13 who will harm you if you do good?
14-16 if you do suffer, it is good. keep a good witness.
17-12 keep your behavior pure that the gentiles may glorify god
13-25 specifics of pure behavior
18-25 bear up under injustice
"who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
echoes romans 13:3
robertson says that this is a 3rd class conditional (future more probable)
eav + subjunctive (present or aorist), present or future indicative or imperative
"but even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed"
why?
robertson says that this is a 4th class conditional (future less probable)
ei + optative, av + optative
quote of isaiah 8:12
good with context
"but sanctify christ as lord in your hearts"
the phrase 'as lord' seems significant here.
lord being authority, one in charge...
"always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks about your hope..."
evangelism (in this passage)
1. is done through our hope (v15) and our good character (v16)
2. responses are either 'why do you have hope' (v15) or disappointment in their cursing (v16)
daniel is the perfect example - daniel 6:1-5
3. our responses should be given 'in humility and fear' (depending on your translation)
1. our hope should be obvious.
weird that it is our hope that is the beacon here...
2. in gentleness and reverence.
"for it is better, if the will of god should so will, that you suffer for doing well"
??? - is this saying that it is good to suffer, or that it is better to suffer for good than for evil?
we can not deny that suffering is within the terms of our 'christianity package'