God’s Word Translation
1 Peter 2:20
20What credit do you deserve if you endure a beating for doing something wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing something good, God is pleased with you.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of 1 Peter 2:20
18Slaves, place yourselves under the authority of your owners and show them complete respect. Obey not only those owners who are good and kind, but also those who are unfair. 19God is pleased if a person is aware of him while enduring the pains of unjust suffering. What credit do you deserve if you endure a beating for doing something wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing something good, God is pleased with you. 21God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example so that you could follow in his footsteps. 22Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully.
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 suffer for doing what God approves, you are blessed. Don’t be afraid of those who want to harm you. Don’t get upset.
- 1 Peter 4:14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory—the Spirit of God—is resting on you.
- Matthew 5:47Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that!
- Matthew 26:67Then they spit in his face, hit him with their fists, and some of them slapped him.
- Mark 14:65Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him with their fists. They said to him, “Prophesy!” Even the guards took him and slapped him.
- 1 Corinthians 4:11To this moment, we are hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, roughly treated, and homeless.
- 1 Peter 2:19God is pleased if a person is aware of him while enduring the pains of unjust suffering.
- Matthew 5:10Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
- Romans 12:1Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you.
- Ephesians 5:10Determine which things please the Lord.
- Philippians 4:18You have paid me in full, and I have more than enough. Now that Epaphroditus has brought me your gifts, you have filled my needs. Your gifts are a soothing aroma, a sacrifice that God accepts and with which he is pleased.
- Luke 6:32“If you love those who love you, do you deserve any thanks for that? 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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