Read & explore together
Suffering for Righteousness
This passage teaches how believers can respond when suffering comes because of doing what is right. Peter speaks about courage, hope, a clear conscience, Christ’s suffering, baptism, and Christ’s present authority.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
Peter addresses suffering for righteousness and explains how believers should respond in heart, speech, and conduct. He then points to Christ, who suffered once for sins to bring people to God. The passage closes with careful teaching about Noah’s days, baptism, resurrection, and Christ’s place at God’s right hand.
1 Peter 3:14–22Main takeaway
When suffering comes for doing right, believers are called to honour God in their hearts, keep a good conscience, and remember Christ’s suffering, resurrection, and authority.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Blessed and not ruled by fearPeter says that even if believers suffer for righteousness’ sake, they are blessed. He then gives two clear instructions: do not fear what others fear, and do not be troubled.
Explanation
Peter says that even if believers suffer for righteousness’ sake, they are blessed. He then gives two clear instructions: do not fear what others fear, and do not be troubled. The verse centres on God’s view of righteous suffering and on a steady response to it.
02Hope explained with humilityPeter tells believers to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts. They are to be ready to answer anyone who asks about the hope within them.
Explanation
Peter tells believers to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts. They are to be ready to answer anyone who asks about the hope within them. That answer is to be given with humility and fear, while keeping a good conscience and a good way of life in Christ.
03Christ suffered once to bring you to GodPeter says it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing right than for doing evil.
Explanation
Peter says it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing right than for doing evil. He then points to Christ, who suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. Christ was put to death in the flesh and made alive in the Spirit.
04Noah, baptism, and Christ’s rulePeter mentions Christ preaching to the spirits in prison, then refers to disobedient people in Noah’s days, when God waited patiently and eight were saved through water.
Explanation
Peter mentions Christ preaching to the spirits in prison, then refers to disobedient people in Noah’s days, when God waited patiently and eight were saved through water. He says this is a symbol of baptism, linked to a good conscience toward God through Jesus Christ’s resurrection and present authority at God’s right hand.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Peter tell believers to do instead of fearing and being troubled?
Read Peter’s commands closely and notice both the negative instructions and the positive call to set apart the Lord God in the heart.
02How should a believer give an answer about their hope?
Look for the words that describe both inner character and outward manner when speaking: humility, fear, good conscience, and a good way of life in Christ.
03How does Peter explain the meaning of baptism here?
Notice that Peter says it is not outward washing, but the answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Peter 3:14–22
14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”
15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,
16having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.
17For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil.
18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,
19in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.