And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
Parallel translations
- WEB Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good?
- KJV And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
- BSB Who can harm you if you are zealous for 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 Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- Rom 8:28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
- 1 Th 5:15See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.
- 3 Jn 1:11Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God.
- Ps 38:20They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.
- Rom 13:3For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
- 1 Cor 14:1Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
- 1 Tim 5:10being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
- Prov 15:9The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
- Eph 5:1Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.
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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 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
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