1 Peter 3:16

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Peter 3:16

having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.Having a good conscience ... This key admonition recurs again and again in this epistle: "zealous for good works ... for righteousness' sake ... sanctify the Lord ... with meekness and fear, etc.," all of these in this very paragraph.Wherein ye are spoken against ... They were spoken against because of the manner of their lives; but they are told to make their... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Peter 3:16

1 Peter 3:16. A good conscience;— This may be called the breast-plate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14. —Hic murus aheneus esto, Nil conseire sibi.——— Be this thy brazen bulwark of defence, Still to preserve thy conscious innocence. FRANCIS'S HORACE. See Proverbs 28:1. He that would apologize for the Christian religion, ought first to lead a holy life, or be a good Christian himself: this will enable him to defend Christianity with courage, and to speak with invincible force: but a wicked man... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 3:16

16. Having a good conscience—the secret spring of readiness to give account of our hope. So hope and good conscience go together in Acts 24:15; Acts 24:16. Profession without practice has no weight. But those who have a good conscience can afford to give an account of their hope "with meekness." whereas— (Acts 24:16- :). they speak evil of you, as of evildoers—One oldest manuscript reads, "ye are spoken against," omitting the rest. falsely accuse—"calumniate"; the Greek expresses malice shown... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Peter 3:13-17

1. Suffering for doing good 3:13-17 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Peter 3:16

A good conscience is possible when we know our suffering is in spite of good behavior, not because of bad behavior (cf. 1 Peter 2:19; 1 Peter 3:4; 1 Peter 3:6). A simple explanation of our good conduct may take the wind out of the sails of our critics."Conscience may be compared to a window that lets in the light of God’s truth. If we persist in disobeying, the window gets dirtier and dirtier, until the light cannot enter. This leads to a ’defiled conscience’ (Titus 1:15). A ’seared conscience’... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - 1 Peter 3:16

3:16 which (e-10) See Note m, ch. 2.12. conversation (f-25) See Note o, ver. 1. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 3:1-22

The Blessedness of Christ’s People, Though They Should Suffer Like ChristB (iii). 1 Peter 3:1-6. Another divinely created ordinance of man is marriage. One of the purposes of Christianity was to teach chivalry towards women: this is part of the ’grace’ which men can exercise. But to this must correspond the modesty and graciousness of women. The Israelites had already been taught that; and women, when they enter the Christian society, become daughters of Abraham, heirs both of the honour and of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Peter 3:1-22

(13-4: 6) EXHORTATION TO KEEP A PURE CONSCIENCE.—It is the only charm against persecution. It is like Christ to suffer with a good conscience; and He had His reward for it, in bringing us, and even the spirits of men who had died impenitent, to God thereby. It is the very meaning of the baptism by which He saves us. To feel its beauty and safety, we have but to consider the ugliness and danger of our former life. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Peter 3:16

(16) Having a good conscience.—This strikes the key-note of the paragraph. How vigorously St. Peter repeats it! “Zealous for that which is good,” “for righteousness’ sake,” “sanctify the Lord,” “with meekness and fear,” “a good conscience,” “your good conversation.”Whereas.—The word means precisely the same as in 1 Peter 2:12, where see Note.They speak evil of you, as of evil doers.—Tischendorf follows one of the best manuscripts and the Pesehito-Syriac version in reading whereas ye are evil... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Peter 3:1-22

In the Sight of God 1 Peter 3:4 God sees; the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself mighty on behalf of them that trust in Him. His eyes are weapons, His eyes are lightnings, His smile makes the morning, His frown makes the night; He is a great God above all gods; He stands where other gods cannot climb. Peter says in this text, Let it be in the hidden man of the heart; let it be in the meek and quiet spirit; let it be in one sense invisible that it may in... read more

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