1 Peter 3:17

Contextual Overview

¹⁶ But answer them in a gentle way with respect. Keep your conscience clear. Then people will see the good way you live as followers of Christ, and those who say bad things about you will be ashamed of what they said. ¹⁶ and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁶ havinge a good consciece that when they backbyte you as evyll doars they maye be ashamed for as moche as they have falsely accused youre good conversacion in Christ. ¹⁶ having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Messiah. ¹⁶ and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁶ but answer in a gentle way and with respect. Keep a clear conscience so that those who speak evil of your good life in Christ will be made ashamed. ¹⁶ yet with meekness and fear, having a good conscience; that, wherein you are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. ¹⁶ Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil-doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good deportment in Christ. ¹⁶ having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. ¹⁶ Having a good conscience, that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if: 1 Peter 4:19, Matthew 26:39, Matthew 26:42, Acts 21:14

suffer: 1 Peter 3:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 39:21 - the Lord Genesis 40:15 - done 1 Samuel 21:5 - the vessels 1 Samuel 22:15 - Did I then 1 Samuel 25:21 - he hath requited Job 36:21 - this Psalms 38:20 - because Psalms 119:22 - for I have Mark 15:31 - He John 13:15 - given Romans 3:8 - we be Galatians 6:9 - well 1 Thessalonians 4:12 - ye may walk 1 Peter 4:16 - as

Cross-References

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said to the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat:

Genesis 3:2
The woman answered the snake, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden.

Genesis 3:2
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit from the trees of the orchard;

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Genesis 3:2
The woman said to the serpent, "Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat,

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden,

Genesis 3:2
To whom the womman answerde, We eten of the fruyt of trees that ben in paradis;

Genesis 3:2
And the woman saith unto the serpent, `Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we do eat,

Genesis 3:2
The woman answered the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For it is better, if the will of God be so,.... For all things are ordered by the will of God, even all the sufferings and afflictions of the saints; and which is a reason why they ought to be patiently submitted to, and bore: and "better" it is, more honourable and profitable,

that ye suffer for well doing; for believing in Christ, professing him and his Gospel, giving a free and open reason for so doing, and for exercising a good conscience, and living godly in Christ Jesus:

than for evil doing; as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a busy body in other men's matters, 1 Peter 4:15.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For it is better, if the will of God be so - That is, if God sees it to be necessary for your good that you should suffer, it is better that you should suffer for doing well than for crime. God often sees it to be necessary that his people should suffer. There are effects to be accomplished by affliction which can be secured in no other way; and some of the happiest results on the soul of a Christian, some of the brightest traits of character, are the effect of trials. But it should be our care that our sufferings should not be brought upon us for our own crimes or follies. No man can promote his own highest good by doing wrong, and then enduring the penalty which his sin incurs; and no one should do wrong with any expectation that it may be overruled for his own good. If we are to suffer, let it be by the direct hand of God, and not by any fault of our own. If we suffer then, we shall have the testimony of our own conscience in our favor, and the feeling that we may go to God for support. If we suffer for our faults, in addition to the outward pain of body, we shall endure the severest pangs which man can suffer - those which the guilty mind inflicts on itself.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. For it is better — See on 1 Peter 2:19; 1 Peter 2:20.