1 Peter 3:13

THE MESSAGE

If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good?

King James Version (1611)
And who is hee that will harme you, if ye bee followers of that which is good?

King James Version
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

English Standard Version
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

New American Standard Bible
And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

New Century Version
If you are trying hard to do good, no one can really hurt you.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

Berean Standard Bible
Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

Contemporary English Version
Can anyone really harm you for being eager to do good deeds?

Complete Jewish Bible
For who will hurt you if you become zealots for what is good?

Darby Translation
And who shall injure you if ye have become imitators of that which [is] good?

Easy-to-Read Version
If you are always trying to do good, no one can really harm you.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And who is it that will harme you, if ye folow that which is good?

George Lamsa Translation
And who is he that can harm you if you are zealous followers of that which is good?

Good News Translation
Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?

Lexham English Bible
And who is the one who will harm you if you are a zealous adherent for what is good?

Literal Translation
And who is the one harming you if you become imitators of the good?

Amplified Bible
Now who is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good?

American Standard Version
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?

Bible in Basic English
Who will do you any damage if you keep your minds fixed on what is good?

Hebrew Names Version
Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good?

International Standard Version
Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good?Proverbs 16:7; Romans 8:28;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
13 And who (is he) who will do you evil if you be emulous of good [fn] (actions) ?

Murdock Translation
And who will do you harm, if ye are zealous of good works?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Moreouer, who is it that wyll harme you, yf ye folowe that which is good?

English Revised Version
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?

World English Bible
Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good?

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

Weymouth's New Testament
And who will be able to harm you, if you show yourselves zealous for that which is good?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And who is it that schal anoye you, if ye ben sueris and louyeris of goodnesse?

Update Bible Version
And who is he that will harm you, if you are zealous of that which is good?

Webster's Bible Translation
And who [is] he that will harm you, if ye are followers of that which is good?

New English Translation
For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?

New King James Version
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

New Living Translation
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?

New Life Bible
Who will hurt you if you do what is right?

New Revised Standard
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Who, then, is he that shall harm you, if, for that which is good, ye become zealous?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And who is he that can hurt you, if you be zealous of good?

Revised Standard Version
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right?

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Moreover who is it that will harme you yf ye folowe yt which is good?

Young's Literal Translation
and who [is] he who will be doing you evil, if of Him who is good ye may become imitators?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And who is it that can harme you, yf ye folowe that which is good?

Mace New Testament (1729)
for who can hurt you, if you strive to excel in virtue.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Who is really going to want to harm a man for doing something good?

Contextual Overview

⁸Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things. ¹³If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

who: Proverbs 16:7, Romans 8:28, Romans 13:3

followers: Psalms 38:20, Proverbs 15:9, 1 Corinthians 14:1, Ephesians 5:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 1 Timothy 5:10, 3 John 1:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 39:21 - the Lord Ecclesiastes 8:5 - keepeth Jeremiah 39:12 - do him Daniel 3:25 - they have no hurt Matthew 5:10 - are 1 Thessalonians 1:6 - and of Hebrews 12:14 - and holiness

Cross-References

Genesis 3:4
The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."

Genesis 3:6
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.

Genesis 3:9
God called to the Man: "Where are you?"

Genesis 3:10
He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid."

Genesis 3:12
The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." God said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?"

Genesis 44:15
Joseph accused them: "How can you have done this? You have to know that a man in my position would have discovered this."

1 Samuel 13:11
Samuel said, "What on earth are you doing?" Saul answered, "When I saw I was losing my army from under me, and that you hadn't come when you said you would, and that the Philistines were poised at Micmash, I said, ‘The Philistines are about to come down on me in Gilgal, and I haven't yet come before God asking for his help.' So I took things into my own hands, and sacrificed the burnt offering."

2 Samuel 3:24
Joab went straight to the king: "What's this you've done? Abner shows up, and you let him walk away scot-free? You know Abner son of Ner better than that. This was no friendly visit. He was here to spy on you, figure out your comings and goings, find out what you're up to."

