‘Having a good conscience; that, wherein you are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ, for it is better, if the will of God should so will, that you suffer for well-doing than for evildoing.'
And in this battle between good and evil only the righteous will triumph. Thus the Christians were to ensure that they lived in accordance with a good conscience, so that if any accusations were to be made against them, they could be shown to be patently false. For if they were to suffer for evildoing (compare 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 2:20) then they would but be going in the way of the world and of the disobedient, and be receiving what they deserved. But if God's will should so will that they suffer for well-doing, for righteousness' sake and for the Gospel's sake (whatever the false accusations), then that is clearly the better alternative, and proves that their sufferings have a purpose, and a new meaning.
‘If the will of God should so will.' Note the emphatic nature of the phrase. God is seen as in control and fulfilling His will, and as positively and definitely acting in the bringing about of His will. This is not the thought of a fatalist saying fatalistically ‘it is God's will'. It is the thought of one who is aware that God is positively working in the world, and that what is happening to these Christians is a specific part of His activity and purpose. