4:11a
If anyone speaks: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as If, in this context, is better understood as “when.” Many English versions do not translate the conjunction. Some other ways to translate this word are:
When someone speaks…
-or-
anyone who speaks… (New Century Version)
speaks: The word speaks in this context refers to preaching or teaching about God. This is another way to translate this verb:
preach (Good News Translation)
he should speak as one conveying the words of God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the very words of God is literally “the oracles/utterances of God.” The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the words he speak as one conveying. Peter was saying that anyone who spoke about God should realize his responsibility and speak God’s word truthfully. Other ways to translate this include:
Those who preach must preach God’s messages (Good News Translation)
-or-
Anyone who speaks should speak words from God (New Century Version)
-or-
Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God (New Revised Standard Version)
the words of God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the words of God in this context means “messages from God.” Here is another way to translate this phrase:
God’s message (Contemporary English Version)
4:11b
If anyone serves: Again, Peter was not questioning whether this would happen. He meant “whenever anyone serves,” so it may be more natural to say:
When someone serves…
serves: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as serves refers to any kind of service to other people. Some examples of this are caring for the sick, helping the orphans and widows, and welcoming strangers. See how you translated this word in 4:10a.
he should serve with the strength God provides: A person who wants to help others should serve with the strength God gives. This implies that he should work hard and enthusiastically. In some languages it may be necessary to translate the abstract noun strength as a verb phrase or an adjective:
he should serve as God makes him strong/able
-or-
he should work ⌊hard⌋ as God strengthens him
General Comment on 4:11a–b
Peter was using the third person to speak about the people he was writing to. In some languages it may be clearer to change the 3rd person “he” to the 2nd person plural “you” as in 4:2:
If you speak, you should give God’s message. If you serve, you should do it with the strength God provides.
-or-
Are you a speaker? Speak as one who utters God’s oracles. Do you give service? Give it in the strength which God supplies. (Revised English Bible)
4:11c
so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ: This is a purpose clause. Believers should speak God’s message and serve in God’s strength in order that God might receive praise.
God may be glorified: In this context, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as glorified means “honored.” People would thank and honor God for what his people had been doing to help others. This is a passive. If it is more natural to use an active verb you may say:
God may receive praise/glory/ honor
-or-
⌊People⌋ may praise/glorify God
4:11d
to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever: There are two ways of translating this doxology:
(1) It is a statement. For example:
To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. (Revised Standard Version)
(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, New Century Version, Revised Standard Version)
(2) It is a wish. For example:
…to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. (King James Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
to whom: There are two ways of understanding the pronoun whom :
(1) It refers to God. For example:
[so that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ,] since to him alone belong all glory and power… (New Jerusalem Bible)
(New Jerusalem Bible; implied by Revised English Bible, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, Revised Standard Version, New International Version)
(2) It refers to Christ. For example:
Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ…! (God’s Word)
(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), since in the previous verse part Peter had been talking about glorifying God.
Amen: The word Amen means “let it be so.” Many languages transliterate this word. Some other ways to translate this word in English are:
Truly!
-or-
Indeed!
-or-
So it shall be.
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