1 Peter 3:14 (KJV)

Passage

But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

Nearby Context

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

1 Peter 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Peter 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "suffer", "righteousness", "sake", "happy", "afraid", "terror", "neither", and "troubled". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "suffer" and "righteousness", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "And who is he that will harm..." into verse 15's "But sanctify the Lord God in your...", so "suffer" and "righteousness" belong inside that flow. In 1 Peter context, the local focus is hope in suffering, holy conduct, submission, and grace.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "suffer" and "righteousness" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.