3:17a–b

Peter was saying that it may sometimes be God’s will that Christians suffer as a result of doing good. However, Christians should never bring suffering upon themselves by doing evil.

For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil: This is a comparison. Neither of the two things being compared is actually good in the sense of desirable, but one is better than the other. Peter is saying that it is better to suffer from doing good than for doing evil.

if it is God’s will: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as if it is God’s will suggests that this is a possibility, but it is not likely.

for doing good…for doing evil: The Greek phrases that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for doing good…for doing evil here mean “because you have done good…because you have done evil.”

Some other ways this verse has been translated include:

Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! (New Living Translation (2004))
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You are better off to obey God and suffer for doing right than to suffer for doing wrong (Contemporary English Version)
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After all, if it is God’s will, it’s better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. (NET Bible)

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