American Standard Version
1 Peter 3:16
16having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.
1 Peter 3:16 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
- English Standard Version (ESV)having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
- New King James Version (NKJV)having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
Context of 1 Peter 3:16
14But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled; 15but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. 17For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. 18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
Read all of 1 Peter 31 Peter 3:16 word by word
ἀλλὰ μετὰ πραΰτητος καὶ φόβου, συνείδησιν ἔχοντες ἀγαθήν, ἵνα ἐν ᾧ καταλαλεῖσθε καταισχυνθῶσιν οἱ ἐπηρεάζοντες ὑμῶν τὴν ἀγαθὴν ἐν Χριστῷ ἀναστροφήν.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:16
- 1 Peter 3:21which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
- 1 Peter 2:19For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.
- Acts 24:16Herein I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.
- Romans 9:1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,
- 2 Corinthians 1:12For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
- 2 Corinthians 4:2but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- 1 Timothy 1:5But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:
- 2 Timothy 1:3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience, how unceasing is my remembrance of thee in my supplications, night and day
- Hebrews 9:14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
- Hebrews 13:18Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.
- 1 Peter 2:12having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
- Matthew 5:11Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
- 1 Peter 3:1In like manner, ye wives, bein subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives;
Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Having a good conscience - The testimony of God in your own soul, that in simplicity and godly sincerity you have your conversation in the world. See on the term conscience at the end of Hebrews. Whereas they speak evil of you - See the same sentiment in 1 Peter 2:11; and the note there.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Having a good conscience - That is, a conscience that does not accuse you of having done wrong. Whatever may be the accusations of your enemies, so live that you may be at all times conscious of uprightness. Whatever you suffer, see that you do not suffer the pangs inflicted by a guilty conscience, the anguish of remorse. On the meaning of the word “conscience,” see the notes at Romans 2:15. The word properly means the judgment of the mind respecting…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. 13-17This short paragraph emphasizes how Christians should respond to suffering by following Christ's example (see 3:18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Having a good conscience--the secret spring of readiness to give account of our hope. So hope and good conscience go together in Ac 24:15, 16. Profession without practice has no weight. But those who have a good conscience can afford to give an account of their hope "with meekness." whereas--(1Pe 2:12). they speak evil of you, as of evildoers--One oldest manuscript reads, "ye are spoken against," omitting the rest. falsely accuse--"calumniate"; the…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 3:16
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries