1-peter 3:17
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
American King James Version (AKJV)
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
American Standard Version (ASV)
For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Because if it is God's purpose for you to undergo pain, it is better to do so for well-doing than for evil-doing.
Webster's Revision
For it is better, if the will of God is so, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing.
World English Bible
For it is better, if it is God's will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.
English Revised Version (ERV)
For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.
Clarke's 1-peter 3:17 Bible Commentary
For it is better - See on 1 Peter 2:19, 1 Peter 2:20 (note).
Barnes's 1-peter 3:17 Bible Commentary
For it is better, if the will of God be so - That is, if God sees it to be necessary for your good that you should suffer, it is better that you should suffer for doing well than for crime. God often sees it to be necessary that his people should suffer. There are effects to be accomplished by affliction which can be secured in no other way; and some of the happiest results on the soul of a Christian, some of the brightest traits of character, are the effect of trials. But it should be our care that our sufferings should not be brought upon us for our own crimes or follies. No man can promote his own highest good by doing wrong, and then enduring the penalty which his sin incurs; and no one should do wrong with any expectation that it may be overruled for his own good. If we are to suffer, let it be by the direct hand of God, and not by any fault of our own. If we suffer then, we shall have the testimony of our own conscience in our favor, and the feeling that we may go to God for support. If we suffer for our faults, in addition to the outward pain of body, we shall endure the severest pangs which man can suffer - those which the guilty mind inflicts on itself.
Wesley's 1-peter 3:17 Bible Commentary
3:17 It is infinitely better, if it be the will of God, ye should suffer. His permissive will appears from his providence.