1 Peter 2:19-23

2:19 For this finds God’s favor, 1  if because of conscience toward God 2  someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. 2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God. 3  2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. 2:22 He 4  committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. 5  2:23 When he was maligned, he 6  did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened 7  no retaliation, 8  but committed himself to God 9  who judges justly.

1 tn Grk “For this [is] favor/grace,” used as a metonymy of that which pleases him, which he looks on with favor (cf. BDAG 1079 s.v. χάρις 2). Cf. 1 Pet 2:20.

2 tc The expression “consciousness/conscience of God” (συνείδησιν θεοῦ; suneidhsin qeou) is unusual, occurring only here in the NT. Because θεοῦ was liable to misinterpretation, several witnesses altered the text, either replacing it with ἀγαθήν (agaqhn; C Ψ 323 614 630 945 1241 1505 1739 al sy) or expanding the expression by adding ἀγαθήν before θεοῦ (Ì72 [A* 33] 81). Replacing θεοῦ with ἀγαθήν conforms to other NT phrases, notably in this same letter (Acts 23:1; 1 Tim 1:5, 19; 1 Pet 3:16, 21), suggesting that such a reading is motivated. The reading θεοῦ, however, has superior support (א Ac B P 049 Ï lat co), and best explains the rise of the other readings.

tn Grk “conscious(ness) of God,” an awareness of God and allegiance to him.

3 tn Grk “For this [is] favor/grace with God,” used as a metonymy as in vs. 19 of that which pleases him, which he looks on with favor (cf. BDAG 1079 s.v. χάρις 2).

4 tn Grk “who,” referring to Christ and applying the quotations from Isa 53 to him. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

5 sn A quotation from Isa 53:9.

6 tn Grk “who being maligned,” continuing the reference to Christ. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

7 tn Grk “he did not threaten, but.”

8 sn An allusion to Isa 53:7.

9 tn Grk “to the one”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.