4:19a

So then: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So then introduces a conclusion to what Peter had just been saying. In view of 4:12–18, this is what suffering believers should do. Here is another way to translation this transition:

Therefore (Revised Standard Version)

those who suffer according to God’s will: There are two ways of understanding the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as those who suffer according to God’s will :

(1) It refers to people who suffer because it is God’s will; that is, because God permits it. For example:

because that is God’s will for them (Good News Translation)

(God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation)

(2) It refers to people who suffer in the way God wants; that is, for obeying God. For example:

If you suffer for obeying God… (Contemporary English Version)

(New Century Version, Contemporary English Version)

Many other English versions are ambiguous (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, NET Bible). It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation follows Peter’s general theme in this letter of God requiring believers to suffer.

4:19b

should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator: In some languages it may be natural to translate this as two separate clauses:

should commit themselves to their Creator, for he is faithful
-or-
entrust their souls to him…their Maker will not fail them (Revised English Bible)

should entrust their souls: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as entrust their souls uses the Greek word for “soul” to refer to a person’s whole being or whole life, including both their body and their spirit.

their…Creator: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as their…Creator is literally “a Creator.” In this context Peter was thinking particularly of the fact that God had created the people who were suffering. So the Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word their, and this may be natural in other languages also. Some other ways to translate this are:

their Maker (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the God who created you (New Living Translation (2004))

faithful: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as faithful means “reliable, trustworthy.” God keeps his word, and he will not forsake anyone who believes in him. The Good News Translation has:

who always keeps his promise

4:19c

and continue to do good: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and continue to do good is literally “in good action.” The verb related to this is also used in 2:15, 2:20 and 3:6. For reasons of English style, many English versions translate it here as a command (New International Version, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, Revised Standard Version, God’s Word). Other ways to translate it include:

as they do good (NET Bible)
-or-
as they continue to do what is right (New Century Version)

General Comment on 4:18–19

Peter used the third person to speak about those who were suffering (“those who suffer”). But he was referring to those of his readers who were suffering. So in some languages it may be natural to use the second person “you (plur.) ”:

So those among you who are suffering in accordance with God’s will should entrust yourselves to your faithful Creator and continue to do good.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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