1 Peter 3:15

The Text: but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:

The Meaning Given To It: This verse is frequently misused to intimidate people into thinking that at any time, when any person asks any question on any subject they are obligated to respond to those queries. When the one being questioned refuses, this verse is cited to "prove" they have shirked their responsibility, are trying hide their convictions, or are weak, etc., etc.

That this can't be the meaning should be clear without examining the context. When Pilate asked Jesus if he had heard the things spoken against him, "he gave him no answer, not even to one word", Matt. 27:14. And in Jo. 19:8-9 when Pilate wanted to know where he was from, "Jesus gave him no answer". Certainly, then, there are some occasions when a response is not required and, for any number of reasons, might be inappropriate. Likewise there are some people to whom an answer should not be given. If this is not the case, then one needs to explain Jesus' refusal.

The Context: Beginning with vs. 13, Peter discusses a period of persecution that is already present or will shortly come to the Christians to whom he was writing. Their attitudes and conduct under such circumstances are Peter's concern for the next several verses as well as in other parts of his epistle. In the rhetorical question of vs. 13, Peter asks who could inflict real and permanent harm on them if they are as zealous for righteousness as they should be. However, if persecution should come, he urges the saints not to be intimidated and swayed (remember vs. 12), vs. 14. Rather than be intimidated they are urged to act as directed in vs. 15.

The Meaning: Before looking at what the verse is teaching let's notice some other things in this verse that are frequently not stressed as much as the "give answer" part.

"Sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord". Without doing this, our "being ready" or our "giving answer" is meaningless. Unless our answer comes from a heart in which Christ is set apart and enthroned as Lord the words will be meaningless to an ever-listening Jesus.

"With meekness and fear". Perhaps some then felt as a few do today that a "take no prisoners" approach, in which one does whatever it takes to defend the truth, is justified; that you can say and/or do just about anything in the "defense of truth" and in dealing with false teachers. In spite of Paul's statement in 2 Tim. 2:24-25, meekness is equated with being a "wimp".

The text does not say always give an answer but always be ready to give an answer. The word "answer" refers not merely to a reply but to a defense. These early saints were to be ever ready to stand before hostile tribunals and speak in defense of the hope which led them to be the kind of people they were and for which they were persecuted. Let us first of all examine our hearts and make sure that Christ is the Lord of our lives then let us prepare ourselves to speak in defense of the hope we have as Christians and let us do it meekly.

David Smitherman