1 Peter 3:13-18

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

¹³ Now _c who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ _d But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. _e Have no fear of them, _f nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but _g in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, _h always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and _i respect, ¹⁶ _j having a good conscience, so that, _k when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For _l it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also _m suffered _{1 n} once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, _o that he might bring us to God, being put to death _p in the flesh but made alive _q in the spirit,

1. Cross References
   Proverbs 16:7
   When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
   
2. Cross References
   1 Peter 2:19 - 20
   For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
   1 Peter 4:14
   If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
   1 Peter 4:16
   Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
   Matthew 5:10
   Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   
3. Cross References
   Isaiah 8:12 - 13
   Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.
   1 Peter 3:6
   As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
   Matthew 10:28
   And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
   
4. Cross References
   John 14:1
   Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
   John 14:27
   Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
   
5. Cross References
   Isaiah 29:23
   For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
   Matthew 6:9
   Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
   
6. Cross References
   Colossians 4:6
   Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
   2 Timothy 2:25
   Correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
   
7. Cross References
   1 Peter 1:17
   And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.
   
8. Cross References
   Hebrews 13:18
   Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
   
9. Cross References
   1 Peter 2:12
   Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
   
10. Cross References
    1 Peter 2:20
    For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
    1 Peter 4:15 - 16
    But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
    
11. Cross References
    1 Peter 2:21
    For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
    1 Peter 4:1
    Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
    Romans 4:25
    Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
    
12. Cross References
    Hebrews 9:26
    For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
    Hebrews 9:28
    So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
    
13. Cross References
    Romans 5:2
    Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
    
14. Cross References
    1 Peter 4:1
    Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
    Colossians 1:22
    He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.
    2 Corinthians 13:4
    For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
    
15. Cross References
    1 Peter 4:6
    For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.