But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15)
Or, “gentleness.” Truth may be rejected if it is communicated in a superior, argumentative manner. The object of truth is to make men Christlike, but if truth is not presented in a Christlike manner it loses its attractiveness.
In you.
We must understand the truth ourselves before we can impart it to others. Furthermore, as Christians apprehend more and more of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, their way of life will increasingly reflect the character of their Lord. The principles of Christianity must be worked out in our lives if our testimony to the truth is to be effective. More often than not a church is judged, not on the basis of its theology or the sermons delivered by its ministry, but by the spontaneous witness of the church members in word and in deed.
Reason of the hope.
Or, “an account concerning the hope.” The Christian hope centers in Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 1:1) and is a cause for rejoicing (Rom. 5:2; Rom. 12:12) because it promises eternal life (Titus 1:2; Titus 3:7). A diligent, never-ending program of study to understand the will of God is the believers’ only road of character improvement. We are to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18; see Eph. 4:13; Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9, 10; see on Eph. 1:17). Honest men are entitled to expect church members to be able to present their convictions in an intelligent, convincing manner. In fact, church members must be prepared to meet the challenges of the world’s keenest minds. Truth is reasonable and is never afraid of the facts.
Answer.
Gr. apologia, “defense” (see on 1 Cor. 9:3). Intelligent men should be able to give reasons for what they believe and practice.
In your hearts.
The presence of Jesus Christ as a hallowed Friend and Keeper ensures the believer of a stabilizing buoyancy that never fails. See on Gal. 2:20.
The Lord God.
Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the reading “the Lord,” that is, the Christ. This reading identifies “the Lord”—Yahweh—of Isaiah’s text (ch. 8:13) with Jesus Christ. For a discussion of Christ’s divine nature see Vol. V, p. 917.
Sanctify.
Or, “reverence,”“consecrate.” The first part of v. 15 is a quotation from Isa. 8:13.