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1 Peter 2:12

in 1 Peter 2

Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

KJV

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

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This verse in 1 Peter 2

Commentary

4 notes on this verse

A commentator

Polycarp of Smyrna

Epistle to the Philippians 10 · Written before 155.

Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the faith, loving the brotherhood, and being attached to one another, joined together in the truth, exhibiting the meekness of the Lord in your intercourse with one another, and despising no one. When you can do good, defer it not, because "alms delivers from death." Be all of you subject one to another, "having your conduct blameless among the Gentiles," that ye may both receive praise for your good works, and the Lord may not be blasphemed through you.

This site's exposition

as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts

on 1 Peter 2:11-12

Dearly beloved softens the appeal even as it repeats the letter's identity language, strangers and pilgrims, and grounds ethical instruction in identity rather than mere rule-keeping. Fleshly lusts, which war against the soul names an internal battle before any external one, the same warfare Paul describes at Galatians 5:17. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles turns the private battle outward: visible good works answer slander and can turn watching pagans to glorify God in the day of visitation, mission carried by conduct where words are refused a hearing.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Having your conversation honest - Living in such a manner among the Gentiles, in whose country ye sojourn, as becomes the Gospel which ye profess. That whereas they speak against you as evil doers - In all the heathen countries, in the first age of the Church, the Christians and the Jews were confounded together; and as the latter mere everywhere exceedingly troublesome and seditious, the Christians shared in their blame, and suffered no small measure of obloquy and persecution on this very account.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The same Greek verb occurs in a similar sense in 1Pe 3:2. "Other men narrowly look at (so the Greek implies) the actions of the righteous" [BENGEL]. TERTULLIAN contrasts the early Christians and the heathen: these delighted in the bloody gladiatorial spectacles of the amphitheater, whereas a Christian was excommunicated if he went to it at all.

The words behind it

26 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Matthew 5:16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.178 worksPhilippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.46 works1 Peter 3:16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.42 worksEphesians 2:10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.41 worksTitus 2:7–8In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,36 worksPhilippians 2:15–16so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world31 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Corinthians 8:21For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.25 worksJames 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.23 works1 Thessalonians 4:12Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.20 works1 Peter 1:15But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,20 works1 Timothy 4:12Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.19 worksPhilippians 1:27Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,17 worksEphesians 4:29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.17 worksTitus 2:8and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.15 works1 Peter 4:14–16If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.13 works2 Corinthians 1:12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.13 works1 Peter 4:4Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.13 worksRomans 13:13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.12 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Matthew 5:16

    In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

    it leads to

    • Titus 2:7

      In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,

    • John 15:8

      This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

    • 1 John 1:5–7

      And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

    • Philippians 2:15–16

      so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

    • Ephesians 5:8

      For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

  • Through

    1 Peter 3:16

    keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.

    it leads to

    • 1 Peter 2:15

      For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

    • Hebrews 13:18

      Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

    • Titus 2:8

      and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.

Where this verse is studied

About 1 Peter

Peter's Denial — the restored sufferer — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
Peter's Denial — the restored sufferer — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
1 Peter: the study guide →Read 1 Peter 2 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Polycarp of Smyrna, Epistle to the Philippians 10.

Read on in 1 Peter 2 →