keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
It is interesting to note that the New Testament writers constantly directs our attention to conscience. The conscience decides our response to controversial and debatable issues, whether it be food, dress code, or conduct towards others and God Himself (1 Corinthians 8:12; Romans 2:14, 15; 1 Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 9:9). John MacArthur defines conscience as “a built-in warning system that signals us when something we have done is wrong...” It is an inbuilt mechanism placed by God to navigate and help humans make the right choices. In this case, Peter is exhorting the Asia Minor Christians to keep their consciences pure as they encounter hateful and malicious comments from their pagan neighbors. The accusations may be false and thereby, trigger the Christians to react in an un-Christlike manner, which will defile their consciences.
The slanderous attacks on Christian individuals and community in Asia Minor will significantly take on a higher level of persecution as the Roman Empire will attack Christianity for all the calamities and misfortune that occurs in Rome. For instance, Emperor Nero blamed the Christians for the burning of Rome that occurred in the early 64 AD which led to thousands of martyrdoms during this era. But for now, the Christians were mainly subject to slanderous verbal abuse and attacks, therefore, Peter, as a shepherd, exhorts them to not lose their disposition but to keep their temperament under control.
It is in the solemn silence of Christians that will cause the pagan neighbors to be ashamed of their irrational conduct. The goal of this is to let the pagan neighbors realize their own insufficiencies in their character and turn to the community of faith. The Christian character of formidability and resoluteness of love and endurance will significantly impact the Roman Empire to recognize the Spirit of boldness and love among the Christians.
Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for the gift of conscience. We pray for confidence and boldness to stand for Christ and the Gospel in this anti-Christ generation. Awaken our love for you and the neighbors around us! In Yeshua's name, amen.
