1 Peter 2:19

Mace New Testament

but even to the morose. for it is a recommendation to the divine favour, to suffer unjust persecution

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

Simplified Cowboy Version
God smiles when you ride for him and go through unjust treatment.

Bible in Basic English
For it is a sign of grace if a man, desiring to do right in the eyes of God, undergoes pain as punishment for something which he has not done.

Darby Translation
For this [is] acceptable, if one, for conscience sake towards God, endure griefs, suffering unjustly.

World English Bible
For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For this is thank worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

Weymouth's New Testament
For it is an acceptable thing with God, if, from a sense of duty to Him, a man patiently submits to wrong, when treated unjustly.

King James Version (1611)
For this is thanke-worthie, if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe, suffering wrongfully.

Literal Translation
For this is a grace, if because of conscience toward God anyone bears grief, suffering unjustly.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For that is grace, yf a man for conscience towarde God endure grefe, and suffre wronge.

Amplified Bible
For this finds favor, if a person endures the sorrow of suffering unjustly because of an awareness of [the will of] God.

American Standard Version
For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.

Revised Standard Version
For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For it is thankeworthye yf a man for conscience towarde god endure grefe sufferinge wrongfully.

Update Bible Version
For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endures griefs, suffering wrongfully.

Webster's Bible Translation
For this [is] thank-worthy, if a man for conscience towards God endureth grief, suffering wrongfully.

Young's Literal Translation
for this [is] gracious, if because of conscience toward God any one doth endure sorrows, suffering unrighteously;

New Century Version
A person might have to suffer even when it is unfair, but if he thinks of God and can stand the pain, God is pleased.

New English Translation
For this finds God's favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly.

Berean Standard Bible
For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.

Contemporary English Version
God will bless you, even if others treat you unfairly for being loyal to him.

Complete Jewish Bible
For it is a grace when someone, because he is mindful of God, bears up under the pain of undeserved punishment.

English Standard Version
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For this is thanke worthie, if a man for conscience toward God endure griefe, suffering wrongfully.

George Lamsa Translation
For such men have favor before God; because of a good conscience they endure sorrows which come upon them unjustly.

Christian Standard Bible®
For it brings favor if, mindful of God's will, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly.

Hebrew Names Version
For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

International Standard Version
For it is a fine thing if, when moved by your conscience to please God, you suffer patiently when wronged.Matthew 5:10; Romans 13:5; 1 Peter 3:14;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For these are pleasing before Aloha, who, for the sake of a good conscience, endure the afflictions that come upon them unjustly.

Murdock Translation
For there is favor before God for them who, for the sake of a good conscience, endure sorrows that come upon them wrongfully.

New King James Version
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

New Living Translation
For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.

New Life Bible
This shows you have received loving-favor when you are even punished for doing what is right because of your trust in God.

English Revised Version
For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.

New Revised Standard
For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, this, is thankworthy, - If, for the sake of conscience towards God, one beareth griefs, suffering wrongfully, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
For this is thankworthy: if, for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.

King James Version
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

Lexham English Bible
For this finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For it is thanke worthy, yf a man for coscience toward god, endure griefe, and suffer wrong vndeserued.

Easy-to-Read Version
One of you might have to suffer even when you have done nothing wrong. If you think of God and bear the pain, this pleases God.

New American Standard Bible
For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly.

Good News Translation
God will bless you for this, if you endure the pain of undeserved suffering because you are conscious of his will.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For this is grace, if for conscience of God ony man suffrith heuynessis, and suffrith vniustli.

Contextual Overview

¹³ and glorify God in the times of distress. be subject therefore, for the Lord's sake to every human establishment: whether it be to the king, ¹⁴ as supreme; or to governors, as being deputed by him to punish those who do ill, ¹⁵ and to encourage those who do well. for such is the divine pleasure, that by your good conduct you obviate the cavils of inconsiderate ¹⁶ men. You are free, don't let your liberty serve as a pretext for vice: but act as the servants ¹⁷ of God. Be respectful to all, love your brethren, fear God, and honour the king. ¹⁸ You that are servants, be subject to your masters with all reverence: not only to such as are kind and gentle, ¹⁹ but even to the morose. for it is a recommendation to the divine favour, to suffer unjust persecution ²⁰ from a principle of conscience. what glory is there in suffering corporal punishment for real offences? but if you meet with ill usage for doing your duty, and bear it with constancy, ²¹ this will conciliate the divine favour. and this is the condition of your vocation, since Christ himself has suffer'd for us, ²² leaving an example for your exact imitation, he who never offended, and from whose lips no fallacy was ever utter'd,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

this: 1 Peter 2:20, Luke 6:32

thankworthy: or, thank, Acts 11:23, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 2 Corinthians 8:1,*Gr.

