1 Peter 4:17 Meaning and Explanation
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Judgment begins with God's own household; if so, what awaits those who reject the gospel?
What Does 1 Peter 4:17 Mean?
Peter sets the believers' trials in a sobering frame. The present suffering is a kind of judgment that begins with the house of God, a refining that starts among God's own people.
If God's own household is tested through fire, Peter reasons, what then awaits those who reject the gospel altogether? The question hangs heavy and unanswered. The suffering of the faithful, hard as it is, is a purifying that leads to glory; the prospect for those who refuse God is far graver. Peter does not gloat but warns soberly, helping his readers see their fiery trial as the difficult privilege of belonging to God, not as a sign of his wrath.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Peter 4:17
What does 1 Peter 4:17 mean?
Judgment begins with God's own household; if so, what awaits those who reject the gospel?