Bible Strands
1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Peter writes to scattered believers under pressure (v. 12's "fiery trial"), addressing both those who speak and those who serve within the community.
The words — λὸγια (logia) is "oracles," not merely "words"; it carries the weight of authoritative divine utterance, not casual speech.
The thread — The "to the glory of God" refrain echoes 1 Corinthians 10:31; the "strength God provides" language parallels Ephesians 6:10; the immediate frame is 1 Peter 4:10's call to stewardship of grace.
Why it lands — The verse removes the reader as the source: speaking and serving are both acts of transmission, not performance. It asks the reader to stop treating their voice or labor as their own achievement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- 1 Peter 4:10 As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
- Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Acts 7:38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.
- Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Romans 3:2 Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
- James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.