1 Peter 3:14

But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; BUT AND IF - `But if even.' The promises of this life extend only so far as is expedient for us: a qualification to the promise (1 Peter 3:10). 'If even ye should suffer:' a milder word than harm. FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS - `not the suffering, but the cause for which one suffers, makes the martyr' (Augustine). HAPPY. Not even can suffering take away your blessedness, but promotes it (cf. Mark 10:30). AND, [ de (G1161)] - 'but.' Do not impair your blessing ...

14. Hence Peter adds, _But if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake _The meaning is, that the faithful will do more towards obtaining a quiet life by kindness, than by violence and promptitude in taking revenge; but that when they neglect nothing to secure peace, were they to suffer, they are still blessed, because they suffer for the sake of righteousness. Indeed, this latter clause differs much from the judgment of our flesh; but Christ has not without reason thus declared; nor has Peter without reason repeated the sentence from his mouth; for God will at length come as a deliverer, and then openly will appear what now seems incredible, that is, that the miseries of the godly have been blessed when endured with patience. To _suffer for righteousness, _means not only to submit to some loss or disadvantage in defending a good cause, but also to suffer unjustly, when any one is innocently in...

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 extreme, comfortless, and destructive. Surely it is better to suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing, whatever our natural impatience at times may suggest. The example of Christ is an argument for patience under sufferings. In the case of our Lord's suffering, he that knew no sin, suffered instead of those who knew no righteousness. The blessed end and design of our Lord's sufferings were, to reconcile us to God, and to bring us to eternal g...

Verse 14. _BUT AND IF YE SUFFER_] God may permit you to be tried and persecuted for righteousness' sake, but this cannot _essentially harm you_; he will press even this into your service, and make it work for your good. _HAPPY_ ARE YE] This seems to refer to Matthew 5:10, c. _Blessed_ or _happy, are ye when men persecute you_, c. It is a happiness to suffer for Christ and it is a happiness, because if a man were not _holy_ and _righteous_ the world would not persecute him, so he is happy in the very _cause_ of his sufferings. _BE NOT AFRAID OF THEIR TERROR_] Τον δε φοβον αυτων μη φοβηθητε· _Fear not their fear_ see Isaiah 8:12. Sometimes _fear_ is put for the object of a man's religious worship

BUT AND IF YE SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS” SAKE - Implying that though, in general, a holy character would constitute safety, yet that there was a possibility that they might suffer persecution. Compare the Matthew 5:10 note; 2 Timothy 3:12 note. HAPPY ARE YE - Perhaps alluding to what the Saviour says in Matthew 5:10; “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness” sake.” On the meaning of the word happy or blessed, see the notes at Matthew 5:3. The meaning here is, not that they would find positive enjoyment in persecution on account of righteousness, but that

EXPOSITIONS 1 PETER 3:1 LIKEWISE, YE WIVES. St. Peter has spoken of the duties of servants: why does he omit those of masters? There must have been Christian masters in Asia Minor, as is plain from Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1. But we notice that St. Paul, though he has a few words for masters, addresses slaves at much greater length. Probably Christian masters were comparatively few, while large numbers of slaves had embraced the religion which could do so much to comfort and elevate the oppressed. Again, the immediate purpose of the apostle is to inculcate submission to authority; therefore, having enforced upon Christian servants the example of their Lord, he proce

BUT AND IF YE SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE,.... For the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, which was the great stumbling block to the Jews, and on account of which they persecuted the Christians; it being not after man, nor according to the carnal reason of men, and was contrary to the method they had fixed on, and what excluded boasting in them, and was thought to be a licentious doctrine; and for a righteous cause, for professing Christ and his Gospel; for vindicating both which, whoever did must expect to suffer persecution; and also for living soberly, righteously, and godly; for by a religious life and conversation the saints are separated from the world, and are distinguished from them, which in effect sets a mark of infamy and reproach upon them; and saints, by an agreeable life, reprove others, and condemn them; all which irritate and provoke them to hate...

1 Peter 3:1. _Likewise, ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear._ Could any men be won to Christ without the Word? Yes, it was even so in the apostle's day. When they refused to attend the little Christian meetings that were being held, and so could not hear what was there said, yet, at home, they saw the change that the gospel of Christ had wrought in their wives, and they said, «She is quite different from what she used to be. Certainly, she is a far better wife than any heathen woman is; there must be something in the religion which can make such a change as that.» In this way, without the Word, many of them were won to Christ by the godly conversation of their wives....

RIGHTEOUSNESS (_ See Scofield) - (1 John 3:7). _...

1 PETER 3:14 mhde. taracqh/te {A} A few witnesses (î72 B L) lack mhde. taracqh/te because the eye of the copyist passed from fobhQHTE to taracQHTE, omitting what lies between....