SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 3:5

3:5–6

Peter now gave an example of a woman in the Old Testament who had this inner beauty, Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

3:5a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For here introduces an example of women who acted as Peter had just recommended. Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. Translate it in a way that is natural to introduce an example in your language. Here is another way to translate this:

For example (Contemporary English Version)

this is how: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this is how here refers back to the previous verse and implies “having a gentle and quiet spirit and not wearing excessive clothes and jewelry.” Here is another way to translate this phrase:

In this same way (New Century Version)

3:5b

the holy women of the past: Peter was referring to the women whose good lives were recorded in the Old Testament.

holy women: The phrase holy women means women who belonged to God and who lived pure and pious lives because they belonged to God. Some other ways to translate this phrase include:

devout women (Good News Translation)
-or-
women of God’s people (Revised English Bible)

adorned themselves: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as adorned themselves is a verb is in the imperfect, implying that this is what the holy women regularly or customarily did. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

used to make themselves beautiful (New International Version)
-or-
expressed their beauty (God’s Word)
-or-
their beauty was like this…

3:5c

They put their hope in God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as They put their hope in God means “They trusted God.” See how you translated hope in 1:3c and 1:21c.

3:5d

and were submissive to their husbands: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were submissive is the same as in 3:1a.

© 2018 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 4:15

4:15–16

What Peter says in these verses is similar to what he said in 2:20.

4:15a–b

meddler: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as meddler occurs only here in the New Testament. Therefore commentators do not entirely agree about its meaning. It appears to have the general meaning of “someone who causes trouble” or “someone who causes trouble by interfering in other people’s business.” Other ways to translate this word include:

mischief-maker (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
troublemaker (NET Bible)

© 2018 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 1:2

1:2

There are different ways to interpret the connections between the ideas in 1:2. The Notes on 1:2a–e discuss the ideas and connections in detail. Here is a summary:

(a) God the Father chose the believers to whom Peter was writing (and all who believe in Jesus) to be his own people.

(b) God knew the believers before he chose them, and his choice agreed with that knowledge.

(c) God chose the believers by the work of his Spirit to make them holy as his own people.

(d) God chose them so that they would obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood.

Notice that (c) expresses the means by which God chose the believers and (d) expresses the purpose for which he chose them.

1:2a

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as according to means “in agreement with.” God knew the believers before he chose them, and his choice was consistent with what he already knew of them.

In some languages it is necessary to change the order of choosing and knowing. For example, the God’s Word says:

God the Father knew you ⌊long ago⌋ and chose you

the foreknowledge of God the Father: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foreknowledge indicates that what God planned in the past, God makes sure will happen according to his plan. The word does not indicate when in the past God made his plan. In some languages it may be necessary to include a general expression like:

much earlier
-or-
long ago (New Living Translation (2004))

The phrase may be expressed in several ways:

God planned long ago to choose you (New Century Version)
-or-
God the Father chose you long ago according to his plan
-or-
God the Father purposed long ago to choose you

If your language uses passive verbs, you could say:

It was God the Father’s purpose long ago to choose you

1:2b

and sanctified by the Spirit: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and is literally “in” or “by.” There are several ways to understand the way that this part of the verse relates to 1:1b–1:2a:

(1) The sanctifying work of the Spirit was the means by which God chose Peter’s readers to be his own people. For example, the New American Standard Bible says:

[chosen…] by the sanctifying work of the Spirit

(New International Version, King James Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, New American Standard Bible)

(2) The sanctifying work of the Spirit was another thing that God did for Peter’s readers. For example, the Good News Translation says:

[You were chosen…] and were made a holy people by his Spirit

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation)

(3) The sanctifying work of the Spirit was the purpose for which God chose Peter’s readers. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible says:

[chosen] to be made holy by the Spirit

(God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you choose interpretation (1). God’s Spirit sanctified (set apart) the people for God as his own. This was the way that God chose them.

