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 what is right, you are blessed. Do not be afraid or worry about their threats. 15Instead sanctify Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, yet with humility and reverence—keeping a clear conscience so that, whatever you are accused of, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Messiah may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good (if it is God’s will) than for doing evil. 18For Messiah once suffered for sins also—the righteous for the unrighteous—in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Ruach.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• a goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• conscienceσυνείδησιςsuneidēsis · conscienceG4893
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• whereasἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• they speak evilκαταλαλέωkatalaleō · to slanderG2635
• of youσύsu · youG4771
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• of evildoersκακοποιόςkakopoios · wrongdoingG2555
• they may be ashamedκαταισχύνωkataischunō · to dishonorG2617
• that falsely accuseἐπηρεάζωepēreazō · to mistreatG1908
• conversationἀναστροφήanastrophē · behaviourG391
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:16

• 1 Peter 3:21Corresponding to that, immersion now brings you to safety—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but a pledge to God of a good conscience—through the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua.
• 1 Peter 2:19For this finds favor if, for the sake of conscience toward God, someone endures grief from suffering undeservedly.
• Acts 24:16“Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience before both God and men.
• Romans 9:1I tell the truth in Messiah—I do not lie, my conscience assuring me in the Ruach ha-Kodesh—
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For our reason for boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world, and most especially toward you, with simplicity and godly sincerity—not by human wisdom but by the grace of God.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we renounced the hidden shameful ways—not walking in deception or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by the open proclamation of the truth.
• 1 Timothy 1:5Now the goal of this command is love from of a pure heart and a clear conscience and a genuine faith.
• 2 Timothy 1:3I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my forefathers did, when I continually remember you in my prayers night and day.
• Hebrews 9:14how much more will the blood of Messiah—who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God—cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
• Hebrews 13:18Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.
• 1 Peter 2:12Keep your conduct honorable among the Gentiles. Then while they speak against you as evildoers, they may—from noticing your good deeds—glorify God in the day of visitation.
• Matthew 5:11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.
• 1 Peter 3:1Likewise, wives, be submitted to your own husbands so that—even if some do not obey the message—by the wives’ conduct, without a word they may be won over

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