1Pe 4:7-11 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Pet 4:7-11: 4:7-11 With this paragraph of miscellaneous exhortations, Peter concludes the third major section of the letter (3:13–4:11 ). 4:7 The end of the world is coming soon: At Christ’s coming, the “last days” predicted by the Old Testament prophets had begun (see 1:10-12 ). The next event in salvation history is the second coming of Christ, which will bring the end of the world as we know it. The end could come at any time; therefore, Christians must always be ready for it (see also Phil 4:5 ; Jas 5:8 ; Rev 1:3 ; 22:10 ).

Summary for 1Pet 4:7-11: 4:7-11 ^a With this paragraph of miscellaneous exhortations, Peter concludes the third major section of the letter (3:13–4:11 ^b). 4:7 ^c The end of the world is coming soon: At Christ’s coming, the “last days” predicted by the Old Testament prophets had begun (see 1:10-12 ^d). The next event in salvation history is the second coming of Christ, which will bring the end of the world as we know it. The end could come at any time; therefore, Christians must always be ready for it (see also Phil 4:5 ^e; Jas 5:8 ^f; Rev 1:3 ^g; 22:10 ^h).
4:8 ⁱ By its nature, love overlooks sins committed against us by others (see Prov 10:12 ^j; Matt 18:21-22 ^k; 1 Cor 13:4-7 ^l). Peter might also mean that our attitude of love, because it displays our relationship with Christ, covers our own sins and causes them to be forgiven (see Luke 7:47 ^m).
4:10 ⁿ his great variety of spiritual gifts: See Rom 12:6-8 ^o; 1 Cor 12:1-31 ^p; Eph 4:7-16 ^q.

• Use (literally manage) them well: Believers are like managers: They have been entrusted by God, their Master, with gifts to be used to glorify him.
4:11 ^r All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen: This doxology has led some to suggest that one original letter of Peter ended here and that another one was added to it. Doxologies in the New Testament do appear at the end of letters (Rom 16:25-27 ^s; Phil 4:20 ^t; Heb 13:21 ^u; 2 Pet 3:18 ^v; Jude 1:24-25 ^w), but also at the end of sections within letters (Rom 11:36 ^x; Gal 1:5 ^y; Eph 3:21 ^z; 1 Tim 1:17 ^aa). Since there is no textual evidence for the existence of two separate letters, it is better to assume that this doxology marks the end of a major section of the letter.