Verse 15. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.

You sanctify God when you fear him more than men. You show by your obedience to him that you love him, and rely upon and trust him, and thus you sanctify him in your hearts. You sanctify him when you honor and reverence him. The Vulgate has "Lord Christ" in this verse instead of "Lord God" and the Syriac has "Lord the Messiah." I can not see that this effects the sense in any way.

In answer to any man that asketh.

The apostle enjoins it as a duty incumbent upon every Christian to give an answer to every man who asks for the reason we have of the hope of eternal life, and says we must give this with meekness and fear.

A wide field is here opened. My purpose in writing permits me not to enter. On trial before my tribunal we can answer confessing Christ.

In persecution for righteousness' sake, the confession must not be withheld. To this I incline to think the apostle referred when we consider the circumstances and surroundings of those by the letter addressed. He simply meant to tell them there should be no hesitancy in acknowledging Christ under whatever trying circumstances they might be placed.

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Old Testament