1 Petrus 1:6-7

1:6 This brings you great joy, ¹  although you may have to suffer ²  for a short time in various trials. 1:7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, ³  which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away ⁴  – and will bring praise ⁵  and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁶ 

1 Petrus 2:19

2:19 For this finds God’s favor, ⁷  if because of conscience toward God ⁸  someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly.

1 Petrus 3:14-17

3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer ⁹  for doing what is right, ¹⁰  you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them ¹¹  or be shaken. ¹²  3:15 But set Christ ¹³  apart ¹⁴  as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. ¹⁵  3:16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, ¹⁶  keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. ¹⁷  3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, ¹⁸  than for doing evil.

1 Petrus 4:1

4:1 So, since Christ suffered ¹⁹  in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin, ²⁰ 

1 Petrus 4:12-14

4:12 Dear friends, do not be astonished ²¹  that a trial by fire is occurring among you, ²²  as though something strange were happening to you. 4:13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed ²³  you may also rejoice and be glad. ²⁴  4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, ²⁵  who is the Spirit of God, ²⁶  rests ²⁷  on you.

1 Petrus 4:19

4:19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good. ²⁸ 

1 Petrus 5:9

5:9 Resist him, ²⁹  strong in your faith, because you know ³⁰  that your brothers and sisters ³¹  throughout the world ³²  are enduring ³³  the same kinds of suffering. ³⁴ 

[1:6]  ¹ tn Grk “in which you exult.”

[1:6]  ² tc ‡ The oldest and best witnesses lack the verb (א* B, along with 1505 pc), but most mss (Ì⁷² א² A C P Ψ 048 33 1739 Ï) have ἐστίν here (estin, “[if] it is [necessary]”). The verb looks to be an explanatory gloss. But if no verb is present, this opens up the time frame in the author’s mind even more, since the conditional particle for both the first class condition and the fourth class condition is εἰ (ei). That may well be what was on the author’s mind, as evidenced by some of his other allusions to suffering in this little letter (3:14, 17). NA²⁷ has the verb in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[1:6]  tn Grk “Though now, for a little while if necessary, you may have to suffer.”

[1:7]  ³ tn Or “genuineness,” the result of testing. On the other hand it may denote the process of testing: “that the proving of your faith…may bring praise.”

[1:7]  sn The author is not asserting that the quality of the readers’ faith is in doubt and will be proven by future trials. He declares their faith to be a present reality in v. 5 and 9, so in context v. 8 affirms that their faith is indeed genuine.

[1:7]  ⁴ tn Grk “which is passing away but is tested by fire,” describing gold in a lesser-to-greater comparison with faith’s proven character.

[1:7]  ⁵ tn Grk “that the testing of your faith…may be found unto praise,” showing the result of the trials mentioned in v. 6.

[1:7]  ⁶ tn Grk “at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (cf. v. 13).

[2:19]  ⁷ tn Grk “For this [is] favor/grace,” used as a metonymy of that which pleases him, which he looks on with favor (cf. BDAG 1079 s.v. χάρις 2). Cf. 1 Pet 2:20.

[2:19]  ⁸ tc The expression “consciousness/conscience of God” (συνείδησιν θεοῦ; suneidhsin qeou) is unusual, occurring only here in the NT. Because θεοῦ was liable to misinterpretation, several witnesses altered the text, either replacing it with ἀγαθήν (agaqhn; C Ψ 323 614 630 945 1241 1505 1739 al sy) or expanding the expression by adding ἀγαθήν before θεοῦ (Ì⁷² [A* 33] 81). Replacing θεοῦ with ἀγαθήν conforms to other NT phrases, notably in this same letter (Acts 23:1; 1 Tim 1:5, 19; 1 Pet 3:16, 21), suggesting that such a reading is motivated. The reading θεοῦ, however, has superior support (א A^c B P 049 Ï lat co), and best explains the rise of the other readings.

[2:19]  tn Grk “conscious(ness) of God,” an awareness of God and allegiance to him.

[3:14]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “because of righteousness.”

