Not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that you may inherit a blessing.
μη αποδιδοντες κακον αντι κακου η λοιδοριαν αντι λοιδοριας τουναντιον δε ευλογουντες ειδοτες οτι εις τουτο εκληθητε ινα ευλογιαν κληρονομησητε
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Adorn yourselves with these virtues. Do not yield to malice, for reviling is a tendency toward slander that comes from an evil habit. Rather, be zealous for the good, leading a holy and perfect life. For one blessed by all is also zealous.
They repay evil for evil, and evil for good. They repay reviling for reviling, and even repay blessing with reviling. But those who bless act in the opposite way, as the Truth says: "Bless those who curse you." Bless and do not curse.
What, then, is humility? It is to endure another's reproach, to know one's sin, and to bear slander. And this is not the work of humility, but of gratitude.
Since blessed Peter forbade us to repay evil for evil, and even commanded us to bless those who curse us, he immediately confirmed by prophetic testimony that both the good and the evil are always watched from above, as long as we remember. Our patience, by which we endure the evil, and our goodwill, by which we desire good for our persecutors, must receive an eternal reward. Our persecutors, if they do not know how to repent, must receive a fitting punishment. But if they repent, we shall receive from the Lord a crown of true shared rejoicing for their salvation, for which we prayed.
Do not render evil for evil, for this is wholly contrary to Christian teaching, whose foundation is love for all, even for enemies, as Christ Himself declared (Mt 5:39 and following; Lk 6:27 and following; cf. Rom 12:17).
“On the contrary, bless”: the Lord Himself commanded this (Mt 5:43 and following). To bless is to wish every good and to prove this by words and deeds. It is a disposition of spirit wholly opposite to that which impels a person to render evil for evil and insult for insult.
“I speak to all in general, for this is the end. All have one goal, salvation. All have one law, love. From this every virtue is born: humility, compassion, mercy, and the rest. Among them, oneness of mind is complete and undivided agreement in some matter. Compassion is pity for those who suffer evil, as for ourselves. Brotherly love is the disposition toward neighbors that ought to be shown to brothers. Tender mercy is the soul’s inclination to do good to those of the same nature. Love of wisdom is meekness and friendliness toward all, as toward acquaintances and friends. Humility, or humble-mindedness, is the endurance of reproach from another, the consciousness of one’s sinfulness, and the endurance of accusations. This could be called good-mindedness. Insult is a tendency toward slander arising from a bad habit. Adorn yourselves, then, with these virtues” (Theophylact).
“Knowing that you,” and so forth: as disciples of Christ and children of God, you have been called to bless, not to curse, your enemies. By this very thing you yourselves will inherit the blessing of God (Lk 6:38 and parallels), both here on earth and in Heaven, in the Kingdom of Heaven.
“To inherit”: see Mt 5:5.
Then comes a deliberate and rather extensive instruction to the oppressed Christian sojourners of Asia Minor on how they should conduct themselves in cases of attack and general hostility from pagans (1 Pet 3:9-13).
When the hateful feelings of pagans are expressed outwardly, for example in words, then “do not render evil for evil, or insult for insult. On the contrary, bless, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For he who loves life and wishes to see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. And who is he who will harm you if you become zealous for what is good?”
From positive counsels the Apostle turns to prohibitions and commands Christians not to revile, but to bless, that is, to speak only good about people. “Bless those who curse you” (Mt 5:44; Lk 6:28), says Jesus Christ.
But the Apostle also cites the word of the Psalmist, showing that evil words disorder all of life, destroying peace and sowing evil; see Ps 33:13-17. Therefore, in the words of the Psalmist, he commands them to flee from evil and strive for peace; cf. Eph 2:14-15.
Only those who avoid evil in words and deeds and strive for peace are given life’s happiness, for they always live under God’s protection. His face and ears are directed toward them. The Lord also looks upon sinners, but not in the same way. He looks wrathfully, to pronounce punishment and perdition upon them; cf. Ps 33 and Ps 2:12.
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, compassionate, lovers of the brethren, merciful, friendly, humble-minded, not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”
The virtues indicated here are obligatory for all, whatever condition anyone may belong to. The Apostle commands all to be of one mind, that is, to have the same way of thinking in faith and not to turn aside from the one true faith.
He commands them to be compassionate, to rejoice with those who rejoice and to grieve with those who grieve. They are to be brotherly, treating every believer as a brother, for all are children of the heavenly Father by the grace of regeneration.
They are to be merciful toward all who need spiritual or bodily help. They are to be friendly, gentle, and accessible to all. They are to be humble-minded, strangers to arrogance and pride. They are not to render evil for evil, following the teaching and example of Christ the Savior.
They are to bless, that is, to wish good even to enemies, as is proper for those called to inherit the blessing of God. To deserve this inheritance, one must desire the same for one’s neighbors.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 19 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS