1 Peter 3:15
- (KJV) But
sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
(1611 KJV) But sanctifie the Lord
God in your hearts, & be ready
alwayes to giue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope
that is in you, with meekenesse and feare:
(1587 Geneva Bible) But sanctifie the
Lord God in your hearts: and
be ready alwayes to giue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the
hope that is in you, with meekenesse and reuerence,
(1526 Tyndale) but sanctifie the
Lorde God in youre hertes. Be
redy all wayes to geve an answere to every man that axeth you a reson of the
hope that is in you and that with meaknes and feare:
Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord:
[being] ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason
concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:
(ASV) but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord:
being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason
concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:
(AMP) But in your hearts set Christ apart [as
holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be
ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope
and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with
gentleness and respect.
(CEB) Instead, regard Christ as holy in your hearts.
Whenever anyone asks you to speak of your hope, be ready to defend it.
(CEV) Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your
life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.
-
(CSB) but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any
time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that
is in you.
- (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition) But sanctify the
Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh
you a reason of that hope which is in you.
(ERV) But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts.
Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you
have.
(ESV) but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as
holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a
reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
(GNB) But have reverence for Christ in your hearts,
and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to
explain the hope you have in you,
(HCSB) but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts.
Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the
hope that is in you.
(JB Phillips) You need neither fear their threats nor
worry about them; simply concentrate on being completely devoted to Christ in
your hearts.
(LEB) but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts,
always ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you for an accounting
concerning the hope that is in you.
(LB) Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and
if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a
gentle and respectful way.
(THE MESSAGE) Through thick and thin, keep your hearts
at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and
tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the
utmost courtesy.
(NABRE) but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for
your hope,
(NASV) but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,
always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account
for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
(NCV) But respect Christ as the holy Lord in your
hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the
hope you have,
(NET) But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and
always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.
(NIRV) But make sure that in your hearts you honor
Christ as Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about
the hope you have. Be ready to give the reason for it. But do it gently and with
respect.
(NIV) But in your hearts revere 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,
(NLT) Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your
life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to
explain it.
(NRSV) but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.
Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an
accounting for the hope that is in you;
(RSV) but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the
hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence;
(VOICE) but exalt Him as Lord in your heart. Always be
ready to offer a defense, humbly and respectfully, when someone asks why you
live in hope. Keep your conscience clear so that those who ridicule your good
conduct in the Anointed and say bad things about you will be put to shame.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) But sanctify the Christ as
Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone who demands
of you a reason for the hope you have, but doing so with a mild temper and deep
respect.
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
κυριον δε τον θεον
αγιασατε εν ταις καρδιαις υμων ετοιμοι δε αει προς απολογιαν παντι τω αιτουντι
υμας λογον περι της εν υμιν ελπιδος μετα πραυτητος και φοβου
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
κυριον δε τον χριστον αγιασατε εν ταις καρδιαις υμων
ετοιμοι αει προς απολογιαν παντι τω αιτουντι υμας λογον περι της εν υμιν ελπιδος
αλλα μετα πραυτητος και φοβου
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus -
Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
33 (Minuscule) - Ninth Century
P 72 - Third/Fourth Century
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus
Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
K 018 - Ninth century
L 020 - Ninth century
P 025 - Ninth century
Published Critical Greek Texts with
Corruptions
Reads “Christ” instead of “God”
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in
1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902
Affected Teaching
Peter continues from verse 14 that we are not to be
afraid of those who would terrorize us but we are to set apart the Lord God in
our hearts. 1 Peter 3:14 (KJV) But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake,
happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; If we
allow fear to take over, then that fear becomes the master. If God reigns in our
hearts, we will not only elude the fear but will then be able to give an answer
to every one concerning the hope we have in our hearts. The word in the Greek
for answer is “apologia” where we derive our English word “apologetics” from and
it just means a reasoned defense. Every believer should be able to give a
reasoned defense of the true Christian faith, especially now in the day we live
in when so many false religions exist and so many false branches of Christianity
exist. We must be able to give a reason why we believe what we do and we must do
it in gentleness and fear. That fear being an awe of God in which we show
dependence upon Him during these times. (Luke 12:12 KJV) For the Holy Ghost
shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. It is
important to realize our dependence upon God but it also strengthens our witness
if we study and learn the Scriptures because they are the word of God and many
times our defense of the faith will come directly out of the Scriptures. When we
read the history of the martyrs, we would read that they knew the Scriptures and
were able to give a strong reasoned defense for the true faith. 1 Peter 3:15 is
basically a quote from Isaiah 8:13. Isaiah 8:13 (KJV) Sanctify the LORD of
hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
We are not to fear man but to fear the Lord. By changing “God” to Christ” they
remove the venue which is transferred from Isaiah to 1 Peter.
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