1 Peter 3:13-14 observes that we are likely to avoid harm if we do good, but also notes that the world is corrupt and there are times where if we do right, we will suffer at the world’s hands. We should not be afraid of unfair treatment. God will bless us in the end.
In 1 Peter 3:13-141 Peter 3:13-14 commentary, commentary Peter emphasizes that believers gain great blessing when they patiently endure unjust suffering. Peter introduced the subject of unjust suffering for doing what is right in the previous chapter (1 Peter 2:151 Peter 2:15 commentary, 19-2019-20 commentary). The context of the unjust suffering in view was the abuse of authority or power (1 Peter 2:131 Peter 2:13 commentary).
To this point, Peter has exhorted followers of Jesus who encounter abuse from another person to return good for evil or insult (1 Peter 3:91 Peter 3:9 commentary). In each instance, Peter’s remedy is to seek peace by doing good (1 Peter 3:111 Peter 3:11 commentary). The Apostle Paul makes the same assertion in Romans 12:21Romans 12:21 commentary.
To this point, Peter has covered a number of instances where someone can be or feel taken advantage of:
Citizens by governing authorities, who were appointed to do good but can abuse their power (1 Peter 2:13-141 Peter 2:13-14 commentary),
Servants or employees by masters or employers, through coercion or abuse (1 Peter 2:18-291 Peter 2:18-29 commentary),
Wives by husbands, through disobedience to God’s word (1 Peter 3:11 Peter 3:1 commentary),
For wives, be a godly example (without words/criticism) unto husbands (1 Peter 3:1-61 Peter 3:1-6 commentary)
For husbands, understand and include wives; also use words to bless them (1 Peter 3:71 Peter 3:7 commentary).
Now Peter asks a rhetorical question, Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? (v. 13).
Our natural question might be “How am I going to repay these people taking advantage of me?” or “What is God going to do to deliver me from this injustice?” Peter reframes the issue and asks “How can doing good lead you to harm?”
The idea behind the word harm is to mistreat to the point of physical suffering. The concept of good contains the idea of doing that which is useful and beneficial which is of high value to both God and man. Peter then adds: But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed (v. 14a).
Normally people are not harmed for doing what is good. Peter, however, knows that for the Christian, suffering for doing what is right is the rule, not the exception. Verse 14a breaks down this way:
But - in contrast to the norm,
even if - a condition assumed to be true,
you should suffer - meaning to experience pain, difficulty, loss, rejection,
for the sake of righteousness - meaning doing that which is morally right, not just socially useful and beneficial,
In saying this, Peter mirrors similar statements by the Apostle Paul. These include:
“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,” (2 Corinthians 4:172 Corinthians 4:17 commentary)
“For this reason I also suffer these things, but 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 until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:122 Timothy 1:12 commentary)
Peter is encouraging his disciples to look beyond this life, to seek treasure in heaven, and rewards from the Father, as he was taught by Jesus (Matthew 6:1Matthew 6:1 commentary, 19:2919:29 commentary). Jesus also taught that suffering for His sake would gain blessings in this life (Mark 10:30Mark 10:30 commentary).
As the Apostle Paul taught, everything a believer does should be done as unto the Lord, because it is from Him we receive the reward of the inheritance (Colossians 3:23-24Colossians 3:23-24 commentary). Even in that passage from Colossians, Paul adds that the person who does wrong (as in persecuting believers) will be “repaid for what he has done” (Colossians 3:25Colossians 3:25 commentary).
As Peter informs his Christian readers of the likelihood of suffering for the sake of righteousness, he also gives specific instructions how to respond, quoting Isaiah 8:12Isaiah 8:12 commentary, commentaryAnd do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled (v. 14b).
The context surrounding Isaiah 8:12Isaiah 8:12 commentary contains Isaiah’s instruction to Judah as they suffer at the hands of the Assyrians. They are not to fear the intimidation of the Assyrians or to be troubled by their attacks, but to fear God and put their trust in Him (Isaiah 8:12-13Isaiah 8:12-13 commentary). In that instance, God delivered Jerusalem from being conquered by the Assyrians, after it had conquered the other fortified cities of Judah (2 Kings 19:35-372 Kings 19:35-37 commentary). According to God’s word, the Assyrian empire was destroyed by the Babylonians about 80 years after it had laid siege to Jerusalem and failed to conquer it due to God’s intervention.
The point of Peter’s teaching is that the job of believers is to do good, live righteously, and return good for evil. We can trust that a) God will reward our diligence to serve Him in obedience and b) that He will judge those who are unjust for their evil deeds. Since Peter’s audience is Jewish believers, they would have understood the context of his quote from Isaiah, and likely have understood that this example validates all he has said before.
Next, Peter provides the ultimate example: God Himself, in the form of Jesus. Jesus repaid evil with good. Peter will encourage believers to follow Jesus’s example.
1 Peter 3:13-14 meaning
In 1 Peter 3:13-141 Peter 3:13-14 commentary, commentary Peter emphasizes that believers gain great blessing when they patiently endure unjust suffering. Peter introduced the subject of unjust suffering for doing what is right in the previous chapter (1 Peter 2:151 Peter 2:15 commentary, 19-2019-20 commentary). The context of the unjust suffering in view was the abuse of authority or power (1 Peter 2:131 Peter 2:13 commentary).
To this point, Peter has exhorted followers of Jesus who encounter abuse from another person to return good for evil or insult (1 Peter 3:91 Peter 3:9 commentary). In each instance, Peter’s remedy is to seek peace by doing good (1 Peter 3:111 Peter 3:11 commentary). The Apostle Paul makes the same assertion in Romans 12:21Romans 12:21 commentary.
To this point, Peter has covered a number of instances where someone can be or feel taken advantage of:
In each instance, Peter exhorts the person being or feeling mistreated to bless in return:
Now Peter asks a rhetorical question, Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? (v. 13).
Our natural question might be “How am I going to repay these people taking advantage of me?” or “What is God going to do to deliver me from this injustice?” Peter reframes the issue and asks “How can doing good lead you to harm?”
The idea behind the word harm is to mistreat to the point of physical suffering. The concept of good contains the idea of doing that which is useful and beneficial which is of high value to both God and man. Peter then adds: But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed (v. 14a).
Normally people are not harmed for doing what is good. Peter, however, knows that for the Christian, suffering for doing what is right is the rule, not the exception. Verse 14a breaks down this way:
In saying this, Peter mirrors similar statements by the Apostle Paul. These include:
“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,”
(2 Corinthians 4:172 Corinthians 4:17 commentary)
“For this reason I also suffer these things, but 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 until that day.”
(2 Timothy 1:122 Timothy 1:12 commentary)
Peter is encouraging his disciples to look beyond this life, to seek treasure in heaven, and rewards from the Father, as he was taught by Jesus (Matthew 6:1Matthew 6:1 commentary, 19:2919:29 commentary). Jesus also taught that suffering for His sake would gain blessings in this life (Mark 10:30Mark 10:30 commentary).
As the Apostle Paul taught, everything a believer does should be done as unto the Lord, because it is from Him we receive the reward of the inheritance (Colossians 3:23-24Colossians 3:23-24 commentary). Even in that passage from Colossians, Paul adds that the person who does wrong (as in persecuting believers) will be “repaid for what he has done” (Colossians 3:25Colossians 3:25 commentary).
As Peter informs his Christian readers of the likelihood of suffering for the sake of righteousness, he also gives specific instructions how to respond, quoting Isaiah 8:12Isaiah 8:12 commentary, commentary And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled (v. 14b).
The context surrounding Isaiah 8:12Isaiah 8:12 commentary contains Isaiah’s instruction to Judah as they suffer at the hands of the Assyrians. They are not to fear the intimidation of the Assyrians or to be troubled by their attacks, but to fear God and put their trust in Him (Isaiah 8:12-13Isaiah 8:12-13 commentary). In that instance, God delivered Jerusalem from being conquered by the Assyrians, after it had conquered the other fortified cities of Judah (2 Kings 19:35-372 Kings 19:35-37 commentary). According to God’s word, the Assyrian empire was destroyed by the Babylonians about 80 years after it had laid siege to Jerusalem and failed to conquer it due to God’s intervention.
The point of Peter’s teaching is that the job of believers is to do good, live righteously, and return good for evil. We can trust that a) God will reward our diligence to serve Him in obedience and b) that He will judge those who are unjust for their evil deeds. Since Peter’s audience is Jewish believers, they would have understood the context of his quote from Isaiah, and likely have understood that this example validates all he has said before.
Next, Peter provides the ultimate example: God Himself, in the form of Jesus. Jesus repaid evil with good. Peter will encourage believers to follow Jesus’s example.