keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
Parallel translations
- WEB having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.
- KJV Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
- NKJV having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
- NASB and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
- NLT But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
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
Keeping a good conscience and godly conduct, believers will shame those who slander them. A clear conscience and upright life ultimately put accusers to shame.
Overview
Peter pairs verbal witness with a 'good conscience' and consistent good behavior 'in Christ.' When believers are slandered, their blameless lives expose the falsehood of the accusations, so that critics are 'disappointed' or put to shame. Conduct and conscience thus reinforce the spoken defense of the hope within them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- 1 Pet 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- 1 Pet 2:15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
- Heb 13:18Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
- Titus 2:8and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
- Matt 5:11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
- 1 Pet 2:19For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.
- 1 Tim 1:5The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
- Rom 9:1I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 24:16In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
- 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.
- 1 Pet 3:21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- 1 Pet 3:1–2Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
- Heb 9:14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
- 2 Cor 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- 1 Tim 1:19holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.
- 2 Tim 1:3I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.
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