Focused Passage

1 Peter 3:13-22

Holy Conduct, Gentle Witness, and Suffering for Righteousness

Peter moves from Christ-shaped household conduct, to unified church life, to blessing enemies, to suffering for righteousness, to gentle apologetic witness, and finally to Christ's suffering, resurrection, baptismal significance, and exalted reign.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

13 Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”

15 But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.

17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

19 in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison

20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

21 And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction Who τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular can harm κακώσων G2559 Verb - Future Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural if ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction you are γένησθε G1096 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 2nd Person Plural zealous ζηλωταὶ G2207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural for what [is] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular good ἀγαθοῦ G18 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 14

Original words

But Ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction even καὶ G2532 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction you should suffer πάσχοιτε G3958 Verb - Present Optative Active - 2nd Person Plural for διὰ G1223 Preposition what is right δικαιοσύνην G1343 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [you are] blessed μακάριοι G3107 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural - δὲ G1161 Conjunction vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb Do not fear φοβηθῆτε G5399 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Plural what αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - Τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular they fear φόβον G5401 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular vvv μηδὲ G3366 Conjunction do not be shaken ταραχθῆτε G5015 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Plural

BSB notes

  • Or “Do not fear their threats; do not be shaken.” Isaiah 8:12
Verse 15

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural hearts καρδίαις G2588 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural sanctify ἁγιάσατε G37 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστὸν G5547 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [as] Lord Κύριον G2962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Always ἀεὶ G104 Adverb be prepared ἕτοιμοι G2092 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural to πρὸς G4314 Preposition give a defense ἀπολογίαν G627 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular to everyone παντὶ G3956 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular who τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular asks αἰτοῦντι G154 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural the reason λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular for περὶ G4012 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular hope ἐλπίδος G1680 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular [that is] in ἐν G1722 Preposition you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural But [respond] ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction with μετὰ G3326 Preposition gentleness πραΰτητος G4240 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction respect φόβου G5401 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • BYZ and TR But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. This sentence may also be included with the quotation from the previous verse; see Isaiah 8:13.
Verse 16

Original words

keeping ἔχοντες G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural a clear ἀγαθήν G18 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular conscience συνείδησιν G4893 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction vvv ἐν G1722 Preposition vvv G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular those who slander you καταλαλεῖσθε G2635 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural . . . οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . ἐπηρεάζοντες G1908 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural may be put to shame καταισχυνθῶσιν G2617 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Plural by your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural good ἀγαθὴν G18 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular behavior ἀναστροφήν G391 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition Christ Χριστῷ G5547 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 17

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction [it is] better κρεῖττον G2909 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - Comparative if εἰ G1487 Conjunction [it is] θέλοι G2309 Verb - Present Optative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God’s Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular will θέλημα G2307 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular to suffer πάσχειν G3958 Verb - Present Infinitive Active [for] doing good ἀγαθοποιοῦντας G15 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural than G2228 Conjunction for doing evil κακοποιοῦντας G2554 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Verse 18

Original words

For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction Christ Χριστὸς G5547 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular also καὶ G2532 Conjunction suffered ἔπαθεν* G3958 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular for περὶ G4012 Preposition sins ἁμαρτιῶν G266 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural once for all ἅπαξ G530 Adverb [the] righteous δίκαιος G1342 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular for ὑπὲρ G5228 Preposition [the] unrighteous ἀδίκων G94 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction bring προσαγάγῃ G4317 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - μὲν G3303 Conjunction He was put to death θανατωθεὶς G2289 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular in [the] body σαρκὶ G4561 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction made alive ζωοποιηθεὶς G2227 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular in [the] Spirit πνεύματι G4151 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular

BSB notes

  • NE and WH died
Verse 19

Original words

in ἐν G1722 Preposition whom G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular vvv καὶ G2532 Conjunction He also went πορευθεὶς G4198 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] preached ἐκήρυξεν G2784 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural spirits πνεύμασιν G4151 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition prison φυλακῇ G5438 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or in the spirit, 19in which
Verse 20

Original words

who disobeyed ἀπειθήσασίν G544 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural long ago ποτε G4218 Particle when ὅτε G3753 Adverb God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular waited ἀπεξεδέχετο G553 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular patiently μακροθυμία G3115 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] days ἡμέραις G2250 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural of Noah Νῶε G3575 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [while the] ark κιβωτοῦ G2787 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular was being built κατασκευαζομένης G2680 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Feminine Singular In εἰς G1519 Preposition [the ark] ἣν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular a few [people] ὀλίγοι G3641 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural [only] τοῦτ’ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular . . . ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular eight ὀκτὼ G3638 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural souls ψυχαί G5590 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural were saved διεσώθησαν G1295 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural through δι’ G1223 Preposition water ὕδατος G5204 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 21

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction [this water] G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular symbolizes ἀντίτυπον G499 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular [the] baptism βάπτισμα G908 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular [that] now νῦν G3568 Adverb saves σῴζει G4982 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular you {also} ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural not οὐ G3756 Adverb the removal ἀπόθεσις G595 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of dirt ῥύπου G4509 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular from the body σαρκὸς G4561 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction [the] pledge of ἐπερώτημα G1906 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular a clear ἀγαθῆς G18 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular conscience συνειδήσεως G4893 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular toward εἰς G1519 Preposition God Θεόν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular through δι’ G1223 Preposition [the] resurrection ἀναστάσεως G386 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Christ Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or appeal for
Verse 22

Original words

who ὅς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular has gone πορευθεὶς G4198 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition heaven οὐρανόν G3772 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [and] is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular at ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] right hand δεξιᾷ G1188 Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [with] angels ἀγγέλων G32 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction authorities ἐξουσιῶν G1849 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction powers δυνάμεων G1411 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural subject ὑποταγέντων G5293 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural to Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.