1 Peter 3:14-17, Suffering for Righteousness

In February 2015, ISIS, the terrorist organization/army executed 21 Christian men on a beach in Libya. They made a video of the men all kneeling while their executors stood behind them and beheaded them. Did the victims wonder if their lives meant anything, if their suffering had any meaning?

^3:14 But if you in fact suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear their threats or be terrified.” ¹⁵ Set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready with a defense to all who ask you the reason for the hope in you, ¹⁶ but do this with humility and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that if anyone slanders you, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better, if the will of God desires, to suffer for doing good rather than evil.

Generally speaking, Peter has said, you won’t suffer for doing what is right. But there are occasions when you will, as he says, “suffer for righteousness’ sake.” Some of his readers were suffering for their faith in Christ, suffering for righteousness’ sake. Peter’s words to them are, “you are blessed.” Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). To suffer for righteousness meant you were righteous and in favor with God. You were blessed. So do not fear or be terrified. Peter is still thinking of the rock passage in Isaiah 8, where the prophet instructs righteous Israelites not to fear because God will judge their enemies.

Suffering for righteousness was actually an opportunity for evangelism. Believers may set Christ apart as Lord in their hearts, knowing that all that happens to us for his sake is part of his good plan for our lives. And we are to be prepared to make our defense, to give an explanation for why we have hope in the midst of suffering, because people will notice. We can point them to Jesus the Messiah as the one who gives us hope.

Whenever we are defending our faith, however, we are tempted to speak arrogantly and disrespectfully, so Peter urges humility and respect as we answer. We aren’t better than our persecutors or any unbeliever. We are privileged to know Christ and desirous that all may know him. We must give no basis to those who slander us or revile us for our righteous behavior.

So, if we suffer for righteousness, this is what the will of God desires, and it is better to suffer for righteousness than to suffer for having done wrong.