Discovery Box1 Peter 3:8-14
Context3:8 Finally, all of you be harmonious, 1 sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. 3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless 2 others 3 because you were called to inherit a blessing. 3:10 For
the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep 4 his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.
3:11 And he must turn away from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are 5 upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil. 6
3:13 For 7 who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer 8 for doing what is right, 9 you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them 10 or be shaken. 11
[3:8] 1 tn There is no main verb in this verse (Grk “Finally, all [ ] harmonious”), but it continues the sense of command from the previous paragraphs.
[3:9] 2 tn Grk “not returning…but blessing,” continuing the sense of command from the preceding.
[3:9] 3 tn The direct object “others” is omitted but implied in Greek, and must be supplied to suit English style.
[3:12] 4 tn The verbs are implied but not expressed in this verse: “the Lord’s eyes [ ] on the righteous and his ears [ ] to their prayer, but his face [ ] against those who do evil.”
[3:12] 5 sn Verses 10-12 are a quotation from Ps 34:12-16.
[3:13] 5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “For” to indicate that what follows gives an explanation.
[3:14] 6 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] 7 tn Grk “because of righteousness.”
[3:14] 8 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).
