"but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" (1 Peter 3:15).
This verse is usually seen as being ready to give an answer or "testimony" for the hope that is in us. We should always be prepared to give our testimony, however is ready to make a defense and give an account the same thing? I put forth a different idea for thought. Defense is vindication; justification; apology; that which repels or disproves a charge or accusation, in military skill it is the science of defending against enemies.[1] Defense is defined as any thing that opposes an attack.
In context, Peter is saying to be prepared to make a defense; oppose an attack. He writes do not fear or be troubled by intimidation but sanctify Christ in our hearts and be ready to make a defense, to give account of the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence, so those who slander your good behavior will be put to shame (v. 13-16). An account is a statement and explanation or vindication of one's conduct with reference to judgment thereon, it is a statement of facts or occurrences.[2] Be prepared to disprove a charge or accusation (defend) and be ready to give a statement vindicating yourself (account).
We should be prepared to defend by giving an account. And it is to be done gently by having a clear conscious, an account or the facts straight, and having Jesus the word of God in our hearts. The word of God is the hope that is in us, if we follow it we do right. Basically this is accountability; being accountable for ones actions.[3] If we prepare to make defense by giving an account of what we have done, we are mentally being accountable, we see the facts for what they are. Based on this we either give justification or an apology for our actions.
In an earlier chapter Peter speaks of unreasonable authority. In such cases justification is not sought, they are unreasonable, so we are to endure patiently as being persecuted for Christ. We have prepared ourselves; our heart is in Christ, our defense has been made, if only it is to God we have been accountable to him who judges righteously. It is not a strange thing that we go through trials, we are to patiently endure such trials and rejoice in that it glorifies God (1 Peter 4:12-13).
"If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you" (1 Peter 4:14).
This verse is usually seen as being ready to give an answer or "testimony" for the hope that is in us. We should always be prepared to give our testimony, however is ready to make a defense and give an account the same thing? I put forth a different idea for thought. Defense is vindication; justification; apology; that which repels or disproves a charge or accusation, in military skill it is the science of defending against enemies.[1] Defense is defined as any thing that opposes an attack.
In context, Peter is saying to be prepared to make a defense; oppose an attack. He writes do not fear or be troubled by intimidation but sanctify Christ in our hearts and be ready to make a defense, to give account of the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence, so those who slander your good behavior will be put to shame (v. 13-16). An account is a statement and explanation or vindication of one's conduct with reference to judgment thereon, it is a statement of facts or occurrences.[2] Be prepared to disprove a charge or accusation (defend) and be ready to give a statement vindicating yourself (account).
We should be prepared to defend by giving an account. And it is to be done gently by having a clear conscious, an account or the facts straight, and having Jesus the word of God in our hearts. The word of God is the hope that is in us, if we follow it we do right. Basically this is accountability; being accountable for ones actions.[3] If we prepare to make defense by giving an account of what we have done, we are mentally being accountable, we see the facts for what they are. Based on this we either give justification or an apology for our actions.
"If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you" (1 Peter 4:14).