New American Standard Bible (©1995)
and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Keep your conscience clear. Then those who treat the good Christian life you live with contempt will feel ashamed that they have ridiculed you. King James Bible
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. Jump to Previous Occurrence
Accuse Argue Ashamed Behaviour Christ Christian Christians Conscience Consciences Conscious Conversation Curse Deportment Disappointed Evil Evildoers Evil-Doers Falsely Free Good Guilt Keeping Life Manner Modestly Shame Slander Speak Way Whereas Wherein Wrong Jump to Next Occurrence
Accuse Argue Ashamed Behaviour Christ Christian Christians Conscience Consciences Conscious Conversation Curse Deportment Disappointed Evil Evildoers Evil-Doers Falsely Free Good Guilt Keeping Life Manner Modestly Shame Slander Speak Way Whereas Wherein Wrong Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary Verses 16-17 The confession of a Christian's faith cannot credibly be supported but by the two means here specified-a good conscience and a good conversation. conscience is good when it does its office well, when it is kept pure and uncorrupt, and clear from guilt; then it will justify you, though men accuse you. A good conversation in Christ is a holy life, according to the doctrine and example of Christ. "Look well to your conscience, and to your conversation; and then, though men speak evil of you, and falsely accuse you as evil-doers, you will clear yourselves, and bring them to shame. Perhaps you may think it hard to suffer for well-doing, for keeping a good conscience and a good conversation; but be not discouraged, for it is better for you, though worse for your enemies, that you suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing." Learn, 1. The most conscientious persons cannot escape the censures and slanders of evil men; they will speak evil of them, as of evil-doers, and charge them with crimes which their very souls abhor: Christ and his apostles were so used. 2. A good conscience and a good conversation are the best means to secure a good name; these give a solid reputation and a lasting one. 3. False accusation generally turns to the accuser's shame, by discovering at last the accuser's indiscretion, injustice, falsehood, and uncharitableness. 4. It is sometimes the will of God that good people should suffer for well-doing, for their honesty and for their faith. 5. As well-doing sometimes exposes a good man to suffering, so evil-doing will not exempt an evil man from it. The apostle supposes here that a man may suffer for both. If the sufferings of good people for well-doing be so severe, what will the sufferings of wicked people be for evil-doing? It is a sad condition which that person is in upon whom sin and suffering meet together at the same time; sin makes sufferings to be extreme, unprofitable, comfortless, and destructive. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Alphabetical: a against and are ashamed be behavior Christ clear conscience good in keep keeping maliciously may of put revile shame slander slandered so speak that the their thing those to which who will you your Bible Browser | 
