1 Peter 3:13-16 – Christian witness in the face of hostility

It is needful to conduct well within the community of believers but it is equally needful, if not more, when it comes to dealing with people outside the church. Peter now urged believers to live rightly among non-believers so as to influence them for Jesus Christ. We need to know that he was calling for right living in the context of suffering. His intention here was for believers to be geared up with the right attitude, so that they would know how to deal with hostility in their quest to glorify the Lord. So in verses 13-16, he began by telling believers to live right to overcome suffering.

In verse 13 he asked a rhetorical question goading them to disarm hostility by doing good zealously. Generally, people welcome good deeds. So Peter’s point is this: do good deeds because people normally would welcome the good done for them. The structure of this question implies no for an answer. However, he also wanted them to know that well-doing did not mean that they would be spared persecution. This is demonstrated in the Lord’s life. He was not spared persecution even though He came to do His best for humanity. Matthew 5:11 affirms this. It says, “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.” Peter’s point to them is this: just behave uprightly and passionately, even if you are persecuted for doing it, you will be blessed.

In verse 14, Peter strengthened his argument further with a quotation from Isaiah 8:12-13. His purpose was to encourage them, so that in the midst of suffering, they would not be intimidated and stop acting right altogether. They should instead continue in doing right because that would determine their ultimate reward. Peter wanted them to see that suffering could be a source of blessing when endured. This would prevent them from compromising with the world.

In verse 15, Peter gave the second way to deal with the world’s hostility: by sanctifying Christ as Lord in the heart. Rather than being fearful, believers should commit themselves to the Lordship of Christ. They should make up their minds to live to honor Him. Verse 15 also instructs the believers that they should seize those moments to testify of the hope they have in the Lord. However, all answers ought to be given with a gentle spirit to those asking and in a reverent spirit toward God. This would be the third way to deal with hostility. They were told to see that as opportunities to testify of the hope in them.

Finally, the fourth way is found in verse 16. Peter told them to exercise a good conscience. This is possible only if believers endured because of right living and not because of wrong conduct. One’s critic would be proven wrong and brought to shame, when a believer keeps a good conscience and keeps on living rightly despite being wrongly accused and maligned.

If we return evil for evil we would be acting like animals. If we return good for good, we are only acting as humans. And if we return evil for good, we will be doing what Satan would do. But if we return good for evil, that’s exactly what God in Christ had done and we should strive to emulate Him. Let’s emulate Christ!