1 Peter 3:16 (DBY)

Passage

having a good conscience, that [as to that] in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may be ashamed who calumniate your good conversation in Christ.

Nearby Context

1 Peter 3:14 But if also ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed [are ye]; but be not afraid of their fear, neither be troubled;

1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify [the] Lord the Christ in your hearts, and [be] always prepared to [give] an answer [to] every one that asks you to give an account of the hope that [is] in you, but with meekness and fear;

1 Peter 3:16 having a good conscience, that [as to that] in which they speak against you as evildoers, they may be ashamed who calumniate your good conversation in Christ.

1 Peter 3:17 For [it is] better, if the will of God should will it, to suffer [as] well-doers than [as] evildoers;

1 Peter 3:18 for Christ indeed has once suffered for sins, [the] just for [the] unjust, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in flesh, but made alive in [the] Spirit,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "having", "good", "conscience", "speak", "against", "evildoers", "ashamed", and "calumniate". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "having" and "good", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "but sanctify the Lord the Christ in..." into verse 17's "For it is better if the will...", so "having" and "good" 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 "having" and "good" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.