Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Peter 3:14

εἰ καὶ πάσχοιτε. The καὶ throws the emphasis upon the words which follow, e.g. 1 Corinthians 7:21 εἰ καὶ δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι means “if you do have the chance of obtaining your freedom.” So here the meaning is “If after all you should be called upon to suffer” in spite of what I have said as to its improbability.

εἰ with an optative expresses a contingency which is regarded as being quite uncertain. It is very rare in the N.T. (see J. H. Moulton Gram. p. 196), and, except in passages which are virtually oratio obliqua (Acts 20:16; Acts 27:39; Acts 24:19, etc.), it occurs only here and in 1 Peter 3:17, and 1 Corinthians 14:10; 1 Corinthians 15:37, εἰ τύχοι = perhaps. This passage is evidently based upon our Lord’s words Matthew 5:10 “Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”

τὸν δὲ φόβον αὐτῶν κ.τ.λ. “Fear not their fear neither be troubled, but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord.” The quotation is taken from Isaiah 8:12-13 where the prophet is instructed by God not to share in the general panic caused by the invasion of Judah by Israel and Syria in the reign of Ahaz. The presence of the Lord of Hosts is the one true object of reverence and of fear, of reverence because. He is a sanctuary or place of asylum to those who trust Him, of fear because He is a stone of stumbling to the disobedient (cf. 1 Peter 2:8). So St Peter bids his readers not to admit thoughts of terror with which their persecutors try to inspire them, but to set up Christ as the one object of reverent fear, the Lord and Master in their hearts.

In the LXX. τὸν φόβον αὐτῶν probably means the fear which others feel, i.e. the general panic, though some would explain it to mean “that which they worship” i.e. heathen Gods. This would give a possible meaning in 1 Pet. if the passage refers to attempts to induce Christians to revert to heathenism. But more probably it means—their threats, the fear which they try to inspire in you.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Peter 3:14

Old Testament

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