1 Peter 2:20
in 1 Peter 2How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
KJV
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
⋯
This verse in 1 Peter 2
Commentary
12 notes on this verseTo whom would He have rather made known the veiled import of His own language, than to him to whom He disclosed the likeness of His own glory-to Peter, John, and James, and afterwards to Paul, to whom He granted participation in (the joys of) paradise too, prior to his martyrdom? Or do they also write differently from what they think-teachers using deceit, not truth? Addressing the Christians of Pontus, Peter, at all events, says, "How great indeed is the glory, if ye suffer patiently, without being punished as evildoers!
This site's exposition
Servants, submit yourselves to your masters
on 1 Peter 2:18-20
Household slaves are told to submit even to those who are unreasonable, regulating a real institution as Ephesians 6:5 to 9 does. A beating for doing wrong earns no credit. Suffering for doing good, borne by one conscious of God, is commendable before God.
This site's exposition
suffer for doing good
Adam Clarke notes that servants who became Christians were often beaten for refusing to join the idol worship of their masters. Enduring a beating for doing wrong earns no credit. Bede says that servants who suffer for doing good follow the Lord.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Peter shows here that those who deserve punishment receive no mercy or grace from God if they perish.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust. For this is grace, if anyone endures grief for the sake of conscience toward God when suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, …
The Medieval Church2 voices
But if you suffer for doing good, etc. Note carefully how greatly he glorifies the condition of servants, whom he declares to be imitators of the Lord's passion by doing good and, without fault, receiving punishment from cruel and wicked masters. Indeed, you hear that …
The word "fear" is used in various meanings. Fear is called, first, conscious fear; the apostle now calls it conscience; it is also called reverence. Fear is called, second, passionate fear, experienced in the face of impending punishment; this fear is observed even in animals. …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Sufferings in this world are not always pledges of our future happiness; if children or servants be rude and undutiful, and suffer for it, this will neither be acceptable with God nor procure the praise of men. (2.) More reasons are given to encourage Christian servants to patience under unjust sufferings,
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
For what glory is it - It appears from this that the poor Christians, and especially those who had been converted to Christianity while in a state of slavery, were often grievously abused, they were buffeted because they were Christians, and because they would not join with their masters in idolatrous worship.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
what--Greek, "what kind of." glory--what peculiar merit. buffeted--the punishment of slaves, and suddenly inflicted [BENGEL]. this is--Some oldest manuscripts read, "for." Then the translation is, "But if when . . . ye take it patiently (it is a glory), for this is acceptable." acceptable--Greek, "thankworthy," as in 1Pe 2:19.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For what glory is it - What honor or credit would it be. If, when ye be buffeted for your faults - That is, if you are punished when you deserve it. The word “buffet” (κολαφίζω kolaphizō) - means, to strike with the fist; and then to strike in any way; to maltreat, Mat 26:67; Mar 14:65; 1Co 4:11; 2Co 12:7. Perhaps there may be a reference here to the manner in which servants were commonly treated, or the kind of pun ishment to which they were exposed. They would be likely to be struck in sudden anger, either by the hand, or by anything that was accessible. The word rendered “for your faults,” is sinning, (ἁμαρτάνοντες hamartanontes.) That is, “if being guilty of an offence, or having done wrong.” The idea is, that if they were justly punished, and should take it patiently, there would be no credit or honor in it. Ye shall take it patiently - “If, even then, you evince an uncomplaining spirit, and bear it with the utmost calmness and patience, it would be regarded as comparatively no virtue, and as entitling you to no honor. The feeling of all who saw it would be that you deserved it, and there would be nothing to excite their sympathy or compassion. The patience evinced might indeed be as great as in the other case, but there would be the feeling that you deserved all that you received, and the spirit evinced in that case could not be regarded as entitled to any particular praise. If your masters are inflicting on you only what you deserve, it would be in the highest degree shameful for you to rise up against them, and resist them, for it would be only adding to the wrong which you had already done.” The expression here is, doubtless, to be understood comparatively. […]
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ποῖον | poion | What kind of | G4169 → | |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| κλέος | kleos | credit [is it] | G2811 → | |
| εἰ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| ἁμαρτάνοντες | hamartanontes | sinning | G264 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| κολαφιζόμενοι | kolaphizomenoi | being struck | G2852 → | |
| ὑπομενεῖτε; | hupomeneite | you will endure? | G5278 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | But | G235 → | 635 times |
| εἰ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| ἀγαθοποιοῦντες | agathopoiountes | doing good | G15 → | 9 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πάσχοντες | paschontes | suffering | G3958 → | 42 times |
| ὑπομενεῖτε, | hupomeneite | you will endure, | G5278 → | |
| τοῦτο | touto | this [is] | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| χάρις | charis | commendable | G5485 → | 153 times |
| παρὰ | para | before | G3844 → | |
| θεῷ. | theo | God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
ποῖονWhat kind of
poionG4169 →
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
κλέοςcredit [is it]
kleosG2811 →
εἰif
eiG1487 →508 times
ἁμαρτάνοντεςsinning
hamartanontesG264 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
κολαφιζόμενοιbeing struck
kolaphizomenoiG2852 →
ὑπομενεῖτε;you will endure?
hupomeneiteG5278 →
ἀλλ᾽But
all᾽G235 →635 times
εἰif
eiG1487 →508 times
ἀγαθοποιοῦντεςdoing good
agathopoiountesG15 →9 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πάσχοντεςsuffering
paschontesG3958 →42 times
ὑπομενεῖτε,you will endure,
hupomeneiteG5278 →
τοῦτοthis [is]
toutoG3778 →1381 times
χάριςcommendable
charisG5485 →153 times
παρὰbefore
paraG3844 →
θεῷ.God.
theoG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Luke 6:32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
it leads to
- Matthew 5:46–47
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
- 1 Peter 2:19–20
For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.
- Matthew 5:46–47
Through
1 Peter 3:17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:14
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
- 1 Peter 4:19
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
- Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
- 1 Peter 2:15
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
- 1 Peter 3:14
Through
1 Peter 2:19For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.
it leads to
- Matthew 5:10–12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- 1 Peter 3:14–17
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
- Matthew 5:10–12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies26
On this verse
On this chapter
- Aaron
- An Eye for an Eye in the Law of Moses
- Elders and Deacons
- You Are Good, and You Do What Is Good
- Hanged on a tree
- Be Holy, Because I Am Holy
Show the next 6 titles
About 1 Peter
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 1 PETER; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter; Tertullian, Scorpiace and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.