John 18:35
Pilate said, "Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And who is he that will harm you,.... Or "can harm you". God will not; for his eyes are upon the righteous, to protect and defend them, and, his ears are open to their cries, to avenge them; he is on their side, and he is the only lawgiver that is able to save, and to destroy. Christ will not; for when he came the first time, it was not to condemn, but to save; and when he comes a second time, though he will rule the wicked with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces as a potter's vessel; yet his people, who are his jewels, he will spare, as a man spares his only son. Good angels will not; these rejoice at the conversion, and in the salvation of sinful men, encamp about the saints, and are ministering spirits to them: nor the devil; though he would devour, he cannot; for greater is he that is in the saints, than he that is in the world: nor can sin; for though it wars against them, it shall not have the dominion over them; and though it often breaks in upon their peace and comfort, it cannot damn and destroy their souls: nor the law; for though it pronounces guilty, and curses those that are under it, and are of the works of it, yet since Christ has fulfilled it for his people, by obeying its precepts, and bearing its penalty, the curse, it lies not against them, nor can it inflict any punishment on them: nor the men of the world; who hate and persecute the saints; these can do them no real harm; they cannot hurt their grace, which shines the brighter, being tried and proved in the furnace of affliction; they cannot destroy their peace and comfort by all the trouble they give them; all the harm they can do them is to their bodies; they can do none to their souls; and even all the evil things they do to their bodies work together for their good; and they must be very wicked men that will do harm in any respect to such as behave well in states, cities, towns, or neighbourhoods:

if ye be followers of that which is good; of God, who is essentially, originally, and infinitely good, and does good to all his creatures, by imitating him in holiness and righteousness, in kindness, mercy, and beneficence; and of Christ, the good Shepherd, following him in the exercise of grace, as of humility, love, patience, c. and in the discharge of duty and of good men, the apostles of Christ, the first churches, faithful ministers, and all such who through faith and patience have inherited the promises, and that both in doctrine and practice; and of all good things, whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, particularly righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Some copies, as the Alexandrian, and others, read, "zealots", or "zealous of good"; of good works, as in Titus 2:14 and so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? - This question is meant to imply, that as a general thing they need apprehend no evil if they lead an upright and benevolent life. The idea is, that God would in general protect them, though the next verse shows that the apostle did not mean to teach that there would be absolute security, for it is implied there that they might be called to suffer for righteousness” sake. While it is true that the Saviour was persecuted by wicked people, though his life was wholly spent in doing good; while it is true that the apostles were put to death, though following his example; and while it is true that good people have often suffered persecution, though laboring only to do good, still it is true as a general thing that a life of integrity and benevolence conduces to safety, even in a wicked world. People who are upright and pure; who live to do good to others who are characteristically benevolent and who are imitators of God - are those who usually pass life in most tranquillity and security, and are often safe when nothing else would give security but confidence in their integrity. A man of a holy and pure life may, under the protection of God, rely on that character to carry him safely through the world and to bring him at last to an honored grave. Or should he be calumniated when living, and his sun set under a cloud, still his name will be vindicated, and justice will ultimately be done to him when he is dead. The world ultimately judges right respecting character, and renders “honor to whom honor is due.” Compare Psalms 37:3-6.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. Who is he that will harm you — Is it possible that a man can be wretched who has God for his friend? "All the devices which the devil or wicked men work against such must be brought to naught, and by the providence of his goodness be dispersed."

If ye be followers, &c.] Εαν Του Αγαθου μιμηται γενησθε· If ye be imitators of the good One, i.e. of God. Ὁ Αγαθος, the good One, is one of God's prime epithets, see Matthew 19:17, and Satan is distinguished by the reverse, ὁ πονηρος, the EVIL one, Matthew 13:19, where see the notes. Instead of μιμηται, followers, or rather imitators, ζηλωται, zealous of what is good, is the reading of ABC, fifteen others, both the Syriac, Erpen's Arabic, the Coptic, AEthiopic, Armenian and Vulgate, with some of the fathers. This is a very probable reading, and Griesbach has placed it in the margin as a candidate for the place of that in the text.