sanctified by the Spirit: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sanctified by the Spirit means that God’s Holy Spirit had sanctified Peter’s readers. To “sanctify” something is to set it apart as holy and belonging to God. In this context the Spirit had made Peter’s readers holy and had set them apart for God. Now they belonged to God alone. Other ways to translate this are:

being set apart by the Spirit (NET Bible)
-or-
the consecrating work of the Spirit (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the Spirit has made you holy (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the Spirit setting you apart ⌊only for God

1:2c

for obedience to Jesus Christ: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces two purposes for which God chose the believers (1:2c and 1:2d). The first purpose was that they would obey Jesus Christ. In this context Peter probably implied a special way in which they had obeyed. They had obeyed Jesus Christ by believing in him and recognizing him as their Lord whom they would continue to obey forever. Other ways to translate this are:

to be obedient to Jesus Christ
-or-
in order that you would obey Jesus Christ
-or-
because he/God wanted you to obey Jesus Christ

1:2d

sprinkling by His blood: This phrase is a figure of speech that tells the second purpose for which God chose the believers. Jesus’ blood symbolizes his death. The action of sprinkling the blood symbolizes that God purifies believers from their sins because Jesus died for them. It does not imply that Jesus’ literal blood would be sprinkled on them.

The symbol of sprinkling a person with blood was used in the Old Testament. In Exodus 24:3–8, Moses sprinkled the blood of bulls on the people of Israel in order to symbolize that God was purifying them.

Here are possible ways to translate this:

Translate both the figure of speech and its meaning. For example:

so that ⌊God would declare you not guilty of your sins⌋ because of Jesus Christ’s ⌊death, as though his⌋ blood was sprinkled on you
-or-
to be sprinkled by his blood ⌊that purifies you from your sins

Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

[to] be purified by his blood. (Good News Translation)
-or-
so that ⌊God⌋ might use the blood/death of Jesus Christ to make/declare you pure/not guilty

Translate the figure of speech and include a footnote to explain the meaning. An example of a possible footnote is:

Jesus’ blood symbolized his death for people. In the Old Testament, Moses sprinkled the Israelites with blood from bulls sacrificed to God. This was a symbol that God was purifying them. See Exodus 24:3–8 and Leviticus 14:6–7. Now God purifies believers from their sins and declares them forgiven because Jesus died for them.

His blood: The blood of Jesus Christ refers to blood that he shed when he died. You may need to make this explicit. For example:

the blood of his ⌊death
-or-
his ⌊life⌋ blood

Paragraph 1:2e

1:2e

Grace and peace be yours in abundance: During the time that Peter wrote this letter, Christians often greeted each other by saying “Grace and peace to you.” It was a sort of blessing. Here Peter expressed his desire for God to bless his readers. If you have a similar form of greeting or blessing in your language, you may be able to use it here. Refer to your translation of the similar phrases in Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; and Philippians 1:2.

Some English versions indicate that God is the source/giver of the Grace and peace (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004)). You may do this if it sounds natural in your language and culture. For example:

May you know more and more of God’s grace and peace (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

In some languages it may be necessary to use different phrases to express the ideas of Grace and peace. Notice the two phrases connected by “and” in the examples below:

May God show⌋ you much grace and ⌊give⌋ you much peace.
-or-

May God⌋ favor you and calm your hearts/minds more and more.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in abundance is literally “be multiplied.” To have grace and peace in abundance means “to have much grace and peace,” “to experience grace and peace greatly or increasingly.” In some languages, there may be an idiom to express this idea. Some ways to translate this are:

May you receive ⌊God’sspecial favor and live in increasing peace.
-or-
May God favor you more and more and make you supremely content.

Grace: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Grace refers to kindness that is shown to people freely, not because they have done anything to deserve it. The Christians added the word Grace to the common Jewish greeting of “peace.” In this context, the word refers to God’s grace. He is good to people because he loves them. The people have not done anything to deserve his goodness.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

kindness
-or-
generous help
-or-
favor

peace: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as peace means wholeness or well-being. It describes the calmness that people could feel by knowing that God was taking care of them. For believers in Jesus, it also implies the peace of knowing that God has forgiven them and is pleased with them. They do not have to worry or be afraid.

Another way to say this is:

that you may be calm/peaceful

In some languages there may be an idiom to express this idea.

General Comment on 1:2e

Your language may usually require you to translate both of the nouns Grace and peace with a clause, rather than a single word. However, when you translate greetings, you may want to use a shorter expression. In 1:2e, Peter was greeting his readers, not teaching them about “Grace and peace”.

© 2018 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 2:9

Paragraph 2:9–10

In this paragraph, Peter described the honorable status that God had given his readers. He used titles that OT writers had used to speak of the people of Israel. Many of Peter’s readers were not Jews. Peter meant that all believers, whether Jew or Gentile, are now united as God’s chosen people.

2:9a

But you are: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But you are mark a contrast between the fate of unbelievers and the honor that God gives believers. Other ways you may be able to show this contrast include:

But ⌊as for you⌋, you are…
-or-
But you ⌊are different from them⌋. You ⌊who believe⌋ are…

a chosen people: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as people often refers to a distinct large group of people who are related to each other by a blood relationship. Believers are not literally one race, but they are spiritually brothers and sisters, in that God is their heavenly Father.

Many English versions have translated people as “race.” For example:

a chosen race (Revised Standard Version)

chosen: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as chosen is also found at 2:4b and 2:6c. It is a passive verb. If in your language you must use an active verb and say who did the choosing, then you may make it explicit that it is God who chooses his people. For example:

But you are God’s chosen…people. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You, however, are the people ⌊God⌋ has chosen.
-or-
But ⌊you are different. God⌋ chose you.

2:9b

a royal priesthood: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as royal may be translated as:

(1) an adjective, meaning royal, or belonging to the king. For example:

the King’s priests (Good News Translation)

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

(2) a noun, meaning kingdom. The believers are priests who together form a nation ruled by a king. For example:

a kingdom of priests (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Living Translation (2004), New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) as most English versions do. The priesthood is royal in the sense that it belongs to or serves the king, who is God.

priesthood: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as priesthood occurs in only one other place in the New Testament, at 2:5b. See how you translated it there. It is recommended that you also translate it here in a way that shows that the believers together form a priesthood.

2:9c

a holy nation: Peter continued to describe the church in terms borrowed from the Old Testament. Like the people of Israel in the Old Testament, all believers in Christ together form a holy nation.

holy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as holy here means “set apart for God” or “dedicated to God.” God chose believers to be in fellowship with him, dedicated to serve him willingly. See how you translated holy in 1:15 and 1:16. Here is another way to translate this word:

dedicated (Revised English Bible)

nation: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as nation is different from the one translated as “people” or “race” in 2:9a. However, these two Greek words had a similar meaning. A nation was a group of people linked or united by language or culture or race.

2:9d

a people for God’s own possession: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a people for God’s own possession is literally “a people for possession.” The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word God in order to make the meaning clear. Some English translations simply supply the pronoun “his”:

a people of his own (NET Bible)

a people: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a people is similar in meaning to the words translated as “people” in 2:9a and “nation” in 2:9c. You should use the word in your language that is most accurate and natural, even if it is one of the words that you have already used in this verse.

2:9e

to: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to introduces the purpose for which God chose Christians to be his own holy people. Some ways to translate this include:

in order that… (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
You were chosen to… (New Century Version)
-or-
so that… (NET Bible)

proclaim the virtues of Him: God chose the believers and made of them a priesthood and holy nation for a purpose. He intended them to tell other people the wonderful things that God has done.

proclaim: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as proclaim can also be translated as:

make known
-or-
declare (New International Version)
-or-
tell (Contemporary English Version)

Your language may require you to say to whom the believers were to make these things known. In that case you may be able to say:

for you to make known ⌊to people
-or-
for you to tell ⌊other people

the virtues of Him: There are several ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the virtues of Him :

(1) It refers to the wonderful things that God has done. For example:

the wonderful acts of God (Good News Translation)

(Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation)

(2) It refers to the virtues or excellencies of God, the attributes of God. For example:

the excellent qualities of God (God’s Word)

(Berean Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, God’s Word)

(3) It refers to the words of praise spoken about God by his people. For example:

the praises of God (New Jerusalem Bible)

(King James Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), which has the support of leading commentaries.

