Christian Standard Bible
1 Peter 3:15
15but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
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
13Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
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 did not trust me to demonstrate my holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.”
- Numbers 27:14When the community quarreled in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against my command to demonstrate my holiness in their sight at the waters.” Those were the Waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.
- Isaiah 5:16But the Lord of Armies is exalted by his justice, and the holy God demonstrates his holiness through his righteousness.
- Isaiah 29:23For when he sees his children, the work of my hands within his nation, they will honor my name, they will honor the Holy One of Jacob and stand in awe of the God of Israel.
- Psalms 119:46I will speak of your decrees before kings and not be ashamed.
- Jeremiah 26:12Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The Lord sent me to prophesy all the words that you have heard against this temple and city.
- Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question.
- Amos 7:14So Amos answered Amaziah, “I was not a prophet or the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman, and I took care of sycamore figs.
- Matthew 10:18You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.
- Luke 21:14Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time,
- Acts 4:8Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders:
- Acts 5:29Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.
- Acts 21:39Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Now I ask you, let me speak to the people.”
- Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
- 2 Timothy 2:25instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
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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