3:16a

Christians should behave well so that those who insult them might become ashamed of what they have said.

keeping a clear conscience: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as keeping a clear conscience is literally “having a good conscience.” A person’s conscience is said to be clear or good when they have not done anything to feel ashamed of. They have only done what is right. Translators should think what idiom or expression their language uses for conscience.

3:16b–c

those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as your good behavior in Christ has been interpreted in two ways:

(1) It indicates what other people slander. These people slander their good behavior in Christ. For example:

you will make people ashamed for saying bad things about your good conduct as a follower of Christ (Contemporary English Version)

(Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, NET Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It indicates how other people are put to shame. They are put to shame by your good behavior in Christ. For example:

if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ (New Living Translation (2004))

(Berean Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as most English versions do.

3:16b

so that: The phrase so that introduces the purpose for keeping a clear conscience, or doing what is right.

those who slander you: This is referring to people who were making false accusations about the Christians. Other ways to translate this include:

they speak evil of you (King James Version)
-or-
people speak against you (New Living Translation (2004))

3:16c

may be put to shame: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as may be put to shame here means “will be humiliated.” Peter was saying that these people would be brought into public disgrace and embarrassment. Another way to translate this is:

they will become ashamed (Easy English Bible)

your good behavior in Christ: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in Christ here identifies Peter’s readers as Christians, members of Christ’s body, his church. Other ways to translate this include:

your good conduct as followers of Christ (Good News Translation)
-or-
what a good life you live because you belong to Christ (New Living Translation (2004))

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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