Amplified Bible
1 Peter 3:15
15But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15 in other versions
- King James Version (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:
- New International Version (NIV)But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
- English Standard Version (ESV)but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
- New King James Version (NKJV)But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Context of 1 Peter 3:15
13Now who is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness [though it is not certain that you will], you are still blessed [happy, to be admired and favored by God]. Do not be afraid of their intimidating threats, nor be troubled or disturbed [by their opposition]. But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect. 16And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words]. 17For it is better that you suffer [unjustly] for doing what is right, if that should be God’s will, than [to suffer justly] for doing wrong.
Read all of 1 Peter 31 Peter 3:15 word by word
κύριον δὲ τὸν Χριστὸν ἁγιάσατε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν.¶ Ἕτοιμοι ἀεὶ πρὸς ἀπολογίαν παντὶ τῷ αἰτοῦντι ὑμᾶς λόγον περὶ τῆς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐλπίδος,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- sanctifyἁγιάζωhagiazō · to sanctifyG37
- the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- heartsκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
- readyἕτοιμοςhetoimos · readyG2092
- alwaysἀείaei · alwaysG104
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- an answerἀπολογίαapologia · defenceG627
- to every manπᾶςpas · allG3956
- that askethαἰτέωaiteō · to askG154
- a reasonλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
- the hopeἐλπίςelpis · hopeG1680
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- meeknessπραΰτηςprautēs · gentlenessG4240
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- fearφόβοςphobos · fearG5401
Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:15
- Numbers 20:12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed (trusted) Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, you therefore shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
- Numbers 27:14because in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat me as holy [by following My instruction] before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah in Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.)
- Isaiah 5:16But the Lord of hosts will be exalted in justice, And God, the Holy One, will show Himself holy in righteousness [through His righteous judgments].
- Isaiah 29:23For when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, They will sanctify My Name; They will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob And will stand in awe and reverent fear of the God of Israel.
- Psalms 119:46I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed.
- Jeremiah 26:12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and to all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.
- Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you on this point.
- Amos 7:14Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet [by profession], nor am I a prophet’s son; I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs.
- Matthew 10:18and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
- Luke 21:14So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;
- Acts 4:8Then Peter, filled with [the power of] the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people [members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Court],
- Acts 5:29Then Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men [we have no other choice].
- Acts 21:39Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia (Mersin Province, Turkey), a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”
- Acts 22:1“Brethren and fathers (kinsmen), hear my defense which I now offer to you.”
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].
- 2 Timothy 2:25He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it],
Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts - To sanctify God may signify to offer him the praises due to his grace, but as to sanctify literally signifies to make holy, it is impossible that God should be thus sanctified. We have often already seen that ̔ signifies to separate from earth, that is, from any common use or purpose, that the thing or person thus separated may be devoted to a sacred use. Perhaps we should understand Peter's words thus: Entertain…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts - In Isaiah Isaiah 8:13 this is, “sanctify the Lord of hosts himself;” that is, in that connection, regard him as your Protector, and be afraid of him, and not of what man can do. The sense in the passage before us is, “In your hearts, or in the affections of the soul, regard the Lord God as holy, and act toward him with that confidence which a proper respect for one so great and so holy demands. In the midst of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-22Verses 14-22 We sanctify God before others, when our conduct invites and encourages them to glorify and honour him. What was the ground and reason of their hope? We should be able to defend our religion with meekness, in the fear of God. There is no room for any other fears where this great fear is; it disturbs not. The conscience is good, when it does its office well. That person is in a sad condition on whom sin and suffering meet: sin makes suffering…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-15"Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken“: See Isaiah 8:13, where God urges the prophet to fear only the Lord. sanctify Christ as Lord: By showing deep respect and obedience to Christ, they will no longer fear the people who persecute them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. sanctify--hallow; honor as holy, enshrining Him in your hearts. So in the Lord's Prayer, Mt 6:9. God's holiness is thus glorified in our hearts as the dwelling-place of His Spirit. the Lord God--The oldest manuscripts read "Christ." Translate, "Sanctify Christ as Lord." and--Greek, "but," or "moreover." Besides this inward sanctification of God in the heart, be also ready always to give, &c. answer--an apologetic answer defending your faith. to every…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 3:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Peter 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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