1 Peter 3:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Together with Isaiah (Is 8:13), he commands us to sanctify the Lord in our hearts. That is, we must not exalt ourselves by visible works, but in the secret chamber of the heart perform the sanctification of the Lord.

This sanctification consists in withdrawal from defilements, that is, from the evil customs of the pagans. Sanctify Him in this way. He is sanctified through your good conduct, when other people glorify Him.

The God-man Himself commands the same: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works” (Mt 5:16).

But with self-control, that is, without anger. Conscience is that which preserves the good and does not receive evil. So, when there are enemies, what is opened in a house for friends is shut against enemies.

This is said so that those who mock you for your faith and hope in the heavenly reward, which they cannot see, may see your good works. They will then be put to shame by the evident good they cannot deny. At the very least, this must be accepted without doubt: take care to do good, so that those who slander your good life may be put to shame at the coming recompense, which draws near. They will see themselves condemned with the devil, while you are crowned with Christ.

“Have,” more precisely, “having,” “a good conscience.” This saying is connected more with what precedes than with what follows. A Christian must answer the one who asks with meekness and reverence, while having a pure conscience.

Such a conscience presupposes purity of faith, hope, conviction, and life.

“For when you do this with meekness and propriety, then you yourselves will be assured that you have a good conscience, and you will put to shame those who think evil of you” (Theophylact).

“That by this,” and so forth: cf. 1 Pet 2:12. Those who revile Christians as evildoers because of their good Christian life must sooner or later, willingly or unwillingly, acknowledge that the Christian way of life is the best way of life.

(1 Pet. 3:14-16). But how should one conduct oneself if the pagans summon one to judgment and interrogation? "Do not fear their fear, nor be troubled... Always be ready to give an answer, with meekness and reverence, to everyone who asks you for an account." Only let one have "a good conscience, so that in the very thing for which they slander you as evildoers, those who revile your good life in Christ may be put to shame."

Finally, the strongest defense against every kind of unjust attack is purity of conscience. Where this is present, no reviling and no suffering can accomplish anything.

Therefore the apostle teaches us always to act according to conscience. Or, as blessed Theophylact says, “to have a praiseworthy life, and then not only to remain untroubled by every attitude of those who revile, but also to await their correction and return to justice, since in the Christian life there is nothing that deserves censure.”

Only through misunderstanding did pagans consider Christians evildoers, and many later became convinced that their views were false.