For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.
Parallel translations
- WEB For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.
- KJV For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
- NKJV For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
- NASB For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person endures grief when suffering unjustly.
- NLT For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
It is commendable before God when someone endures unjust suffering out of conscience toward him. God values patient endurance of undeserved pain for his sake.
Overview
Peter explains why submission even under injustice is meaningful: enduring unjust suffering 'because of conscience toward God' is gracious in his sight. The believer's awareness of God transforms mistreatment into an occasion for faithful witness. This prepares for the example of Christ, who supremely endured undeserved suffering.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Matt 5:10–12Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- 1 Pet 3:14–17But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
- 1 Pet 2:20How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
- Luke 6:32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
- 1 Cor 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
- Rom 13:5Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.
- John 15:21But they will treat you like this because of My name, since they do not know the One who sent Me.
- 2 Tim 1:12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
- 2 Cor 8:1Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.
- 2 Cor 1:12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
- Ps 119:86All Your commandments are faithful; I am persecuted without cause—help me!
- Ps 35:19Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.
- Ps 69:4Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
- Ps 38:19Many are my enemies without cause, and many hate me without reason.
- Job 21:27Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.
- Acts 11:23When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The lamb without blemish foreknown before the world, who bore our sins in his body on the tree, by whose wounds we are healed — the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
How 1 Peter 2:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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