1 Peter 3:17

1 Peter 3:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
• New International Version (NIV)For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Context of 1 Peter 3:17

15But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence ⌞in God⌟ when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect. 16Keep your conscience clear. Then those who treat the good Christian life you live with contempt will feel ashamed that they have ridiculed you. After all, if it is God’s will, it’s better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. 18This is true because Christ suffered for our sins once. He was an innocent person, but he suffered for guilty people so that he could bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was brought to life through his spirit. 19In it he also went to proclaim his victory to the spirits kept in prison.

1 Peter 3:17 word by word

κρεῖττον γὰρ ἀγαθοποιοῦντας, εἰ θέλοι τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ, πάσχειν ἢ κακοποιοῦντας·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• betterκρείττωνkreittōn · strongerG2909
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• the willὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the willθέλημαthelēma · will/desireG2307
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• be soθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• that ye sufferπάσχωpaschō pathō penthō · to sufferG3958
• for well doingἀγαθοποιέωagathopoieō · to do goodG15
• thanἤē · orG2228
• for evil doingκακοποιέωkakopoieō · to do evil/harmG2554

Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:17

• 1 Peter 4:19Those who suffer because that is God’s will for them must entrust themselves to a faithful creator and continue to do what is good.
• Matthew 26:39After walking a little farther, he quickly bowed with his face to the ground and prayed, “Father, if it’s possible, let this cup ⌞of suffering⌟ be taken away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.”
• Acts 21:14When Paul could not be persuaded, we dropped the issue and said, “May the Lord’s will be done.”
• 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.

Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17For it is better - See on 1 Peter 2:19, 1 Peter 2:20; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For it is better, if the will of God be so - That is, if God sees it to be necessary for your good that you should suffer, it is better that you should suffer for doing well than for crime. God often sees it to be necessary that his people should suffer. There are effects to be accomplished by affliction which can be secured in no other way; and some of the happiest results on the soul of a Christian, some of the brightest traits of character, are the…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. 1717. better--One may object, I would not bear it so ill if I had deserved it. Peter replies, it is better that you did not deserve it, in order that doing well and yet being spoken against, you may prove yourself a true Christian [Gerhard]. if the will of God be so--rather as the optative is in the oldest manuscripts, "if the will of God should will it so." Those who honor God's will as their highest law (1Pe 2:15) have the comfort to know that suffering…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Peter 3:17

• Commandments
• Example
• Persecution

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• will of God
• Adorning
• Chaste
• Contrariwise
• Ornament
• Pitiful
• Quiet
• Railing

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