1 Peter 4:19

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Peter addresses believers undergoing persecution, immediately after 4:18 asks what becomes of the ungodly if the righteous struggle to be saved. This is the practical answer: what to do in the midst of suffering.

The words — paschontes (πασχοντες), a present participle marking suffering as an ongoing state rather than a one-time event; thelēma (θέλημα), "will," the specific intent of God.

The thread — The same logic runs through 1 Peter 3:17 (suffering for doing good is better) and 2 Timothy 1:12 (suffering without shame because of whom one has believed), with Psalm 37:5 supplying the trust-and-commit posture.

Why it lands — It asks two things: hand your life over to the one who made you, and keep doing good. No conditions, no guarantees of relief—just the direction of your trust and the direction of your hands.

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

ὥστεhōsteTherefore καὶkaialso οἱhoithose πάσχοντεςpaschontessuffering κατὰkataaccording to τὸtothe θέλημαthelēmawill τοῦtou<the>θεοῦtheouof God ὡς,hōsas πιστῷpistōto [the] faithful κτίστῃktistēCreator παρατιθέσθωσανparatithesthōsanthey should commit τὰςtasthe ψυχὰςpsuchassouls αὐτῶνautōnof them ἐνenin ἀγαθοποιΐᾳ.¶agathopoiiawell doing.

King James Version

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Cross-references

Psalms 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.
2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Psalms 138:8 The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Psalms 146:5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Psalms 31:5 Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Romans 2:7 To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
1 Peter 2:15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Acts 21:11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”