13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Verse thirteen — The word “followers” is the translation of a Greek word meaning “zealots.” The verb means “to burn with zeal, to desire earnestly.” — Wuest, page 87.
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Verse fourteen — The words “[But even if you should suffer]” are in a construction in Greek which refers to a rare thing, a possible but not a probable happening. … “If ye chance to suffer.” … The word [blessed] is the translation of a Greek word which means “prosperous.” That is, the spiritual state of those who suffer persecution because of their righteous lives is prosperous, spiritually prosperous. The words [do not be afraid of their threats] involve what is called a cognate accusative, where the idea in the object of the verb is the same as that in the verb. Literally it is: “Be not affected with fear by the fear which they strive to inspire in your heart.” The word “troubled” in the Greek means “to disturb, be agitated.” — Wuest, page 88.
be ready (v.15) — be prepared in advance
Verse fifteen — The word “sanctify” is the translation of a Greek word meaning “to set apart.” It was used in the pagan Greek religions of the act of setting apart a building as a temple, thus designating it … to be used for religious purposes. … Peter was exhorting these Jews to set apart their Messiah, the Lord Jesus, as Jehovah, Very God, in their hearts. … The words “give an answer” are the translation of a Greek word used as a legal term in the courts. it means literally “to talk off from,” and was used of an attorney who talked his client off from a charge preferred against him. He presented a verbal defense. … “Fear” is self-distrust; it is tenderness of conscience; it is vigilance against temptation; it is the fear which inspiration opposes to high-mindedness in the admonition “be not highminded but fear.” It is taking heed lest we fall; it is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart, and of the insidiousness and power of inward corruption. — Wuest, pages 89-90.
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Where Christ has the lordship of the heart, neither fear nor doubt can find a lodgment; and such a man can with modesty and caution explain to a questioner what is the nature of the hope that animates him to endure both suffering and death. “Fear” may here be understood to mean both reverence and caution—reverence because of the solemnity of the subject, and caution lest in the earnestness of discussion anything might be said which would give an opponent occasion to accuse the [believer] to the civil magistrate. A bad conscience may be brought to God for pardon and mercy, but only a good conscience can stand without fear before an enemy. — Williams, page 1001
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Verse sixteen — The defender of the faith must have … a conscience good or unimpaired. The words “falsely accuse” [defame] are very strong in the Greek, namely, “to spitefully abuse, to insult, to traduce.” — Wuest, page 90.
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