1 Peter 3:14-17

3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer ¹  for doing what is right, ²  you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them ³  or be shaken. ⁴  3:15 But set Christ ⁵  apart ⁶  as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. ⁷  3:16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, ⁸  keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. ⁹  3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, ¹⁰  than for doing evil.

Matthew 5:10-12

5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

5:11 “Blessed are you when people ¹¹  insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely ¹²  on account of me. 5:12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

John 15:21

15:21 But they will do all these things to you on account of ¹³  my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. ¹⁴ 

Romans 13:5

13:5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities ¹⁵  but also because of your conscience. ¹⁶ 

Romans 13:2

13:2 So the person who resists such authority ¹⁷  resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment

Romans 1:12

1:12 that is, that we may be mutually comforted by one another’s faith, ¹⁸  both yours and mine.

¹ sn The Greek construction here implies that such suffering was not the norm, even though it could happen, and in fact may well have happened to some of the readers (cf. 4:4, 12-19).

² tn Grk “because of righteousness.”

³ tn Grk “do not fear their fear,” referring to those who cause their suffering. The phrase “their fear” may mean “what they fear” (subjective genitive), but in a situation of persecution it more likely means “fear of them” (objective genitive).

⁴ sn A quotation from Isa 8:12.

⁵ tc Most later mss (P Ï) have θεόν (qeon, “God”) instead of Χριστόν (Criston; “Christ”) here. But Χριστόν is widely supported by excellent and early witnesses (Ì⁷² א A B C Ψ 33 1739 al latt sy co), and as a less common idiom better explains the rise of the other reading.

⁶ tn Or “sanctify Christ as Lord.”

⁷ tn Grk “the hope in you.”

⁸ tn Grk “but with courtesy and respect,” continuing the command of v. 15. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

⁹ tn Grk “when you are spoken against.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “if the will of God should will it.” As in 3:14 the Greek construction here implies that suffering for doing good was not what God normally willed, even though it could happen, and in fact may have happened to some of the readers (cf. 4:4, 12-19).

¹¹ tn Grk “when they insult you.” The third person pronoun (here implied in the verb ὀνειδίσωσιν [ojneidiswsin]) has no specific referent, but refers to people in general.

¹² tc Although ψευδόμενοι (yeudomenoi, “bearing witness falsely”) could be a motivated reading, clarifying that the disciples are unjustly persecuted, its lack in only D it sy^s Tert does not help its case. Since the Western text is known for numerous free alterations, without corroborative evidence the shorter reading must be judged as secondary.

¹³ tn Or “because of.”

¹⁴ tn Jesus is referring to God as “the one who sent me.”

¹⁵ tn Grk “its wrath”; the referent (the governing authorities) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹⁶ tn Grk “because of (the) conscience,” but the English possessive “your” helps to show whose conscience the context implies.

¹⁷ tn Grk “the authority,” referring to the authority just described.

¹⁸ tn Grk “that is, to be comforted together with you through the faith in one another.”