And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
Parallel translations
- WEB Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good?
- BSB Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
- NKJV And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
- NASB And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
- NLT Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
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
Generally, no one will harm those who are eager to do good. A life devoted to good usually disarms hostility.
Overview
Peter asks rhetorically who would harm those passionate for good, expecting that zealous goodness normally wins favor rather than persecution. This is a general principle, not an absolute guarantee, as the very next verse acknowledges that righteous suffering does occur. It encourages believers that doing good is the wisest and safest path, even in a hostile setting.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- Rom 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- 1 Th 5:15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
- 3 Jn 1:11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
- Ps 38:20They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
- Rom 13:3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
- 1 Cor 14:1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
- 1 Tim 5:10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
- Prov 15:9The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
- Eph 5:1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 3:13 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.