15:1 But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves. 10
1:27 Only conduct yourselves 11 in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that – whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent – I should hear that 12 you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, 13 1:28 and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is 14 a sign of their 15 destruction, but of your salvation – a sign which 16 is from God.
1 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:10 has “the Ammonites” in place of “the Arameans” here.
2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “if Aram is stronger than me.”
4 tn Heb “if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you.”
5 sn Here and in the remainder of the verse the second person pronouns are singular, so only Peter is in view. The name “Simon” has been supplied as a form of direct address to make this clear in English.
6 sn That your faith may not fail. Note that Peter’s denials are pictured here as lapses, not as a total absence of faith.
7 tn Grk “And when.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
8 tn Or “turned around.”
9 sn Strengthen your brothers refers to Peter helping to strengthen their faith. Jesus quite graciously restores Peter “in advance,” even with the knowledge of his approaching denials.
10 tn Grk “and not please ourselves.” NT Greek negatives used in contrast like this are often not absolute, but relative: “not so much one as the other.”
11 tn Grk “live as citizens.” The verb πολιτεύεσθε (politeuesqe) connotes the life of a freeman in a free Roman colony.
12 tn Grk “the things concerning you, [namely,] that.” The ὅτι (Joti) clause is appositional to τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν (ta peri Jumwn) and therefore “the things concerning you” was not translated.
13 tn The phrase “the faith of the gospel” could mean one of three things: “the faith that is the gospel” (genitive of apposition), “the faith that originates from the gospel” (genitive of source), or “faith in the gospel” (objective genitive).
14 tn Grk “which is,” continuing the sentence begun in v. 27.
15 tn Grk “to them.”
16 tn Grk “this.” The pronoun refers back to “a sign”; thus these words have been repeated for clarity.