2:9f

who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: Peter was referring to God. God is the one who called Peter’s readers out of darkness and into…light. This is one of the wonderful deeds for which Peter’s readers were to praise him. In some languages it may be natural to make this explicit. You may want to begin a new sentence here:

For God⌋ called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

called: If in your language a verb like called is unnatural in this context, then you may be able to say something like:

brought (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
summoned
-or-
led

darkness: Here, darkness is a metaphor representing the miserable condition of unbelievers because of their sinfulness. Peter’s readers were in that darkness before they became reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. By believing in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they moved out of the darkness of sin and into the light of God. Another way to translate this is:

spiritual⌋ darkness

marvelous: Other ways to translate the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as marvelous include:

wonderful (New International Version)
-or-
amazing (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

light: Here, light is a metaphor for the goodness, purity and truth that come from God. Another way to translate this is:

spiritual⌋ light

General Comment on 2:9

It may be more natural in your language to make explicit that each of the phrases in 2:9 identifies the believers as being God’s people. For example, the Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English shows this by making explicit that they are “his”:

But you are God’s “chosen generation,” his “royal priesthood,” his “holy nation,” his “peculiar people”…. It is for you now to demonstrate the goodness of him who has called you out of darkness into his amazing light. (Underlining added.)

© 2018 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 3:16

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))

© 2018 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 5:7

5:7a

Cast all your anxiety on Him: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Cast all your anxiety on Him is literally “casting all your anxiety on him,” continuing the sentence from the previous verse. The Berean Standard Bible has chosen to begin a new sentence here, as do many other English translations.

This Greek clause connects with the previous verse and suggests that one way in which we humble ourselves before God (5:6) is by casting all our anxiety onto him. The word anxiety means “fear, worry.” Peter wanted his readers to tell God about their concerns and trust him to take care of them. He used a figure of speech to express this idea, as if he wanted his readers literally to Cast or throw their worries onto God. Other ways of translating this clause include:

give all your worries to him (New Century Version)
-or-
Leave all your worries with him (Good News Translation)
-or-
If you have any kind of trouble in your mind, give it to God (Easy English Bible)

5:7b

because He cares for you: This verse part gives the reason why believers can freely cast their anxiety upon God. The reason is that God loves them and is concerned about their well-being. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

he provides what you need
-or-
he is watching over you

General Comment on 5:7a–b

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of these verse parts and to give first the reason for the command:

7b God cares for you, so 7a turn all your worries over to him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

7b He cares for you, so 7a cast all your anxiety on him (Revised English Bible)

© 2018 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 1:13

Section 1:13–25

God wants believers to live holy lives

In this section Peter urged his readers to live holy lives (vv. 13–16). Christ had paid a great price to save them (vv. 17–21) and had given them new life (vv. 23–25). In response to God’s kindness they should love one another (1:22).

Some other headings for this section are:

Live Holy Lives (God’s Word)
-or-
Chosen To Live a Holy Life (Contemporary English Version)

Paragraph 1:13–16

1:13a

Therefore: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore introduces Peter’s words of practical teaching based on what he had just written in the preceding section. In this new section, Peter began to tell his readers how to think and act. Other ways you might be able to say this include:

So then (Good News Translation)
-or-
Because ⌊of all that God has done for you

prepare your minds for action: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as prepare your minds for action is literally “tie up the waist/loins of your(plur) mind.” This is a metaphor. In Peter’s time, men as well as women usually wore long robes. When they prepared to do hard work, the men pulled their robe up and tied it at their waist with a rope or belt. They were then ready for action.

Peter applied this metaphor to his readers’ minds. He was telling them to be mentally ready for action.

There are various ways to translate this. For example:

Keep all of the metaphor:

gird up the loins of your mind (King James Version)

Keep part of the metaphor:

gird up your minds (Revised Standard Version)

Give the meaning without the metaphor:

Your minds…must be…ready for action (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
prepare your minds for action (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
be alert (Contemporary English Version)

Use the form that is the most clear and natural in your language.

for action: The phrase for action is not in the Greek text. Because the metaphor Peter used is not natural or understood in modern English, the Berean Standard Bible and some other versions have supplied the words for action to make the meaning of this metaphor clear.

