1 Peter 4:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →If the righteous are saved only with difficulty, what becomes of the ungodly and the sinner?
What Does 1 Peter 4:18 Mean?
Peter borrows a proverb to press the point further. If even the righteous are saved only with difficulty, passing through trial and testing, then the standing of the ungodly is grave indeed.
Scarcely saved does not mean uncertainly saved, but saved through hardship, the narrow and costly way. The salvation of the faithful is sure, yet it is not easy; it runs through fire. And if that is the path of the righteous, the question of where the ungodly will appear answers itself in silence. Peter sobers his readers and any who hear, urging them to value a salvation that comes at such cost and to fear the alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Peter 4:18
What does 1 Peter 4:18 mean?
If the righteous are saved only with difficulty, what becomes of the ungodly and the sinner?