SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:13
¿Y quién es aquel que os podrá dañar, si vosotros seguís el bien?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 3:13
Verse 13. Who is he that will harm you] Is it possible that a man can be wretched who has God for his friend? "All the devices which the devil or wicked men work against such must be brought to naught, and by the providence of his goodness be dispersed." If ye be followers, &c.] ean tou agaqou mimhtai genhsqe? If ye be imitators of the good One, i.e. of God. Æo agaqov, the good One, is one of God's prime epithets, see Matt. xix. 17, and Satan is distinguished by the reverse, o ponhrov, the EVIL one, Matthew xiii. 19, where see the notes. Instead of mimhtai, followers, or rather imitators, zhlwtai, zealous of what is good, is the reading of ABC, fifteen others, both the Syriac, Erpen's Arabic, the Coptic, AEthiopic, Armenian and Vulgate, with some of the fathers. This is a very probable reading, and Griesbach has placed it in the margin as a candidate for the place of that in the text.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. And who is he that will harm you , etc.] Or “can harm you”. God will not; for his eyes are upon the righteous, to protect and defend them, and, his ears are open to their cries, to avenge them; he is on their side, and he is the only lawgiver that is able to save, and to destroy. Christ will not; for when he came the first time, it was not to condemn, but to save; and when he comes a second time, though he will rule the wicked with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces as a potter's vessel; yet his people, who are his jewels, he will spare, as a man spares his only son. Good angels will not; these rejoice at the conversion, and in the salvation of sinful men, encamp about the saints, and are ministering spirits to them: nor the devil; though he would devour, he cannot; for greater is he that is in the saints, than he that is in the world: nor can sin; for though it wars against them, it shall not have the dominion over them; and though it often breaks in upon their peace and comfort, it cannot damn and destroy their souls: nor the law; for though it pronounces guilty, and curses those that are under it, and are of the works of it, yet since Christ has fulfilled it for his people, by obeying its precepts, and bearing its penalty, the curse, it lies not against them, nor can it inflict any punishment on them: nor the men of the world; who hate and persecute the saints; these can do them no real harm; they cannot hurt their grace, which shines the brighter, being tried and proved in the furnace of affliction; they cannot destroy their peace and comfort by all the trouble they give them; all the harm they can do them is to their bodies; they can do none to their souls; and even all the evil things they do to their bodies work together for their good; and they must be very wicked men that will do harm in any respect to such as behave well in states, cities, towns, or neighbourhoods: if ye be followers of that which is good ; of God, who is essentially, originally, and infinitely good, and does good to all his creatures, by imitating him in holiness and righteousness, in kindness, mercy, and beneficence; and of Christ, the good Shepherd, following him in the exercise of grace, as of humility, love, patience, etc. and in the discharge of duty; and of good men, the apostles of Christ, the first churches, faithful ministers, and all such who through faith and patience have inherited the promises, and that both in doctrine and practice; and of all good things, whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, particularly righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Some copies, as the Alexandrian, and others, read, “zealots”, or “zealous of good”; of good works, as in ( Titus 2:14) and so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-13 - Though Christians cannot always be exactly of the same mind, yet the should have compassion one of another, and love as brethren. If any ma desires to live comfortably on earth, or to possess eternal life in heaven, he must bridle his tongue from wicked, abusive, or deceitfu words. He must forsake and keep far from evil actions, do all the goo he can, and seek peace with all men. For God, all-wise and every wher present, watches over the righteous, and takes care of them. None coul or should harm those who copied the example of Christ, who is perfec goodness, and did good to others as his followers.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 τις 5101 ο 3588 κακωσων 2559 5694 υμας 5209 εαν 1437 του 3588 αγαθου 18 μιμηται 3402 γενησθε 1096 5638
Vincent's NT Word Studies
13. Followers (mimhtai). Lit., imitators. But the best texts read zhlwtai, zealots. So Rev., zealous.
