New International Version
1 Peter 2:20
20But 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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
18Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 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. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was 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 what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
- 1 Peter 4:14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
- Matthew 5:47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
- Matthew 26:67Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
- Mark 14:65Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.
- 1 Corinthians 4:11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
- 1 Peter 2:19For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
- Matthew 5:10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Romans 12:1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
- Ephesians 5:10and find out what pleases the Lord.
- Philippians 4:18I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
- Luke 6:32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? 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
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