1 Petrus 3:13-16

3:13 For ¹  who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer ²  for doing what is right, ³  you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them ⁴  or be shaken. ⁵  3:15 But set Christ ⁶  apart ⁷  as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. ⁸  3:16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, ⁹  keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. ¹⁰ 

[3:13]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “For” to indicate that what follows gives an explanation.

[3:14]  ² sn The Greek construction here implies that such suffering was not the norm, even though it could happen, and in fact may well have happened to some of the readers (cf. 4:4, 12-19).

[3:14]  ³ tn Grk “because of righteousness.”

[3:14]  ⁴ tn Grk “do not fear their fear,” referring to those who cause their suffering. The phrase “their fear” may mean “what they fear” (subjective genitive), but in a situation of persecution it more likely means “fear of them” (objective genitive).

[3:14]  ⁵ sn A quotation from Isa 8:12.

[3:15]  ⁶ tc Most later mss (P Ï) have θεόν (qeon, “God”) instead of Χριστόν (Criston; “Christ”) here. But Χριστόν is widely supported by excellent and early witnesses (Ì⁷² א A B C Ψ 33 1739 al latt sy co), and as a less common idiom better explains the rise of the other reading.

[3:15]  ⁷ tn Or “sanctify Christ as Lord.”

[3:15]  ⁸ tn Grk “the hope in you.”

[3:16]  ⁹ tn Grk “but with courtesy and respect,” continuing the command of v. 15. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[3:16]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “when you are spoken against.”