1:13b

Be sober-minded: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as Be sober-minded is literally “be sober.” Since the context refers to the mind, Peter is probably not telling his readers here not to get physically drunk. Rather, this is a metaphor. Peter wanted his readers to think clearly and be alert and in control of their thoughts and actions. Some ways this may be translated are:

your minds must be clear (God’s Word)
-or-
you must control your thoughts

A few translations understand the word “fully” to apply to “sober” rather than to “hope.” For example:

with minds that are alert and fully sober (New International Version)

1:13c

Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you: Peter told his readers to trust fully in God’s kindness towards them. Because of his kindness, God saved them. Peter wanted his readers to be completely confident that they would receive everything good associated with God saving them.

Set your hope: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Set your hope is literally the command “hope.” Other ways of translating this include:

put…your hope (Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Place your confidence (God’s Word)
-or-
Look forward to (New Living Translation (2004))

fully: The Greek adverb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fully means “completely.” In some languages it may be natural to translate it as an adjective:

put your full hope

on the grace to be given you: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to be given you is literally “being brought to you.” This is a passive clause. If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb, you may be able to use one of these models:

in what God’s kindness will bring you… (God’s Word)
-or-
to the special blessings that will come to you… (New Living Translation (2004))

grace: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grace means “kindness, goodwill.” Here it refers to all the good things that God is going to give believers on the last day. These include all the blessings of the inheritance that God is keeping for them in heaven (1:4a–b), including eternal life and freedom from sin. This grace also includes the praise, glory and honor to be given to them by God (1:7d). See the note on the word grace at 1:10a. Some other ways to translate this are:

God’s⌋ kind/gracious help
-or-

God’s⌋ loving kindness

1:13d

at the revelation of Jesus Christ: Peter used this phrase at 1:7e also. The meaning here is the same as it was at 1:7. Jesus Christ will return to this world on the last day. He will reveal himself to people everywhere in the world. Everyone will be able to see him. You may be able to translate this as:

when Jesus Christ reveals himself (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
when Jesus Christ appears again (God’s Word)
-or-
when Jesus Christ will return for everyone to see

© 2018 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 2:20

2:20a–b

How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it?: This is a rhetorical question. It implies a negative answer, “It is not to your credit at all.” It is really a strong negative statement. There are two ways to translate it:

Translate it as a rhetorical question. For example:

What credit do you deserve if you endure a beating for doing something wrong? (God’s Word)

Translate it as a statement. For example:

If you are beaten for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for being patient in your punishment. (New Century Version)

2:20a

This sentence begins with a Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible does not translate but which the New International Version translates as “But” and the Revised Standard Version as “For.” It introduces a reason why the punishment one endures has to be “unjust” for this to be commendable. You should introduce this in a way that is natural in your language.

How is it to your credit…?: The phrase how is it to your credit means “what honor do you deserve ⌊from God⌋…?” Other translation models include:

who will praise you…?
-or-
what glory is there…?

2:20b

if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it: In some languages it may be natural to translate the events in this verse part in the order in which they happen. For example:

if you do wrong and then receive your punishment patiently

are beaten: The phrase you are beaten is a passive verbal phrase. It refers to being punished severely by being hit repeatedly. In some cases the master would beat the servant personally, but in others he would perhaps order another servant to do it. So you could translate this as:

your master⌋ punishes you
-or-

your master⌋ causes/orders you to be beaten

2:20c

But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But here introduces an alternative possibility. Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural in your language. An English idiom to express this idea is:

On the other hand (Revised English Bible)

if you suffer for doing good and you endure it: In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit that the slave suffers “punishment,” or a beating, as in the previous verse part:

if you do nothing but what is right, ⌊and your master still punishes you⌋ and you endure ⌊that punishment⌋ patiently

2:20d

this is commendable before God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this is commendable before God is literally “this ⌊is⌋ grace/favor before God.” It means that this kind of suffering pleases God. See how you translated to be commended in 2:19a. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

this finds favor with God (NET Bible)

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