1 Peter 2:16

2:16 Live ¹  as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves. ² 

1 Peter 3:14

3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer ³  for doing what is right, ⁴  you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them ⁵  or be shaken. ⁶ 

1 Peter 2:20

2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God. ⁷ 

1 Peter 3:4

3:4 but the inner person ⁸  of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

[2:16]  ¹ tn There is no main verb in this verse, but it continues the sense of command from v. 13, “be subject…, as free people…not using…but as slaves of God.”

[2:16]  ² tn Traditionally, “servants” or “bondservants.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.

[3:14]  ³ 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).

[3:14]  ⁴ tn Grk “because of righteousness.”

[3:14]  ⁵ 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).

[3:14]  ⁶ sn A quotation from Isa 8:12.

[2:20]  ⁵ tn Grk “For this [is] favor/grace with God,” used as a metonymy as in vs. 19 of that which pleases him, which he looks on with favor (cf. BDAG 1079 s.v. χάρις 2).

[3:4]  ⁷ tn Grk “the hidden man.” KJV’s “the hidden man of the heart,” referring to a wife, could be seriously misunderstood by the modern English reader.