1 Peter 3:17 (KJV)

Passage

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Nearby Context

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.

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Peter 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "will of God", "better", "suffer", "well", "doing", "than", and "evil". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "will of God" and "better", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "Having a good conscience that whereas they..." into verse 18's "For Christ also hath once suffered for...", so "will of God" and "better" 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 "will of God" and "better" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.