The Meaning of 1 Peter 3:16 Explained

1 Peter 3:16

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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;

Darby: 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.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Peter 3:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

A good conscience is possible when we know our suffering is in spite of good behavior, not because of bad behavior (cf. 1 Peter 2:19; 1 Peter 3:4; 1 Peter 3:6). A simple explanation of our good conduct may take the wind out of the sails of our critics.
"Conscience may be compared to a window that lets in the light of God"s truth. If we persist in disobeying, the window gets dirtier and dirtier, until the light cannot enter. This leads to a "defiled conscience" ( Titus 1:15). A "seared conscience" is one that has been so sinned against that it no longer is sensitive to what is right and wrong ( 1 Timothy 4:2). It is even possible for the conscience to be so poisoned that it approves things that are bad and accuses when the person does good! This the Bible calls "an evil conscience" ( Hebrews 10:22)....
"A "good conscience" is one that accuses when we think or do wrong and approves when we do right." [1]

Context Summary

1 Peter 3:13-22 - Following Christ In Bearing Injustice
It was said of Archbishop Cranmer that the way to make him a life-long friend was to do him some disservice, and surely these words of the Apostle have created many characters of the same type. The one aim and purpose of life should be to sanctify Christ as Lord; that is, to put Him on the throne. Let all the powers of our nature stand around to do His bidding, as the courtiers of a royal sovereign.
Keep a good conscience! Remember you have to live with yourself! A good conscience is the best bedfellow! Paul exercised himself always to have a conscience void of offense toward God and man, Acts 23:1; Acts 24:16. This is especially necessary when we are called on to give our witness for our Lord. We must not keep silent when we ought to speak, and when we speak we should do so reverently, simply and without heat.
Our Lord seems to have carried the news of redemption through the world of disembodied spirits. The Apostle compares baptism to the deluge, because it lies between the believer and his old worldly life, as Noah's flood lay between the old world and the new which emerged from its waters. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Peter 3

1  He teaches the duty of wives and husbands to each other;
8  exhorting all men to unity and love;
14  and to suffer persecution
19  He declares also the benefits of Christ toward the old world

Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 3:16

Having a good conscience [συνειδησιν εχοντες αγατην]
Present active participle of εχω — echō See 1 Peter 2:18 for συνειδησιν — suneidēsin and 1 Peter 3:21 for συνειδησις αγατη — suneidēsis agathē again (“a quasi-personification,” Hart). [source]
That they may be put to shame [ινα καταισχυντωσιν]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of καταισχυνω — kataischunō old verb, to put to shame (Luke 13:17; 1 Peter 2:6).Wherein ye are spoken against (εν ωι καταλαλειστε — en hōi katalaleisthe). Present passive indicative of καταλαλεω — katalaleō for which see 1 Peter 2:12 with εν ωι — en hōi also. Peter may be recalling (Hart) his own experience at Pentecost when the Jews first scoffed and others were cut to the heart (Acts 2:13, Acts 2:37).Who revile Articular present active participle of επηρεαζω — epēreazō old verb (from επηρεια — epēreia spiteful abuse), to insult, in N.T. only here and Luke 6:28.In Christ (εν Χριστωι — en Christōi). Paul‘s common mystical phrase that Peter has three times (here, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 5:14), not in John, though the idea is constantly in John. Peter here gives a new turn (cf. 1 Peter 2:12) to αναστροπη — anastrophē (manner of life). “Constantly the apostle repeats his phrases with new significance and in a new light” (Bigg). [source]
Wherein ye are spoken against [εν ωι καταλαλειστε]
Present passive indicative of καταλαλεω — katalaleō for which see 1 Peter 2:12 with εν ωι — en hōi also. Peter may be recalling (Hart) his own experience at Pentecost when the Jews first scoffed and others were cut to the heart (Acts 2:13, Acts 2:37). [source]
Who revile [οι επηρεαζοντες]
Articular present active participle of επηρεαζω — epēreazō old verb (from επηρεια — epēreia spiteful abuse), to insult, in N.T. only here and Luke 6:28.In Christ (εν Χριστωι — en Christōi). Paul‘s common mystical phrase that Peter has three times (here, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 5:14), not in John, though the idea is constantly in John. Peter here gives a new turn (cf. 1 Peter 2:12) to αναστροπη — anastrophē (manner of life). “Constantly the apostle repeats his phrases with new significance and in a new light” (Bigg). [source]
In Christ [εν Χριστωι]
Paul‘s common mystical phrase that Peter has three times (here, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 5:14), not in John, though the idea is constantly in John. Peter here gives a new turn (cf. 1 Peter 2:12) to αναστροπη — anastrophē (manner of life). “Constantly the apostle repeats his phrases with new significance and in a new light” (Bigg). [source]
Falsely accuse [ἐπηρεάζοντες]
Compare Luke 6:28; the only other passage where the word occurs, Matthew 5:44, being rejected from the best texts. The word means to threaten abusively; to act despitefully. Rev., revile. [source]
Having a good conscience [συνείδησιν ἔχοντες ἀγαθήν]
The position of the adjective shows that it is used predicatively: having a conscience good or unimpaired. Compare Hebrews 13:18, “We have a good conscience ( καλὴν συνείδησιν ) Συνείδησις , conscience, does not occur in the gospels, unless John 8:1-11be admitted into the text. Nor is it a word familiar to classical Greek. It is compounded of σύν , together with, and εἰδέναι , to know; and its fundamental idea is knowing together with one's self. Hence it denotes the consciousness which one has within himself of his own conduct as related to moral obligation; which consciousness exercises a judicial function, determining what is right or wrong, approving or condemning, urging to performance or abstinence. Hence it is not merely intellectual consciousness directed at conduct, but moral consciousness contemplating duty, testifying to moral obligation, even where God is not known; and, where there is knowledge of God and acquaintance with him, inspired and directed by that fact. A man cannot be conscious of himself without knowing himself as a moral creature. Cremer accordingly defines the word as “the consciousness man has of himself in his relation to God, manifesting itself in the form of a self-testimony, the result of the action of the spirit in the heart.” And further, “conscience is, essentially, determining of the self-consciousness by the spirit as the essential principle of life. In conscience man stands face to face with himself.” Conscience is, therefore, a law. Thus Bishop Butler: “Conscience does not only offer itself to show us the way we should walk in, but it likewise carries its own authority with it, that it is our natural guide, the guide assigned us by the Author of our nature; it therefore belongs to our condition of being; it is our duty to walk in that path and follow this guide.” And again, “That principle by which we survey, and either approve or disapprove our own heart, temper, and actions, is not only to be considered as what is, in its turn, to have some influence, which may be said of every passion, of the lowest appetites; but likewise as being superior; as from its very nature claiming superiority over all others; insomuch that you cannot form a notion of this faculty, conscience, without taking in judgment, direction, superintendency. This is a constituent part of the idea, that is, of the faculty itself; and to preside and govern, from the very economy and constitution of man, belongs to it. Had it strength as it had right; had it power as it had manifest authority, it would absolutely govern the world” (Sermons II. and III., “On Human Nature”). Conscience is afaculty. The mind may “possess reason and distinguish between the true and the false, and yet be incapable of distinguishing between virtue and vice. We are entitled, therefore, to hold that the drawing of moral distinctions is not comprehended in the simple exercise of the reason. The conscience, in short, is a different faculty of the mind from the mere understanding. We must hold it to be simple and unresolvable till we fall in with a successful decomposition of it into its elements. In the absence of any such decomposition we hold that there are no simpler elements in the human mind which will yield us the ideas of the morally good and evil, of moral obligation and guilt, of merit and demerit. Compound and decompound all other ideas as you please, associate them together as you may, they will never give us the ideas referred to, so peculiar and full of meaning, without a faculty implanted in the mind for this very purpose” (McCosh, “Divine Government, Physical and Moral”). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Conscience is a sentiment: i.e., it contains and implies conscious emotions which arise on the discernment of an object as good or bad. The judgment formed by conscience awakens sensibility. When the judicial faculty pronounces a thing to be lovable, it awakens love. When it pronounces it to be noble or honorable, it awakens respect and admiration. When it pronounces it to be cruel or vile, it awakens disgust and abhorrence. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
In scripture we are to view conscience, as Bishop Ellicott remarks, not in its abstract nature, but in its practical manifestations. Hence it may be weak (1 Corinthians 8:7, 1 Corinthians 8:12), unauthoritative, and awakening only the feeblest emotion. It may be evil or defiled (Hebrews 10:22; Titus 1:15), through consciousness of evil practice. It may be seared (1 Timothy 4:2), branded by its own testimony to evil practice, hardened and insensible to the appeal of good. On the other hand, it may be pure (2 Timothy 1:3), unveiled, and giving honest and clear moral testimony. It may be void of offence (Acts 24:16), unconscious of evil intent or act; good, as here, or honorable (Hebrews 13:18). The expression and the idea, in the full Christian sense, are foreign to the Old Testament, where the testimony to the character of moral action and character is borne by external revelation rather than by the inward moral consciousness. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Peter 3:16

