1 Peter 3:15 (LSB)

Passage

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear,

Nearby Context

1 Peter 3:13 And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their fear, and do not be troubled,

1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear,

1 Peter 3:16 having a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing good rather than for doing wrong.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "sanctify", "christ", "lord", "hearts", "always", "ready", "make", and "defense". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "sanctify" and "christ", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "But even if you should suffer for..." into verse 16's "having a good conscience so that in...", so "sanctify" and "christ" 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 "sanctify" and "christ" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.