1 Peter 4:17

For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Peter writes to scattered believers in Asia Minor who are suffering for their faith, sandwiching this verse between a command to glorify God (v.16) and a Proverbs citation (v.18).

The words — kairos (καιρός) denotes not generic time but a decisive, appointed moment; krima (κρίμα) is the verdict itself, not merely a trial.

The thread — Jeremiah 25:29 mirrors the logic: judgment begins with the one who bears God's name, so how could others escape? Romans 2:9–10 and 2 Thessalonians 1:8 repeat the same "first the covenant people, then the rest" structure.

Why it lands — The verse asks the reader to stop reading persecution as evidence of God's absence and start reading it as evidence that judgment is already at work.

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

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?

Cross-references

Jeremiah 25:29 For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’
2 Thessalonians 1:8 in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Romans 2:9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;
Ezekiel 9:6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.
1 Peter 2:8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
Luke 12:47 That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
Malachi 3:5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Luke 23:31 For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Matthew 3:9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.