Read & explore together
Turning from Evil
This passage gives direct teaching for how “all of you” should live together. It joins attitudes, speech and actions, calling readers to reject retaliation, do good, seek peace and remember the Lord’s response to good and evil.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In 1 Peter 3:8–13, the writer speaks to “all of you” with practical instructions for shared life. The verses move from inner qualities to responses under pressure, then support those commands with words about guarded speech, doing good, pursuing peace and the Lord’s attention.
1 Peter 3:8–13Main takeaway
Those addressed are called to turn from evil by blessing instead of retaliating, guarding their speech, doing good and pursuing peace.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Qualities for “all of you”The passage begins with a list of shared qualities: like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted and courteous.
Explanation
The passage begins with a list of shared qualities: like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted and courteous. These are not abstract ideas. They describe how the whole group is to relate to one another in ordinary life, and the command is addressed broadly to “all of you”.
02Blessing instead of paybackVerse 9 turns to the moment when wrong is done. The readers are told not to return evil for evil or insult for insult.
Explanation
Verse 9 turns to the moment when wrong is done. The readers are told not to return evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, they are to bless. The verse says they were called to this and links that calling with inheriting a blessing.
03Turning from evil in words and actionsThe next lines explain what this looks like. A person who would love life and see good days must keep the tongue from evil and lips from deceit.
Explanation
The next lines explain what this looks like. A person who would love life and see good days must keep the tongue from evil and lips from deceit. Then the commands widen: turn away from evil, do good, seek peace and pursue it.
04The Lord’s care and oppositionVerse 12 gives the reason: the Lord’s eyes are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer, but his face is against those who do evil.
Explanation
Verse 12 gives the reason: the Lord’s eyes are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer, but his face is against those who do evil. Verse 13 ends with a question that points readers towards being eager for what is good.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What qualities are named for “all of you” at the start of the passage?
Read verse 8 carefully and list each relationship word Peter uses.
02What two responses are rejected in verse 9, and what response replaces them?
Notice the repeated phrase “for insult” and the contrast introduced by “but instead”.
03In verses 10 to 12, which actions are commanded, and what reason is then given about the Lord?
Separate the commands about speech, doing good and pursuing peace from the statement about the Lord’s eyes, ears and face.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Peter 3:8–13
8Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,
9not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
10For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good?