1 Peter 3:17 (DRB)

Passage

For it is better doing well (if such be the will of God) to suffer than doing ill.

Nearby Context

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you.

1 Peter 3:16 But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better doing well (if such be the will of God) to suffer than doing ill.

1 Peter 3:18 Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit,

1 Peter 3:19 In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "will of God", "better", "doing", "well", "such", "suffer", and "than". 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 "But with modesty and fear having a..." into verse 18's "Because Christ also died once for our...", 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.