[3:14]  ¹¹ 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]  ¹² sn A quotation from Isa 8:12.

[3:15]  ¹³ tc Most later mss (P Ï) have θεόν (qeon, “God”) instead of Χριστόν (Criston; “Christ”) here. But Χριστόν is widely supported by excellent and early witnesses (Ì⁷² א A B C Ψ 33 1739 al latt sy co), and as a less common idiom better explains the rise of the other reading.

[3:15]  ¹⁴ tn Or “sanctify Christ as Lord.”

[3:15]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “the hope in you.”

[3:16]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “but with courtesy and respect,” continuing the command of v. 15. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[3:16]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “when you are spoken against.”

[3:17]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “if the will of God should will it.” As in 3:14 the Greek construction here implies that suffering for doing good was not what God normally willed, even though it could happen, and in fact may have happened to some of the readers (cf. 4:4, 12-19).

[4:1]  ¹⁹ tc Most mss (א² A P Ï) add ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν (Juper Jhmwn, “for us”); others (א* 69 1505 pc) add ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν (Juper Jumwn, “for you”), the first hand of א also has ἀποθανόντος (apoqanonto", “since he died”) instead of παθόντος (paqonto", “since he suffered”). But the reading without ὑπὲρ ἡ/ὑμῶν best explains the rise of the other readings, for not only is there confusion as to which pronoun belongs here, but the longer readings, being clarifications, are evidently motivated readings. The shortest reading is found in important and early Alexandrian and Western witnesses (Ì⁷² B C Ψ 0285 323 1739) and is strongly preferred.

[4:1]  ²⁰ sn Has finished with sin. The last sentence in v. 1 may refer to Christ as the one who suffered in the flesh (cf. 2:21, 23; 3:18; 4:1a) and the latter part would then mean, “he has finished dealing with sin.” But it is more likely that it refers to the Christian who suffers unjustly (cf. 2:19-20; 3:14, 17). This shows that he has made a break with sin as vs. 2 describes.

[4:12]  ²¹ tn Or “do not be surprised, taken aback.” The same verb occurs in 4:4.

[4:12]  ²² tn Grk “at the burning among you, occurring to you for testing.”

[4:13]  ²³ tn Grk “in the revelation of his glory.”

[4:13]  ²⁴ tn The verb “be glad” is used also in 1:6 and 1:8. The verbs of v. 13b are used together in Matt 5:12 and Rev 19:7.

[4:14]  ²⁵ tc Many mss, some of them important and early ([א] A P 33 81 323 945 1241 1739 pm bo), add καὶ δυνάμεως (kai dunamew"; “and of power”) here. The shorter reading is supported by Ì⁷² B K L Ψ 049 pm). Although the evidence is evenly divided, the longer reading looks to be an explanatory or liturgical expansion on the text and for this reason should be considered secondary.

[4:14]  ²⁶ tn Grk “the Spirit of glory and of God.”

[4:14]  ²⁷ sn A quotation taken from Isa 11:2.

[4:19]  ²⁸ tn Grk “in doing good.”

[5:9]  ²⁹ tn Grk “whom,” referring to the devil in v. 8. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[5:9]  ³⁰ tn Grk “knowing,” a participle that usually denotes a reason for the related action.

[5:9]  ³¹ tn Grk “your brotherhood.” The Greek term “brotherhood” is used in a broad sense to connote familial relationships within the family of God (cf. BDAG 19 s.v. ἀδελφότης 1). Another alternative translation would be “your fellow believers,” though this would weaken the familial connotations. This same word occurs in 2:17; there it has been translated “family of believers.”

[5:9]  ³² tn Grk “your brotherhood in the world,” referring to the Christian community worldwide.

[5:9]  ³³ tn This verb carries the nuance “to accomplish, complete,” emphasizing their faithful endurance in suffering. The verb is passive in Greek (“suffering is being endured by your brotherhood”), but has been translated as an active to give a smoother English style.

[5:9]  ³⁴ tn Grk “the same things of sufferings.”