned here, and in Acts 11:26,

let him not be ashamed; neither of Christ, and his Gospel, for which he suffers, nor of the name he bears, nor of the punishment he endures, however ignominious and shameful it may be among men; but let him, as his Lord and master did, endure the cross, and despise the shame, Hebrews 12:2

but let him glorify God on this behalf: that he bestows this gift upon him to suffer for Christ, as well as to believe in him; and that he does him so much honour to call him to such service, and to strengthen him in it, so as to take it joyfully, and endure it patiently and cheerfully. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and also the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, instead of "in this behalf", read "in this name"; that is, of a Christian.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian - Because he is a Christian; if he is persecuted on account of his religion. This was often done, and they had reason to expect that it might occur in their own case. Compare the notes at 1 Peter 3:17. On the import of the word Christian, and the reasons why the name was given to the disciples of the Lord Jesus, see the notes at Acts 11:26.

Let him not be ashamed -

1. Ashamed of religion so as to refuse to suffer on account of it.

(2)Ashamed that he is despised and maltreated.

He is to regard his religion as every way honorable, and all that fairly results from it in time and eternity as in every respect desirable. He is not to be ashamed to be called a Christian; he is not to be ashamed of the doctrines taught by his religion; he is not to be ashamed of the Saviour whom he professes to love; he is not to be ashamed of the society and fellowship of those who are true Christians, poor and despised though they may be; he is not to be ashamed to perform any of the duties demanded by his religion; he is not to be ashamed to have his name cast out, and himself subjected to reproach and scorn. A man should be ashamed only of that which is wrong. He should glory in that which is right, whatever may be the consequences to himself. Christians now, though not subjected to open persecution, are frequently reproached by the world on account of their religion; and though the rack may not be employed, and the fires of martyrdom are not enkindled, yet it is often true that one who is a believer is called to “suffer as a Christian.” He may be reviled and despised. His views may be regarded as bigoted, narrow, severe. Opprobrious epithets, on account of his opinions, may be applied to him. His former friends and companions may leave him because he has become a Christian. A wicked father, or a frivilous and worldly mother, may oppose a child, or a husband may revile a wife, on account of their religion. In all these cases, the same spirit essentially is required which was enjoined on the early Christian martyrs. We are never to be ashamed of our religion, whatever results may follow from our attachment to it. Compare the notes at Romans 1:16.

But let him glorify God on this behalf - Let him praise God that he is deemed not unworthy to suffer in such a cause. It is a matter of thankfulness:

(1)That they may have this evidence that they are true Christians;

(2)That they may desire the advantages which may result from suffering as Christ did, and in his cause. See the notes at Acts 5:41, where the sentiment here expressed is fully illustrated. Compare the Philippians 3:10 note; Colossians 1:24 note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 16. Yet if - as a Christian — If he be persecuted because he has embraced the Christian faith, let him not be ashamed, but let him rather glorify God on this very account. Christ suffered by the Jews because he was holy; Christians suffer because they resemble him.

The word χριστιανος, Christian, is used only here and in Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28. See the note on the former passage.