1PE 3:14-22

Suffering for Righteousness

14But even if you suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats, and do not be troubled,

15but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to give a reasoned defense to everyone who asks you for an account of the hope that is in you,

16yet doing so with gentleness and respect — having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.

17For it is better, if God's will should be so, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

18For Christ also suffered once for sins — the righteous for the unrighteous — so that he might bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

19in which he also went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,

20who formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few — that is, eight persons — were brought safely through the water.

21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you — not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to him.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Roman Empire, suffering for righteousness would resonate deeply with marginalized groups, particularly Christians facing social ostracism or legal persecution. The mention of (fear) reflects the pervasive anxiety of living under Roman authority, where threats of violence or retribution were common. The call to sanctify Christ in their hearts would evoke Jewish and early Christian practices of setting apart something or someone as holy, a concept familiar from Temple worship. The instruction to be ready with (a reasoned defense) mirrors Greco-Roman rhetorical traditions, where public figures were expected to defend their actions or beliefs in formal settings. Gentleness and (reverence) align with Stoic ideals of self-control and respect for divine order, while the emphasis on a good conscience reflects Jewish ethical teachings. The reference to Christ’s suffering and vindication would resonate with Jewish apocalyptic expectations of divine justice, offering hope to those enduring unjust treatment.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

1PE 3:14

KJV: But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
BSB: But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
Koinōnos: But even if you suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats, and do not be troubled,

1PE 3:15

KJV: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
BSB: But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,
Koinōnos: but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to give a reasoned defense to everyone who asks you for an account of the hope that is in you,

1PE 3:16

KJV: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
BSB: keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
Koinōnos: yet doing so with gentleness and respect — having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.

1PE 3:17

KJV: For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
BSB: For it is better, if it is Godʼs will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Koinōnos: For it is better, if God's will should be so, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1PE 3:18

KJV: For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
BSB: For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
Koinōnos: For Christ also suffered once for sins — the righteous for the unrighteous — so that he might bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

1PE 3:19

KJV: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
BSB: in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison
Koinōnos: in which he also went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,

1PE 3:20

KJV: Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
BSB: who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.
Koinōnos: who formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few — that is, eight persons — were brought safely through the water.

1PE 3:21

KJV: The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
BSB: And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Koinōnos: Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you — not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1PE 3:22

KJV: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
BSB: who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
Koinōnos: who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to him.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

Josephus, WarsWars 2.9.3
Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.8.5
Josephus, WarsWars 2.10.3

›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.9.3

“The Jews were under the utmost consternation at that unexpected sight. Pilate also said to them that they should be cut in pieces, unless they would admit of Caesar's images”

Cited to ground: The mention of (fear) reflects the pervasive anxiety of living under Roman authority, where threats of violence or retribution were common.

›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.8.5

“his wrath would, without delay, be executed on such as had the courage to disobey what he had commanded, and this immediately”

Cited to ground: The mention of (fear) reflects the pervasive anxiety of living under Roman authority, where threats of violence or retribution were common.

›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.10.3

“showed them the power of the Romans, and the threatenings of Caesar; and, besides this, proved that their petition was unreasonable”

Cited to ground: The mention of (fear) reflects the pervasive anxiety of living under Roman authority, where threats of violence or retribution were common.

Translator's notes

1PE 3:14

the threats:The word translated 'the threats' here often referred to a sense of panic or flight, suggesting a deep-seated fear that could cause one to flee from danger.

1PE 3:15

do sanctify:The term 'do sanctify' carries the sense of setting something apart as holy or consecrating it, implying a dedication to God's service and purpose.
for:The word translated 'for' in this context refers to a formal defense or explanation, often in a legal or public setting, where one presents reasons for their actions or beliefs.

1PE 3:16

respect:The word translated 'respect' here can also mean fear or awe, suggesting a profound reverence or a healthy fear of God that influences one's conduct.