1 Peter 4 · Verse 19

1 Peter 4:19

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 4:19, King James Version

1 Peter 4:19 in other translations

BSB	So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
WEB	Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.
ASV	Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.
YLT	so that also those suffering according to the will of god, as to a stedfast Creator, let them commit their own souls in good doing.
DARBY	Wherefore also let them who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator.
BBE	For this reason let those who by the purpose of God undergo punishment, keep on in well-doing and put their souls into the safe hands of their Maker.
Webster	Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as to a faithful Creator.

What does 1 Peter 4:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

19. General conclusion from 1Pe 4:17, 18. Seeing that the godly know that their sufferings are by God's will, to chasten them that they may not perish with the world, they have good reason to trust God cheerfully amidst sufferings, persevering in well-doing. let them--Greek, "let them also," "let even them," as well as those not suffering. Not only under ordinary circumstances, but also in time of suffering, let believers commit. (Compare Note, see on 1Pe 3:14). according to the will of God--(See on 1Pe 3:17). God's will that the believer should suffer (1Pe 4:17), is for his good. One oldest manuscript and Vulgate read, "in well-doings"; contrast ill-doings, 1Pe 4:15. Our committing of ourselves to God is to be, not in indolent and passive quietism, but accompanied with active well-doings. faithful--to His covenant promises. Creator--who is therefore also our Almighty Preserver. He, not we, must keep our souls. Sin destroyed the original spiritual relation between creature and Creator, leaving that only of government. Faith restores it; so that the believer, living to the will of God (1Pe 4:2), rests implicitly on his Creator's faithfulness.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 19. Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God. That is, who endure the kind of sufferings that he, by his Providence, shall appoint. Comp. 1Pet 3:17, 4:15,16.

Commit the keeping of their souls to him. Since there is so much danger; since there is no one else that can keep them; and since he is a Being so faithful, let them commit all their interests to him. Comp. Ps 37:5. The word souls here (ψυχας) is equivalent to themselves. They were to leave everything in his hand, faithfully performing every duty, and not being anxious for the result.

In well doing. Constantly doing good, or seeking to perform every duty in a proper manner. Their business was always to do right; the result was to be left with God. A man who is engaged always in well-doing, may safely commit all his interest to God.

As unto a faithful Creator. God may be trusted, or confided in, in all his attributes, and in all the relations which he sustains as Creator, Redeemer, Moral Governor, and Judge. In these, and in all other respects, we may come before him with confidence, and put unwavering trust in him. As Creator particularly; as one who has brought us, and all creatures and things into being, we may be sure that he will be "faithful" to the design which he had in view. From that design he will never depart until it is fully accomplished. He abandons no purpose which he has formed, and we may be assured that he will faithfully pursue it to the end. As our Creator we may come to him, and look to him for his protection and care. He made us. He had a design in our creation. He so endowed us that we might live for ever, and so that we might honour and enjoy him. He did not create us that we might be miserable; nor does he wish that we should be. He formed us in such a way that, if we choose, we may be eternally happy. In that path in which he has appointed us to go, if we pursue it, we may be sure of his aid and protection. If we really aim to accomplish the purposes for which we were made, we may be certain that he will show himself to be a "faithful Creator;" one in whom we may always confide. And even though we have wandered from him, and have long forgotten why we were made, and have loved and served the creature more than the Creator, we may be sure, if we will return to him, that he will not forget the design for which he originally made us. As our Creator we may still confide in him. Redeemed by the blood of his Son, and renewed by his Spirit after the image of Him who created us, we may still go to him as our Creator, and may pray that even yet the high and noble ends for which we were made may be accomplished in us. Doing this, we shah find him as true to that purpose as though we had never sinned.

(a) "commit" Ps 37:5

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 19 Suffer according to the will of God - A man suffers according to the will of God who suffers for righteousness' sake; and who, being reviled, reviles not again. Commit the keeping of their souls - Place their lives confidently in his hand, who, being their Creator, will also be their preserver, and keep that safely which is committed to his trust. God is here represented as faithful, because he will always fulfill his promises, and withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly. But they had no reason to hope that he would care for their lives and souls unless they continued in well-doing. He who is employed in God's work will have God's protection. The path of duty ever was, and ever will be, the only way of safety. 1. The apostle recommends fervent charity - unfeigned love both to God and man. It is well said of this grace that it is a universal virtue which ought to precede, accompany, and follow, all others. A charity which has God for its principle, and Jesus Christ for its pattern, never faileth. If our charity be extensive enough to cover all the defects of our neighbor in bearing with them; that of God is sufficient to cover all the sins of a sincere penitent by blotting them out. If we ought to be charitable to all, it is after the example of our heavenly Father, who is loving to every man, and hateth nothing that he has made. 2 The difficulty of escaping the corruption that is in the world is great; and, consequently, the danger of losing our souls. In this great work, watchfulness, prayer; faith, and obedience, are indispensably necessary. He who does not walk with God here cannot see nor enjoy him hereafter.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Peter 4:12-19

By patience and fortitude in suffering, by dependence on the promises of God, and keeping to the word the Holy Spirit hath revealed, the Holy Spirit is glorified; but by the contempt and reproaches cast upon believers, he is evil spoken of, and is blasphemed. One would think such cautions as these were needless to Christians. But their enemies falsely charged them with foul crimes. And even the best of men need to…

Read the full comment on 1 Peter 4:12-19 →

1 Peter 4:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὥστεhōsteThereforeG5620

καὶkaialsoG2532

οἱhoithoseG3588

πάσχοντεςpaschontessufferingG3958

κατὰkataaccording toG2596

τὸtotheG3588

θέλημαthelēmawillG2307

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

ὡς,hōsasG5613

πιστῷpistōto [the] faithfulG4103

κτίστῃktistēCreatorG2939

παρατιθέσθωσανparatithesthōsanthey should commitG3908

τὰςtastheG3588

ψυχὰςpsuchassoulsG5590

αὐτῶνautōnof themG846

ἐνeninG1722

ἀγαθοποιΐᾳ.¶agathopoiiawell doing.G16

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Peter 4:19

Psalms 37:5
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
2 Timothy 1:12
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
1 Peter 3:17
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Psalms 138:8
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Psalms 146:5-6
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
1 Peter 4:12-16
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. …
Psalms 31:5
Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
Romans 2:7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
1 Peter 2:15
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
Acts 21:11-14
And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Revelation 5:9-14
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. …
Daniel 6:22
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

let.
12-16; 3:17; Ac 21:11-14
commit.
Ps 31:5; 37:5; Lu 23:46; Ac 7:59; 2Ti 1:12
in.
2:15; Es 4:16; Jer 26:11-15; Da 3:16-18; 6:10,11,22; Ro 2:7
a faithful.
Ps 138:8; 146:5,6; Isa 40:27,28; 43:7,21; 51:12,13; 54:16,17
Col 1:16-20; Heb 1:2,3; Re 4:10,11; 5:9-14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Peter 4:18
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1 Peter 4:19
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Read all of 1 Peter 4

1 Peter 4:19 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y por eso los que son afligidos según la voluntad de Dios, encomiéndenle sus almas, como á fiel Criador, haciendo bien.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Que ceux donc aussi qui souffrent selon la volonté de Dieu, remettent leurs âmes en faisant le bien, à un fidèle créateur.
German Elberfelder 1871	Daher sollen auch die, welche nach dem Willen Gottes leiden, einem treuen Schöpfer ihre Seelen befehlen im Gutestun.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Itaque et hi, qui patiuntur secundum voluntatem Dei, fideli Creatori commendent animas suas in benefactis.