For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Parallel translations
- WEB For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.
- BSB For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
- NKJV For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
- NASB For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
- NLT Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
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
If it is God's will, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. Suffering for righteousness is far preferable to suffering for sin.
Overview
Peter reminds believers that suffering, when it comes, should be for doing good, not evil. Such suffering falls within God's sovereign will and carries no shame, unlike the suffering that results from wrongdoing. This prepares the way for the supreme example of innocent suffering, Christ himself, in the next verse.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Pet 3:14But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
- 1 Pet 4:19Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
- Matt 26:39And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
- Acts 21:14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
- 1 Pet 2:15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
- Matt 26:42He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
- 1 Pet 2:20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
- 1 Pet 4:15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
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 3:17 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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