for conscience: 1 Peter 3:14-17, Matthew 5:10-12, John 15:21, Romans 13:5, 2 Timothy 1:12

suffering: Job 21:27, Psalms 35:19, Psalms 38:19, Psalms 69:4, Psalms 119:86

Reciprocal: Genesis 39:20 - into the prison Exodus 9:16 - deed Luke 6:22 - when men Acts 24:5 - and a mover Acts 24:16 - General Romans 12:12 - patient 1 Corinthians 6:7 - Why Colossians 3:22 - obey 1 Peter 3:16 - a good 1 Peter 4:14 - ye be

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For this is thankworthy,.... Or "grace"; this is a fruit and effect of grace, an instance of it, in which it shows itself: the Syriac version adds, "with God"; and so it is read in one of Beza's copies, and in the Alexandrian copy, and some others; that is, this is grateful to God, and acceptable with him; as in 1 Peter 2:20,

if a man for conscience towards God; or, "for a good conscience", as the Syriac version reads it; for acting according to his conscience, in matters of religion, in the things of God; "for the knowledge of God", as the Arabic version renders it; for the knowledge of God in Christ; for the Gospel of Christ, and a profession of it: or, "for God", as the Ethiopic version; for the cause of God and truth, and for the sake of things appertaining to God, and that make for his glory:

endure grief; what occasions grief, as severe words, bitter reproaches, hard censures, and heavy blows; and that with patience, and without murmuring, and with resignation to the will of God:

suffering wrongfully; there being no just cause for an ill look, word, or blow, to be given.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For this is thank-worthy - Margin, “thank.” Greek, “This is grace,” (χάρις charis). Doddridge renders the expression, “This is graceful indeed.” Various interpretations of this expression have been proposed; but the meaning evidently is, that it is acceptable to God, (see 1 Peter 2:20, “this is acceptable to God” - χάρις παρὰ Θεῷ charis para Theō;) that is, this will be regarded by him with favor. It does not mean that it was worthy of thanks, or that God would thank them for doing it, (compare Luke 17:9-10;) but that such conduct would meet with his approbation.

If a man for conscience toward God - If, in the conscientious discharge of his duty, or if, in the endurance of this wrong, he regards himself as serving God. That is, if he feels that God, by his providence, has placed him in the circumstances in which he is, and that it is a duty which he owes to him to bear every trial incident to that condition with a submissive spirit. If he does this, he will evince the true nature of religion, and will be graciously accepted of God.

Endure grief - That is, endure that which is suited to produce grief, or that which is wrong.

Suffering wrongfully - Suffering injury, or where there is “injustice,” (πάσχων ἀδίκως paschōn adikō̄s.) This, though a general remark, has particular reference to servants, and to their duty in the relation which they sustain to their masters. In view of what is here said, we may remark:

(1) That if this has reference to slaves, as has been usually supposed, it proves that they are very liable to be abused; that they have little or no security against being wronged; and that it was a special and very desirable characteristic of those who were in that condition, to be able to bear wrong with a proper spirit. It is impossible so to modify slavery that this shall not be the case; for the whole system is one of oppression, and there can be nothing that shall effectually secure the slave from being ill-treated.

(2) It would follow from this passage, if this refers to slavery, that that is a very hard and undesirable condition of life; for that is a very undesirable condition where the principal virtue. which they who are in it are required to exercise, is “patience under wrongs.” Such a condition cannot be in accordance with the gospel, and cannot be designed by God to be permanent. The relation of parent and child is never thus represented. It is never said or implied in the Scriptures that the principal virtue to which children are exhorted is patience under wrongs; nor, in addressing them, is it ever supposed that the most prominent thing in their condition is, that they would need the exercise of such patience.

(3) It is acceptable to God, if we bear wrong with a proper spirit, from whatever quarter it may come. Our proper business in life is, to do the will of God; to evince the right spirit, however others may treat us; and to show, even under excessive wrong, the sustaining power and the excellence of true religion. Each one who is oppressed and wronged, therefore, has an eminent opportunity to show a spirit which will honor the gospel; and the slave and the martyr may do more to honor the gospel than if they were both permitted to enjoy liberty and life undisturbed.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. For this is thankworthy — If, in a conscientious discharge of your duty, you suffer evil, this is in the sight of God thankworthy, pleasing, and proper; it shows that you prefer his authority to your own ease, peace, and emolument; it shows also, as Dr. Macknight has well observed, that they considered their obligation to relative duties not to depend on the character of the person to whom they were to be performed, nor on their performing the duties they owed to their servants, but on the unalterable relations of things established by God.