1 Peter 3:16

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 you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, 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. Yet 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. 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

1 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• a goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• conscienceσυνείδησιςsuneidēsis · conscienceG4893
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• whereasἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• they speak evilκαταλαλέωkatalaleō · to slanderG2635
• of youσύsu · youG4771
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• of evildoersκακοποιόςkakopoios · wrongdoingG2555
• they may be ashamedκαταισχύνωkataischunō · to dishonorG2617
• that falsely accuseἐπηρεάζωepēreazō · to mistreatG1908
• conversationἀναστροφήanastrophē · behaviourG391
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:16

• 1 Peter 3:21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
• 1 Peter 2:19For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly.
• Acts 24:16I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men.
• Romans 9:1I speak the truth in Christ — I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit —
• 2 Corinthians 1:12Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth.
• 1 Timothy 1:5Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
• 2 Timothy 1:3I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.
• Hebrews 9:14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?
• Hebrews 13:18Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything.
• 1 Peter 2:12Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
• Matthew 5:11“You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.
• 1 Peter 3:1In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live

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

• Commandments
• Conscience
• Falsehood
• Influence
• Integrity
• Persecution
• Slander
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Adorning
• Chaste
• Contrariwise
• Ornament
• Pitiful
• Quiet
• Railing
• Reason

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