1 Peter 3:9

My Notes

What Does 1 Peter 3:9 Mean?

Peter commands a counterintuitive response to mistreatment: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Not rendering evil for evil — rendering (apodidomi — to give back, to return in kind). The natural reflex when someone does evil to you is to return evil. Peter prohibits the reflex: do not give back what was given to you. The cycle of evil-for-evil is broken by the refusal to reciprocate.

Or railing for railing — railing (loidoria — verbal abuse, insult, reviling). When someone insults you, the instinct is to insult back — to match their railing with equal or greater railing. Peter says: do not return the insult. The verbal cycle of abuse stops with you.

But contrariwise blessing — contrariwise (tounantion — on the contrary, the opposite). The response is not merely non-retaliation. It is the opposite of retaliation: blessing. When evil is done, return blessing. When railing is spoken, return blessing. The response is not neutral. It is actively positive — speaking well of, praying for, seeking the good of the person who attacked you.

Knowing that ye are thereunto called — the blessing response is not optional ethical behavior. It is your calling (kaleo — summoned, appointed). God called you to bless — specifically to bless in response to evil. The calling defines the response: you bless because you were called to bless.

That ye should inherit a blessing — the inheritance (kleronomeo) of blessing is connected to the giving of blessing. The person who blesses in response to evil inherits a blessing. The economy of the kingdom operates on this principle: what you give in response to mistreatment determines what you receive from God. Bless, and you inherit blessing. Retaliate, and you forfeit the inheritance.

The ethic mirrors Jesus's teaching in Matthew 5:44 and Romans 12:14 (bless them which persecute you). The consistent New Testament pattern: break the cycle. Respond to evil with good. And trust that God's blessing follows.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Why does Peter command not just non-retaliation but the opposite — active blessing?
• 2.How does knowing you are 'called' to bless change the response from optional niceness to divine obligation?
• 3.What does the connection between giving blessing and inheriting blessing reveal about the economy of the kingdom?
• 4.Who has done evil or railed against you — and what would it look like to bless them instead of retaliating?

Devotional

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing. Someone does evil to you. Every instinct says: give it back. Match the blow. Return the insult. Make them feel what you felt. Peter says: no. Do not render — do not give back — what was given to you. The cycle of retaliation stops with you.

But contrariwise blessing. Contrariwise — the opposite. Not just restraint. Not just silence. The opposite: blessing. When someone does evil, you bless. When someone insults you, you bless. The response is not proportional to the attack. It is the inversion of the attack. They curse. You bless. They harm. You seek their good.

Knowing that ye are thereunto called. This is not a suggestion for advanced Christians. It is your calling. God called you to this — specifically to respond to evil with blessing. The calling is not conditional on how severe the evil is or how undeserving the person is. You are called to bless. Period.

That ye should inherit a blessing. The economy of the kingdom works differently from the economy of the world. In the world, you retaliate to protect yourself. In the kingdom, you bless to inherit. The blessing you give in response to evil is connected to the blessing God gives to you. The inheritance follows the obedience. Bless, and you are blessed.

This is impossibly hard. Blessing people who do evil to you contradicts everything your flesh demands. But Peter does not say it is easy. He says it is your calling. And the calling comes with an inheritance: the one who blesses in the face of evil inherits a blessing from the God who watches the whole exchange.

What evil are you returning with evil? What railing are you matching with more railing? The cycle ends when you decide to bless. And the blessing you give opens the door to the blessing you inherit.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture