New Living Translation
1 Peter 3:15
15Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
1 Peter 3:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
- New International Version (NIV)But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
- English Standard Version (ESV)but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
- New King James Version (NKJV)But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Context of 1 Peter 3:15
13Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
Read all of 1 Peter 31 Peter 3:15 word by word
κύριον δὲ τὸν Χριστὸν ἁγιάσατε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν.¶ Ἕτοιμοι ἀεὶ πρὸς ἀπολογίαν παντὶ τῷ αἰτοῦντι ὑμᾶς λόγον περὶ τῆς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐλπίδος,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- sanctifyἁγιάζωhagiazō · to sanctifyG37
- the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- heartsκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
- readyἕτοιμοςhetoimos · readyG2092
- alwaysἀείaei · alwaysG104
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- an answerἀπολογίαapologia · defenceG627
- to every manπᾶςpas · allG3956
- that askethαἰτέωaiteō · to askG154
- a reasonλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
- the hopeἐλπίςelpis · hopeG1680
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- meeknessπραΰτηςprautēs · gentlenessG4240
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- fearφόβοςphobos · fearG5401
Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:15
- Numbers 20:12But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”
- Numbers 27:14for you both rebelled against my instructions in the wilderness of Zin. When the people of Israel rebelled, you failed to demonstrate my holiness to them at the waters.” (These are the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
- Isaiah 5:16But the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted by his justice. The holiness of God will be displayed by his righteousness.
- Isaiah 29:23For when they see their many children and all the blessings I have given them, they will recognize the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob. They will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
- Psalms 119:46I will speak to kings about your laws, and I will not be ashamed.
- Jeremiah 26:12Then Jeremiah spoke to the officials and the people in his own defense. “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this Temple and this city,” he said. “The Lord gave me every word that I have spoken.
- Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.
- Amos 7:14But Amos replied, “I’m not a professional prophet, and I was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of sycamore-fig trees.
- Matthew 10:18You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.
- Luke 21:14So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you,
- Acts 4:8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people,
- Acts 5:29But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
- Acts 21:39“No,” Paul replied, “I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these people.”
- Acts 22:1“Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.”
- Colossians 4:6Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
- 2 Timothy 2:25Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts - To sanctify God may signify to offer him the praises due to his grace, but as to sanctify literally signifies to make holy, it is impossible that God should be thus sanctified. We have often already seen that ̔ signifies to separate from earth, that is, from any common use or purpose, that the thing or person thus separated may be devoted to a sacred use. Perhaps we should understand Peter's words thus: Entertain…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts - In Isaiah Isaiah 8:13 this is, “sanctify the Lord of hosts himself;” that is, in that connection, regard him as your Protector, and be afraid of him, and not of what man can do. The sense in the passage before us is, “In your hearts, or in the affections of the soul, regard the Lord God as holy, and act toward him with that confidence which a proper respect for one so great and so holy demands. In the midst of…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. 14-15"Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken“: See Isaiah 8:13, where God urges the prophet to fear only the Lord. sanctify Christ as Lord: By showing deep respect and obedience to Christ, they will no longer fear the people who persecute them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. sanctify--hallow; honor as holy, enshrining Him in your hearts. So in the Lord's Prayer, Mt 6:9. God's holiness is thus glorified in our hearts as the dwelling-place of His Spirit. the Lord God--The oldest manuscripts read "Christ." Translate, "Sanctify Christ as Lord." and--Greek, "but," or "moreover." Besides this inward sanctification of God in the heart, be also ready always to give, &c. answer--an apologetic answer defending your faith. to every…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 3:15
In the dictionaries
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries