2:12a–c

Most of Peter’s readers’ neighbors were not Christians. They would watch how the Christians behaved. Peter wanted his readers to behave so well that their unbelieving neighbors would eventually recognize they were good people and praise God for them. Compare the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5:16.

2:12a

Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles: Peter wanted the believers to behave in a way that others could see to be righteous. He was talking about their public, outward behavior. A similar expression is found in 1:17c. Another translation suggestion is:

Let your conduct among unbelievers be so good (Revised English Bible)

the Gentiles: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Gentiles was used by the Jews to refer to non-Jews, people who did not worship the one true God. If there is an expression in your language for people who worship false gods, you could use that here. Some other ways to translate this word are:

unbelievers (God’s Word)
-or-
unbelieving neighbors (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
non-Christians (NET Bible)

2:12b

though they slander you as evildoers: There are two ways of understanding the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as though they slander you as evildoers :

(1) It assumes and asserts that people were making accusations. For example:

when they accuse you of being evildoers (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation)

(2) It suggests that people might make accusations. For example:

Even if they accuse you of doing wrong (New Living Translation (2004))

(Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Peter was assuming that some of the pagans were actually saying that the Christians were doing evil things.

slander: Peter was speaking about false accusations. The pagans were saying that the believers had done things that they had not done. In your translation, you may need to make it explicit that these accusations were false. One way to do this is to use a word that means “speak falsely against someone.” For example:

malign (Revised English Bible)
-or-
falsely accuse

2:12c

they may see your good deeds and glorify God: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they may see your good deeds and glorify God is literally “by observing your good deeds they may glorify God.” The purpose for living good lives (2:2a) is that the pagans would glorify God.

see your good deeds: In some languages it may be natural to translate deeds as a phrase with a verb:

see the good things you do
-or-
see you do good things

see: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as see means “observe closely.” If you have more than one word for see in your language, choose the one that means to watch someone or something attentively.

and glorify God: The word glorify means to give glory, praise, and honor to someone or something. In this context, Peter is saying that even unbelievers will give glory/praise to God in the future. Some other ways to translate glorify God are:

praise God (God’s Word)
-or-
give honor to God (New Living Translation (2004))

2:12d

on the day He visits us: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as on the day he visits us is literally “on the day of visitation.” The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the information that it was God who was going to visit.

the day: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the day does not necessarily refer to one specific twenty-four hour day. It likely has the more general meaning of “time” or “occasion.” In some languages it may therefore be best to follow the model of the NET Bible:

when he appears (NET Bible)

He visits us: In the Old Testament, the “day of visitation” was a time when God came to people to investigate their conduct. It resulted either in punishment (Isaiah 10:3) or blessing (Genesis 50:24). It is better not to say which it was here. God was going to intervene directly in human affairs. It would be a time of blessing for some and of judgment for others. Some other ways He visits us has been translated include:

he judges the world (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the Day of his coming (Good News Translation)
-or-
when he comes to judge (New Revised Standard Version)

The Berean Standard Bible has also supplied the pronoun us. It is also possible to translate this as “on the day he visits them.” If you must supply an object pronoun, use one that is as general as possible. Most English translations avoid supplying such a pronoun by using a verb that does not require an object. For example:

on the day when Christ comes again (New Century Version)

General Comment on 2:12

In the Greek, as in the Berean Standard Bible, 2:12 is one long sentence. In some languages it may be natural to translate this as two or more sentences. For example:

12a You should live righteously among your pagan neighbors. 12b It is true that they have made false accusations against you. 12c But when they see the good things you do, they will glorify God 12d on the day when he appears.

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