New English Translation
1 Peter 2:12
12and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.
1 Peter 2:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
- New International Version (NIV)Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
- New King James Version (NKJV)having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Context of 1 Peter 2:12
10You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears. 13Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme 14or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.
Read all of 1 Peter 21 Peter 2:12 word by word
τὴν ἀναστροφὴν ὑμῶν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἔχοντες καλήν, ἵνα ἐν ᾧ καταλαλοῦσιν ὑμῶν ὡς κακοποιῶν, ἐκ τῶν καλῶν ἔργων ἐποπτεύοντες δοξάσωσιν τὸν θεὸν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπισκοπῆς.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- conversationἀναστροφήanastrophē · behaviourG391
- honestκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
- amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- they speak againstκαταλαλέωkatalaleō · to slanderG2635
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- evildoersκακοποιόςkakopoios · wrongdoingG2555
- they mayδοξάζωdoxazō · to glorifyG1392
- byἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- worksἔργονergon · workG2041
- which they shall beholdἐποπτεύωepopteuō · to observeG2029
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- the dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- of visitationἐπισκοπήepiskopē · oversightG1984
Cross-references for 1 Peter 2:12
- 1 Peter 3:2when they see your pure and reverent conduct.
- Psalms 37:14Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly.
- Psalms 50:23Whoever presents a thank-offering honors me. To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:12For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
- Ephesians 2:3among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…
- Ephesians 4:22You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires,
- Philippians 1:27Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that – whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent – I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,
- 1 Timothy 4:12Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity.
- Hebrews 13:5Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.”
- James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
- 2 Peter 3:11Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness,
- Romans 12:17Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.
- Romans 13:13Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men.
- 2 Corinthians 13:7Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test.
- Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
Commentaries on 1 Peter 2:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Having your conversation honest - Living in such a manner among the Gentiles, in whose country ye sojourn, as becomes the Gospel which ye profess. That whereas they speak against you as evil doers - In all the heathen countries, in the first age of the Church, the Christians and the Jews were confounded together; and as the latter mere everywhere exceedingly troublesome and seditious, the Christians shared in their blame, and suffered no small measure of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Having your conversation honest - Your conduct. See the notes at Philemon 1:27. That is, lead upright and consistent lives. Compare the notes at Philemon 4:8. Among the Gentiles - The pagans by whom you are surrounded, and who will certainly observe your conduct. See the notes at 1 Thessalonians 4:12, “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without.” Compare Romans 13:13. That, whereas they speak against you as evil doers - Margin, “wherein.”…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-12Verses 11-12 Even the best of men, the chosen generation, the people of God, need to be exhorted to keep from the worst sins. And fleshly lusts are most destructive to man's soul. It is a sore judgment to be given up to them. There is a day of visitation coming, wherein God may call to repentance by his word and his grace; then many will glorify God, and the holy lives of his people will have promoted the happy change.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12on the day He visits us: The Greek phrase behind this wording can also be translated “on the day of visitation.” In the Greek Old Testament, day of visitation refers to a time when God comes to act in judgment against his enemies (Isaiah 10:3; Jeremiah 6:15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. conversation--"behavior"; "conduct." There are two things in which "strangers and pilgrims" ought to bear themselves well: (1) the conversation or conduct, as subjects (1Pe 2:13), servants (1Pe 2:18), wives (1Pe 3:1), husbands (1Pe 3:7), all persons under all circumstances (1Pe 2:8); (2) confession of the faith (1Pe 3:15, 16). Each of the two is derived from the will of God. Our conversation should correspond to our Saviour's condition; this is in…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 2:12
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
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