English Standard Version
1 Peter 2:20
20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
1 Peter 2:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
- New International Version (NIV)But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
Context of 1 Peter 2:20
18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
Read all of 1 Peter 21 Peter 2:20 word by word
ποῖον γὰρ κλέος εἰ ἁμαρτάνοντες καὶ κολαφιζόμενοι ὑπομενεῖτε; ἀλλ᾽ εἰ ἀγαθοποιοῦντες καὶ πάσχοντες ὑπομενεῖτε, τοῦτο χάρις παρὰ θεῷ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- whatποῖοςpoios · what?G4169
- gloryκλέοςkleos · creditG2811
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- whenκαίkai · andG2532
- ye be buffetedκολαφίζωkolaphizō · to beatG2852
- for your faultsἁμαρτάνωhamartanō · to sinG264
- ye shall take it patientlyὑπομένωhupomenō · to remain/endureG5278
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- when ye do wellἀγαθοποιέωagathopoieō · to do goodG15
- sufferπάσχωpaschō pathō penthō · to sufferG3958
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- acceptableχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- withπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
Cross-references for 1 Peter 2:20
- 1 Peter 3:14But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
- 1 Peter 4:14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
- Matthew 5:47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
- Matthew 26:67Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him,
- Mark 14:65And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, "Prophesy!" And the guards received him with blows.
- 1 Corinthians 4:11To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,
- 1 Peter 2:19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
- Matthew 5:10"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Romans 12:1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
- Ephesians 5:10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
- Philippians 4:18I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
- Luke 6:32"If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
Commentaries on 1 Peter 2:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20For what glory is it - It appears from this that the poor Christians, and especially those who had been converted to Christianity while in a state of slavery, were often grievously abused, they were buffeted because they were Christians, and because they would not join with their masters in idolatrous worship.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For what glory is it - What honor or credit would it be. If, when ye be buffeted for your faults - That is, if you are punished when you deserve it. The word “buffet” ( ́ kolaphizō) - means, to strike with the fist; and then to strike in any way; to maltreat, Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65; 1 Corinthians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 12:7. Perhaps there may be a reference here to the manner in which servants were commonly treated, or the kind of pun ishment to which…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 Servants in those days generally were slaves, and had heathen masters, who often used them cruelly; yet the apostle directs them to be subject to the masters placed over them by Providence, with a fear to dishonour or offend God. And not only to those pleased with reasonable service, but to the severe, and those angry without cause. The sinful misconduct of one relation, does not justify sinful behaviour in the other; the servant is bound to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-20A slave was legally bound to a master and could not change his or her situation. In contrast, a modern employee has the right to stop working for an employer who is cruel. Some employees, however, may not be able to leave their jobs. In those cases, Peter’s advice to slaves can also apply to employees today.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. what--Greek, "what kind of." glory--what peculiar merit. buffeted--the punishment of slaves, and suddenly inflicted [Bengel]. this is--Some oldest manuscripts read, "for." Then the translation is, "But if when ... ye take it patiently (it is a glory), for this is acceptable." acceptable--Greek, "thankworthy," as in 1Pe 2:19.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 2:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Peter 2
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries