1 Peter 3:16

Having a good conscience (suneidhsin econte agaqhn). Present active participle of ecw. See Acts 2:18 for suneidhsin and Acts 3:21 for suneidhsi agaqh again ("a quasi-personification," Hart). That they may be put to shame (ina kataiscunqwsin). Purpose clause with ina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of kataiscunw, old verb, to put to shame ( Luke 13:17 ; 1 Peter 2:6 ). Wherein ye are spoken against (en wi katalaleisqe). Present passive indicative of katalalew, for which see 1 Peter 2:12 with en wi also. Peter may be recalling (Hart) his own experience at Pentecost when the Jews first scoffed and others were cut to the heart ( Acts 2:13 Acts 2:37 ). Who revile (oi ephreazonte). Articular present active participle of ephreazw, old verb (from ephreia, spiteful abuse), to insult, in N.T. only here and Luke 6:28 . In Christ (en Cristwi). Paul's common mystical phrase that Peter has three times (here, Luke 5:10 Luke 5:14 ), not in John, though the idea is constantly in John. Peter here gives a new turn (cf. Luke 2:12 ) to anastroph (manner of life). "Constantly the apostle repeats his phrases with new significance and in a new light" (Bigg).