1 Peter 2:20

Mace New Testament

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,

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Unjust treatment doesn't include getting whipped for something you did wrong. But if you suffer for doing what is right, God will smile down upon you.

Bible in Basic English
What credit is it if, when you have done evil, you take your punishment quietly? but if you are given punishment for doing right, and take it quietly, this is pleasing to God.

Darby Translation
For what glory [is it], if sinning and being buffeted ye shall bear [it]? but if, doing good and suffering, ye shall bear [it], this is acceptable with God.

World English Bible
For what glory is it, if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For what glory is it, if when ye commit faults and are buffeted, ye take it patiently? But if when ye do well and suffer, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Weymouth's New Testament
If you do wrong and receive a blow for it, what credit is there in your bearing it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you bear it patiently, this is an acceptable thing with God.

King James Version (1611)
For what glory is it, if when yee be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently: but if when yee doe well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Literal Translation
For what glory is it if you patiently endure while sinning and being buffeted? But if you are suffering while doing good, and patiently endure, this is a grace from God.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For what prayse is it, yf wha ye be buffeted for yor fautes, ye take it paciently? But yf whan ye do well, ye suffre wronge, and take it paciently, that is grace with God.

Amplified Bible
After all, what kind of credit is there if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you endure it patiently? But if when you do what is right and patiently bear [undeserved] suffering, this finds favor with God.

American Standard Version
For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Revised Standard Version
For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God's approval.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For what prayse is it if when ye be buffeted for youre fautes ye take it paciently? But and yf when ye do well ye suffer wronge and take it paciently then is there thanke with God.

Update Bible Version
For what glory is it, if, when you sin, and are buffeted [for it], you shall take it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer [for it], you shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Webster's Bible Translation
For what glory [is it], if, when ye are buffeted for your faults, ye bear it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye bear it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God.

Young's Literal Translation
for what renown [is it], if sinning and being buffeted, ye do endure [it]? but if, doing good and suffering [for it], ye do endure, this [is] gracious with God,

New Century Version
If you are beaten for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for being patient in your punishment. But if you suffer for doing good, and you are patient, then God is pleased.

New English Translation
For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.

Berean Standard Bible
How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

Contemporary English Version
You don't gain anything by being punished for some wrong you have done. But God will bless you, if you have to suffer for doing something good.

Complete Jewish Bible
For what credit is there in bearing up under a beating you deserve for doing something wrong? But if you bear up under punishment, even though you have done what is right, God looks on it with favor.

English Standard Version
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For what praise is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faultes, yee take it paciently? but and if when ye doe well, ye suffer wrong and take it paciently, this is acceptable to God.

George Lamsa Translation
What praise have they who endure suffering because of their faults? But when you do good, and are made to suffer, and you take it patiently, then your glory is greater with God.

Christian Standard Bible®
For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

Hebrew Names Version
For what glory is it, if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

International Standard Version
What credit is it if you sin and patiently receive a beating for it? But if you suffer for doing good and take it patiently, you have God's approval.1 Peter 3:14; 4:14-15;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For they who on account of their offences suffer tribulations, what praise have they ? But when you do well and they afflict you, and you endure, then doth your praise become great with Aloha.

Murdock Translation
But they who endure afflictions on account of their offences, what praise have they? But if, when ye do well, they vex you, and ye endure it; then great is your praise with God.

New King James Version
For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

New Living Translation
Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

New Life Bible
What good is it if, when you are beaten for doing something wrong, you do not try to get out of it? But if you are beaten when you have done what is right, and do not try to get out of it, God is pleased.

English Revised Version
For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted [for it], ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

New Revised Standard
If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For what sort of honour is it - if, committing sin, and being buffeted, ye endure it? But, if, doing good, and suffering, ye endure it, this, is thankworthy with God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For what glory is it, if, committing sin and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently: this is thankworthy before God.

King James Version
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Lexham English Bible
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this finds favor with God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For what prayse is it, yf when ye be buffeted for your faultes, ye take it paciently? But yf when ye do well ye suffer wrong, & take it paciently, then is there thanke with God.

Easy-to-Read Version
But if you are punished for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for bearing that punishment. But if you suffer for doing good and you are patient, this pleases God.

New American Standard Bible
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Good News Translation
For what credit is there if you endure the beatings you deserve for having done wrong? But if you endure suffering even when you have done right, God will bless you for it.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For what grace is it, if ye synnen, and ben buffatid, and suffren? But if ye don wel, and suffren pacientli, this is grace anentis God.

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

For: 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 4:14-16, Matthew 5:47

buffeted: Matthew 26:67, Mark 14:65, 1 Corinthians 4:11

when: 1 Peter 2:19

this: Matthew 5:10-12, Romans 12:1, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 5:10, Philippians 4:18

acceptable: or, thank, 1 Peter 2:19, Luke 6:32

Reciprocal: Genesis 39:14 - he came Deuteronomy 25:2 - General 1 Samuel 25:21 - he hath requited Psalms 89:51 - footsteps Psalms 119:22 - for I have Psalms 119:78 - without Ecclesiastes 7:8 - the patient Matthew 5:39 - whosoever Matthew 5:46 - if Luke 6:22 - when men Luke 23:34 - Father John 18:23 - If Romans 12:12 - patient Romans 14:18 - is 1 Timothy 2:3 - this 2 Timothy 1:9 - called 2 Timothy 3:12 - shall Hebrews 12:28 - we may 1 Peter 3:9 - rendering 1 Peter 4:15 - suffer 3 John 1:6 - do well

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,.... Which ye have committed, and are guilty of, and are truly such:

ye shall take it patiently? to be silent, and not murmur when beaten, within measure, for real faults, is no great honour, nor does it deserve any praise; it is the least that can be done:

but if, when ye do well; either in their master's service, or rather in the business of religion, and the things of God; as when what they do is according to the will of God, and from love to him, and in faith, and in the name and strength of Christ, and to the glory of God; without all which there is no well doing:

and suffer for it; reproach and persecution, by words or blows, in person or property:

ye take it patiently; without grieving and repining, or answering again, and making any returns:

this is acceptable with God; is agreeably to his will, and grateful in his sight, what he is well pleased with, is reckoned grace with him; and though it is his own grace, and of his own bestowing, he will reward it with glory.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For what glory is it - What honor or credit would it be.

If, when ye be buffeted for your faults - That is, if you are punished when you deserve it. The word “buffet” (κολαφίζω kolaphizō) - means, to strike with the fist; and then to strike in any way; to maltreat, Matthew 26:67; Mar 14:65; 1 Corinthians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 12:7. Perhaps there may be a reference here to the manner in which servants were commonly treated, or the kind of pun ishment to which they were exposed. They would be likely to be struck in sudden anger, either by the hand, or by anything that was accessible. The word rendered “for your faults,” is sinning, (ἁμαρτάνοντες hamartanontes.) That is, “if being guilty of an offence, or having done wrong.” The idea is, that if they were justly punished, and should take it patiently, there would be no credit or honor in it.

Ye shall take it patiently - “If, even then, you evince an uncomplaining spirit, and bear it with the utmost calmness and patience, it would be regarded as comparatively no virtue, and as entitling you to no honor. The feeling of all who saw it would be that you deserved it, and there would be nothing to excite their sympathy or compassion. The patience evinced might indeed be as great as in the other case, but there would be the feeling that you deserved all that you received, and the spirit evinced in that case could not be regarded as entitled to any particular praise. If your masters are inflicting on you only what you deserve, it would be in the highest degree shameful for you to rise up against them, and resist them, for it would be only adding to the wrong which you had already done.” The expression here is, doubtless, to be understood comparatively. The meaning is not that absolutely there would be no more credit due to one who should bear his punishment patiently when he had done wrong, than if he had met it with resistance and complaining; but that there is very little credit in that compared with the patience which an innocent person evinces, who, from regard to the will of God, and by control over all the natural feelings of resentment, meekly endures wrong.

This expresses the common feeling of our nature. We attribute no particular credit to one who submits to a just punishment even with a calm temper. We feel that it would be wrong in the highest degree for him to do otherwise. So it is when calamities are brought on a man on account of his sins. If it is seen to be the fruit of intemperance or crime, we do not feel that there is any great virtue exhibited if he bears it with a calm temper. But if he is overwhelmed with calamity when it seems to have no particular connection with his sins, or to be a punishment for any particular fault; if he suffers at the hand of man, where there is manifest injustice done him, and yet evinces a calm, submissive, and meek temper, we feel that in such cases there is eminent virtue.

This is acceptable with God - Margin, as in 1 Peter 2:19, “thank.” It is that which is agreeable to him, or with which he is pleased.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. For what glory is it — It appears from this that the poor Christians, and especially those who had been converted to Christianity while in a state of slavery, were often grievously abused, they were buffeted because they were Christians, and because they would not join with their masters in idolatrous worship.