1 Peter 4:15

15 By all means do not let anyone of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

1 Peter 4:15 Meaning and Commentary

1 Peter 4:15

But let none of you suffer as a murderer
The punishment for murder was death by the law of God, ( Genesis 9:6 )

or as a thief;
whose fine or mulct, according to the Jewish law, was a fivefold or fourfold restitution, according to the nature of the thing that was stolen, ( Exodus 22:1 )

or as an evildoer;
a breaker of any of the laws of God or men, which are of a moral nature, and for the good of civil society:

or as a busybody
in other men's matters; "or as a bishop in another man's diocese"; that concerns himself in things he has nothing to do with, and neglects his own affairs, and lives in idleness, and upon the spoil of others; or takes upon him to manage, direct, order, and command other men's servants, or persons that do not belong to him, to do his business, or whatsoever he pleases. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "a desirer of other's goods"; and the Ethiopic version, "a covetous desirer of other's things"; and so is led on by an insatiable thirst for them, to obtain them in an evil way, either by secret fraud, or open violence and oppression. To suffer in any such cases is scandalous and dishonourable, and unbecoming the character of a Christian. This last clause is left out in the Syriac version.

1 Peter 4:15 In-Context

13 But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice [and] be glad.

14 If you are reviled on account of the name of Christ, [you are] blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

15 By all means do not let anyone of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.

16 But if [someone suffers] as a Christian, he must not be ashamed, but must glorify God with this name.

17 For [it is] the time for the judgment to begin out from the household of God. But if [it begins] out from us first, what will be the outcome for those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?