Luke 6:28 That despitefully use you [των επηρεαζοντων υμας]
This old verb occurs here only in the N.T. and in 1 Peter 3:16, not being genuine in Matthew 5:44. [source]
Acts 23:1 Conscience [συνειδήσει]
See on 1 Peter 3:16. [source]
Acts 23:1 I have lived before God [πεπολιτευμαι τωι τεωι]
Perfect middle indicative of πολιτευω — politeuō old verb to manage affairs of city God This claim seems to lack tact, but for brevity‘s sake Paul sums up a whole speech in it. He may have said much more than Luke here reports along the line of his speech the day before, but Paul did not make this claim without consideration. It appears to contradict his confession as the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:13-16). But that depends on one‘s interpretation of “good conscience.” The word συνειδησις — suneidēsis is literally “joint-knowledge” in Greek, Latin (conscientia) and English “conscience” from the Latin. It is a late word from συνοιδα — sunoida to know together, common in O.T., Apocrypha, Philo, Plutarch, New Testament, Stoics, ecclesiastical writers. In itself the word simply means consciousness of one‘s own thoughts (Hebrews 10:2), or of one‘s own self, then consciousness of the distinction between right and wrong (Romans 2:15) with approval or disapproval. But the conscience is not an infallible guide and acts according to the light that it has (1 Corinthians 8:7, 1 Corinthians 8:10; 1 Peter 2:19). The conscience can be contaminated (Hebrews 10:22, evil πονηρας — ponērās). All this and more must be borne in mind in trying to understand Paul‘s description of his motives as a persecutor. Alleviation of his guilt comes thereby, but not removal of guilt as he himself felt (1 Timothy 1:13-16). He means to say to the Sanhedrin that he persecuted Christians as a conscientious (though mistaken) Jew (Pharisee) just as he followed his conscience in turning from Judaism to Christianity. It is a pointed disclaimer against the charge that he is a renegade Jew, an opposer of the law, the people, the temple. Paul addresses the Sanhedrin as an equal and has no “apologies” (in our sense) to make for his career as a whole. The golden thread of consistency runs through, as a good citizen in God‘s commonwealth. He had the consolation of a good conscience (1 Peter 3:16). The word does not occur in the Gospels and chiefly in Paul‘s Epistles, but we see it at work in John 8:9 (the interpolation 7:53-8:11). [source]
Acts 23:1 In all good conscience unto this day [πασηι συνειδησει αγατηι αχρι ταυτης της ημερας]
This claim seems to lack tact, but for brevity‘s sake Paul sums up a whole speech in it. He may have said much more than Luke here reports along the line of his speech the day before, but Paul did not make this claim without consideration. It appears to contradict his confession as the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:13-16). But that depends on one‘s interpretation of “good conscience.” The word συνειδησις — suneidēsis is literally “joint-knowledge” in Greek, Latin (conscientia) and English “conscience” from the Latin. It is a late word from συνοιδα — sunoida to know together, common in O.T., Apocrypha, Philo, Plutarch, New Testament, Stoics, ecclesiastical writers. In itself the word simply means consciousness of one‘s own thoughts (Hebrews 10:2), or of one‘s own self, then consciousness of the distinction between right and wrong (Romans 2:15) with approval or disapproval. But the conscience is not an infallible guide and acts according to the light that it has (1 Corinthians 8:7, 1 Corinthians 8:10; 1 Peter 2:19). The conscience can be contaminated (Hebrews 10:22, evil πονηρας — ponērās). All this and more must be borne in mind in trying to understand Paul‘s description of his motives as a persecutor. Alleviation of his guilt comes thereby, but not removal of guilt as he himself felt (1 Timothy 1:13-16). He means to say to the Sanhedrin that he persecuted Christians as a conscientious (though mistaken) Jew (Pharisee) just as he followed his conscience in turning from Judaism to Christianity. It is a pointed disclaimer against the charge that he is a renegade Jew, an opposer of the law, the people, the temple. Paul addresses the Sanhedrin as an equal and has no “apologies” (in our sense) to make for his career as a whole. The golden thread of consistency runs through, as a good citizen in God‘s commonwealth. He had the consolation of a good conscience (1 Peter 3:16). The word does not occur in the Gospels and chiefly in Paul‘s Epistles, but we see it at work in John 8:9 (the interpolation 7:53-8:11). [source]
Romans 9:1 Conscience []
See on 1 Peter 3:16. [source]
Romans 5:5 Maketh not ashamed [οὑ καταισχύνει]
Mostly in Paul; elsewhere only in Luke 13:17; 1 Peter 2:6; 1 Peter 3:16. Rev., putteth not to shame, thus giving better the strong sense of the word, to disgrace or dishonor. [source]
Romans 2:15 Their conscience also bearing witness [συμμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως]
