But if also you suffer any thing for justice' sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of their fear: and be not troubled.
αλλ ει και πασχοιτε δια δικαιοσυνην μακαριοι τον δε φοβον αυτων μη φοβηθητε μηδε ταραχθητε
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
No one can harm anyone who does not harm himself. The Apostle shows that trials coming from the Gentiles cannot in the least harm those who live according to virtue. On the contrary, such trials bring blessedness to those who endure them with thanksgiving.
But since some considered sufferings for the faith to be evil, the Apostle Peter corrects this opinion by saying: do not regard this as evil. On the contrary, regard it as a pledge of blessedness. For fear of men deserves no attention and lasts only a day.
He says that the one who harms you does you no injury at all, even though you do good. Rather, even when an enemy persecutes you for the good that he curses, he becomes for you the cause of great blessedness. He tests the strength of your patience, according to these words of the Gospel: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake" (Mt 5:10).
“But even if you suffer for righteousness’ sake,” and so forth. If it pleases God (1 Pet 3:17) that you suffer even when you are zealots for good, then you suffer not by guilt, but innocently, for righteousness. Righteousness is the distinguishing mark of every true zealot for good.
In that case, you are blessed. This is plainly an almost literal repetition of the Lord’s saying about the blessedness of those who suffer for righteousness’ sake (Mt 5:10). The word righteousness is taken here generally as virtue and piety.
Thus the sense is: blessed are those who suffer for virtue, and therefore suffer innocently (cf. 1 Pet 3:17).
“Do not fear their fear” (cf. 1 Pet 3:6). This means the fear caused by those who make you suffer innocently. Sufferings are frightening in general to weak and infirm human nature. Those who inflict them intend to frighten those on whom they inflict them.
Yet those who suffer for righteousness, and therefore innocently, have no reason to fear such fear or be troubled by it. The very consciousness of their innocence should drive such fear away as unfitting.
This is especially true when they hope in the blessedness promised by Christ Himself to those who suffer for righteousness’ sake.
This saying, as well as the following word about sanctifying the Lord God in the heart, is taken literally from the Prophet Isaiah (Is 8:12-13). This could have had special weight for the readers who were Christians from among the Jews, as did the words taken above from the Psalms (Ps 33:10-12).
1 Pet 3:14-16. But how should one conduct oneself if pagans summon one to trial and interrogation? "Do not fear their fear, nor be troubled... Always be ready to give an answer, with meekness and reverence, to anyone who asks you for an account." Only have "a good conscience, so that in the very thing for which they speak evil of you as evildoers, those who revile your good life in Christ may be put to shame."
Among men, those who do good are for the most part held in honor. Therefore, it is unnatural that evil should be repaid to those who do good.
Yet however unnatural this is, Christians were still persecuted, often unjustly, for righteousness’ sake. Therefore the apostle gives counsel for such a case: “Sanctify God in your hearts.”
That is, acknowledge Him as your Lord, love Him with all the heart, and bow before Him. Keep Him constantly before your eyes amid every threat and oppression. In this way establish a sanctuary for the Lord God in your hearts.
Through this, be so firm in faith and in hope for the glory of your Master that you can give a clear answer to everyone who asks. For example, in court give an answer with fitting humility and at the same time with full conviction.
Let the one who hears be filled with reverence for God and glorify Him. This is how many Christian martyrs acted. By their God-fearing confession of faith and hope in the Lord Savior, they converted many to faith in Christ.
Both fear of men and indifference toward them must be equally foreign to a Christian heart.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 15 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS