1st Peter Chapter 3 verse 16 Holy Bible

ASV 1stPeter 3:16

having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.
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BBE 1stPeter 3:16

Being conscious that you have done no wrong; so that those who say evil things about your good way of life as Christians may be put to shame.
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DARBY 1stPeter 3:16

having a good conscience, that [as to that] in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may be ashamed who calumniate your good conversation in Christ.
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KJV 1stPeter 3:16

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.
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WBT 1stPeter 3:16


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WEB 1stPeter 3:16

having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good manner of life in Christ.
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YLT 1stPeter 3:16

having a good conscience, that in that in which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed who are traducing your good behaviour in Christ;
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Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 16. - Having a good conscience. This word "conscience" (συνείδησις) is one of the many links between this Epistle and the writings of St. Paul. St. Peter uses it three times; St. Paul, very frequently. There is a close connection between this clause and the preceding verse. A good conscience is the best reason of the hope that is in us. An apology may be learned, well-expressed, eloquent; but it will not be convincing unless it comes from the heart, and is backed up by the life. Calvin (quoted by Huther) says, "Quid parum auctoritatis habet sermo absque vita." That, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers. The Revised Version follows the Sinaitic Manuscript in reading, "Wherein ye are spoken against," and omitting "as of evil-doers? It is possible that the received reading may have been interpolated from 1 Peter 2:12, where the same words occur; except that there the mood is indicative, here, conjunctive, "wherein they may possibly speak evil of you." They may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ; rather, as the Revised Version, they may be put to shame; that is, "proved to be liars" (comp. 2 Corinthians 7:14). The word translated "falsely accuse" is that which is rendered "despitefully use" in Matthew 5:44. Luke 6:28. It is a strong word. Aristotle defines the corresponding substantive as a thwarting of the wishes of others out of gratuitous malice ('Rhet.,' 2:2). For "good conversation," see 1 Peter 1:15, 18. The Christian's life is in Christ, in the sphere of his presence, he dwelling in us, and we in him (comp. 2 Corinthians 5:17, etc.).

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Having a good conscience.--This strikes the key-note of the paragraph. How vigorously St. Peter repeats it! "Zealous for that which is good," "for righteousness' sake," "sanctify the Lord," "with meekness and fear," "a good conscience," "your good conversation."Whereas.--The word means precisely the same as in 1Peter 2:12, where see Note.They speak evil of you, as of evil doers.--Tischendorf follows one of the best manuscripts and the Pesehito-Syriac version in reading whereas ye are evil spoken of. It is easy to see how the ordinary reading would come in, from the similarity of 1Peter 2:12; and we may pretty confidently adopt the emendation. In any case, the words "as of evil doers" should be removed.They may be ashamed (or, confounded).--When? St. Peter is evidently thinking of the Christian at the bar of the curator or pro-consul, and the mortification of the delator, or spy, who had given information against him.Falsely accuse.--Literally, insult, that is, "odiously calumniate." The word occurs again only in Luke 6:28.In Christ.--This is the nearest approach in St. Peter to a use of this word as a proper name. Still, it is not so. Other Hebrews, he reminds them in this word, were safe from persecution only by rejecting the national hope of a Messiah. It is simply because these men are "in Christ" that the heathens (perhaps also their fellow Jews) insult their conversation. The phrase "in Christ," i.e., as members of the Church, occurs again in 1Peter 5:10; 1Peter 5:14, and the thought is common enough in St. John (e.g. 1John 5:20), but it does not come in 2 Peter, nor in Hebrews, St. James, or St. Jude. Of course, St. Paul's writings teem with it. It contains the converse side of the Incarnation doctrine to that involved in 1Peter 3:15; we not only have the whole Christ dwelling in us, but He embraces us all; "Ye in me, and I in you" (John 14:20). . . .