Suffer for Doing Good

It is commonly believed that Peter wrote this letter to the churches in Asia Minor from Rome in the early 60s A.D. around the time of Paul’s execution and as persecution was growing across the empire. It was an important reality that Peter was addressing.

He quoted from the prophet Isaiah, applying his message of encouragement to the people of Judah when confronted by the approaching armies of the Assyrians to the circumstances of the first-century people of God. However, Peter was not urging courage merely for the sake of courage or even galvanizing his readers to endure difficult times. Instead, the previous verses were a call for the believers to be compassionate and humble.

They “must turn from evil and do good.” They “must seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:11), again quoting from the Hebrew scriptures (see Psalm 34:14).

This was an instruction to live positive lives and to work for the good of those around them, even amid the threats and challenges of persecution: “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17).

Peter also encouraged them to believe that if they were harassed or arrested for their faith or their good works, they should see it as an opportunity to explain their allegiance to Jesus and the hope they found in Him. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

For Peter, the harsh realities of persecution were not about passive endurance but an opportunity to demonstrate love and perhaps explain their faith.

It was a response of faithfulness rather than fear.