1 Pietro 4:8

8 Soprattutto, abbiate amore intenso gli uni per gli altri, perché l’amore copre moltitudine di peccati.

1 Pietro 4:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Peter 4:8

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves,
&c.] Not but that charity, or love, is to be exercised towards all men, even towards enemies, but more especially towards the saints, and that under such a consideration in which it cannot be exercised towards others; namely, as their brethren in Christ, and as belonging to him, as the children of God, as redeemed by Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit; and these not only such as are of the same nation, and belong to the same particular church and community, or of the same denomination, but all the saints everywhere, whether Jews or Gentiles, or of whatsoever name, and in whatsoever state and condition: and this love ought to be mutual and reciprocal, and to be warm and fervent, and not lukewarm and indifferent, as it too often is; and should be constant, "continued", and "perpetual", as the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions here read: and this the apostle exhorts to above all things else; since outward sobriety, and watchings, and prayer, and all other duties, are nothing without this; this is the sum and substance of the law, and the fulfilling of it; and without this a mere knowledge of the Gospel, and a profession of it, are in vain, and therefore in the first place to be attended to. And especially for the following reason,

for charity shall cover the multitude of sins;
referring to ( Proverbs 10:12 ) not a man's own sins, but the sins of others; and not from the sight of God, for from that only the blood and righteousness of Christ cover sins, even all the sins, the whole multitude of the sins of God's elect; but from the sight of men, both of those against whom they are committed, and others; since charity, or true love, thinks no ill, but puts the best constructions upon the words and actions of fellow Christians, and does not take them up, and improve and exaggerate them, but lets them lie buried in oblivion: it takes no notice of injuries, offences, and affronts, but overlooks them, bears with them, and forgives them, so that they are never raked up, and seen any more; which prevents much scandal, strife, and trouble. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read, "covereth", as in ( Proverbs 10:12 ) .

1 Pietro 4:8 In-Context

6 Poiché per questo è stato annunziato l’Evangelo anche ai morti; onde fossero bensì giudicati secondo gli uomini quanto alla carne, ma vivessero secondo Dio quanto allo spirito.

7 Or la fine di ogni cosa è vicina; siate dunque temperati e vigilanti alle orazioni.

8 Soprattutto, abbiate amore intenso gli uni per gli altri, perché l’amore copre moltitudine di peccati.

9 Siate ospitali gli uni verso gli altri senza mormorare.

10 Come buoni amministratori della svariata grazia di Dio, ciascuno, secondo il dono che ha ricevuto, lo faccia valere al servizio degli altri.