For conscience, see on 1 Peter 3:16. The force of ούν with the verb is therewith; i.e., with the prescript of the law, respecting the agreement or disagreement of the act with it. So Rev. [source]
Colossians 3:16 Admonishing []
See on Colossians 1:28. The participles teaching and admonishing are used as imperatives, as Romans 12:9-13, Romans 12:16-19; Ephesians 4:2, Ephesians 4:3; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 3:1, 1 Peter 3:7, 1 Peter 3:9, 1 Peter 3:16. [source]
1 Timothy 1:5 A good conscience( συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς ) [συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς]
Comp 2 Timothy 1:3. Συνείδησις conscienceis common in Paul. See on 1 Peter 3:16. [source]
Titus 1:15 Mind and conscience [ὁ νοῦς καὶ ἡ συνείδησις]
For νοῦς see on Romans 7:23: for συνείδησις , see on 1 Peter 3:16. [source]
Hebrews 9:9 As pertaining to the conscience [κατὰ συνείδησιν]
Having shown that the division of the tabernacle proved the imperfection of the worship, the writer will now show that the Levitical ritual did not accomplish the true end of religion. The radical defect of the Levitical system was its inability to deal with the conscience, and thus bring about the “perfection” which is the ideal of true religion. That ideal contemplated the cleansing and renewal of the inner man; not merely the removal of ceremonial uncleanness, or the formal expiation of sins. Comp. Matthew 23:25, Matthew 23:26. For συνείδησις consciencesee on 1 Peter 3:16. [source]
James 4:11 Speak not one against another [μη καταλαλειτε αλληλων]
Prohibition against such a habit or a command to quit doing it, with μη — mē and the present imperative of καταλαλεω — katalaleō old compound usually with the accusative in ancient Greek, in N.T. only with the genitive (here, 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16). Often harsh words about the absent. James returns to the subject of the tongue as he does again in James 5:12 (twice before, James 1:26; James 3:1-12). [source]
1 Peter 2:19 If a man endureth griefs [ει υοπερει τις λυπας]
Condition of first class with ει — ei and present active indicative of υποπερω — hupopherō old verb, to bear up under, in N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Timothy 3:11. Note plural of λυπη — lupē (grief).For conscience toward God (δια συνειδησιν τεου — dia suneidēsin theou). Suffering is not a blessing in and of itself, but, if one‘s duty to God is involved (Acts 4:20), then one can meet it with gladness of heart. Τεου — Theou (God) is objective genitive. For συνειδησις — suneidēsis (conscience) see note on Acts 23:1; and see note on 1 Corinthians 8:7. It occurs again in 1 Peter 3:16.Suffering wrongfully Present active participle of πασχω — paschō and the common adverb αδικως — adikōs unjustly, here alone in N.T. This is the whole point, made clear already by Jesus in Matthew 5:10-12, where Jesus has also “falsely” See also Luke 6:32-34. [source]
1 Peter 2:19 For conscience toward God [δια συνειδησιν τεου]
Suffering is not a blessing in and of itself, but, if one‘s duty to God is involved (Acts 4:20), then one can meet it with gladness of heart. Τεου — Theou (God) is objective genitive. For συνειδησις — suneidēsis (conscience) see note on Acts 23:1; and see note on 1 Corinthians 8:7. It occurs again in 1 Peter 3:16. [source]
1 Peter 3:17 Better [κρειττον]
Comparative of κρατυς — kratus as in 2 Peter 2:21; Hebrews 1:4. Patient endurance not only silences calumny (1 Peter 3:16), is Christlike (1 Peter 3:18), but it has a value of its own (1 Peter 3:17). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Peter 3:16 mean?

a conscience having good so that in this they might speak against you they shall be ashamed those reviling your - good Christ manner of life
συνείδησιν ἔχοντες ἀγαθήν ἵνα ἐν καταλαλεῖσθε καταισχυνθῶσιν οἱ ἐπηρεάζοντες ὑμῶν τὴν ἀγαθὴν Χριστῷ ἀναστροφήν

συνείδησιν  a  conscience 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: συνείδησις  
Sense: the consciousness of anything.
ἀγαθήν  good 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγαθός 
Sense: of good constitution or nature.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
  this 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
καταλαλεῖσθε  they  might  speak  against  you 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: καταλαλέω  
Sense: to speak against one, to criminate, traduce.
καταισχυνθῶσιν  they  shall  be  ashamed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: καταισχύνω  
Sense: to dishonour, disgrace.
οἱ  those 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐπηρεάζοντες  reviling 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐπηρεάζω  
Sense: to insult.
ὑμῶν  your 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀγαθὴν  good 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγαθός 
Sense: of good constitution or nature.
Χριστῷ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
ἀναστροφήν  manner  of  life 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀναστροφή  
Sense: manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment.