Read the Bible study passage slowly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully from your own Bible and the Study Text provided on this web page.

You may also find reading from other translations helpful, such as these: 
LSB    NLT

► According to verse 17, what are the two ways that can cause you to suffer?

► According to the whole passage:

• What are the pros and cons of suffering from each of these two ways?

• Which of these two ways is the better way to suffer? 

• Why would you want to, or at least be willing to suffer?

13 Who will harm you,

if you are zealous to do what is good? 

14 But if you should suffer because of righteousness,

you are blessed!

Do not be afraid of them,

nor be intimidated. 

15 Instead, reverence Christ as Lord in your hearts,

always prepared to explain to everyone who asks you about the hope that is in you,

with gentleness

and respect, 

16 having a morally good and clear conscience,

so that whenever they slander you, they,

who are speaking evil of your good conduct in Christ,

may be ashamed. 

17 For it is better to suffer doing good,

if that is God’s will,

than for doing evil, 

► If you have a study Bible, what do the notes on 1 Peter 3:13-17 teach you?

► Go to: https://www.bibleref.com/1-Peter/3/1-Peter-3-13.html 

• On the right side of the webpage, click on the "Expand" button under the Context Summary section and read the commentary there.

• Then, on the left side of the webpage, under the word VERSE, click on each of the verse numbers in this lesson (13-17), one at a time, and read the article on the right side of the webpage under "What does [this verse] mean?".  (Click on the button "Expand" to see the whole article.)

In verse 14, Peter instructs us not to be afraid of or be intimidated by people who cause us any kind of pain or suffering (physical or emotional).

Then in verse 15 he gives us an alternative way to respond to these people.  Instead of being afraid of or intimidated by them, we are to honor Jesus as Lord in our hearts and explain the hope we have to anyone who asks.

► What is this "hope" you should have? (See our lesson on Hope and Faith.)

► Why would anyone ask you about your hope?

► What does God want or not want you to know, feel, think, say or do?