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 the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be in dread, 15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in 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

• and keepἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• conscienceσυνείδησιςsuneidēsis · conscienceG4893
• soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• in the thing in whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• you are slanderedκαταλαλέωkatalaleō · to slanderG2635
• thoseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• who disparageἐπηρεάζωepēreazō · to mistreatG1908
• behaviorἀναστροφήanastrophē · behaviourG391
• in ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:16

• 1 Peter 3:21Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
• 1 Peter 2:19For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly.
• Acts 24:16In view of this I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always.
• Romans 9:1I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God.
• 1 Timothy 1:5But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.
• 2 Timothy 1:3I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as 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 your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
• Hebrews 13:18Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.
• 1 Peter 2:12Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation.
• Matthew 5:11“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
• 1 Peter 3:1In the same way, you wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the behavior of their wives,

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
• Adorning
• Chaste
• Contrariwise
• Ornament
• Pitiful
• Quiet
• Railing
• Reason
• Spirit

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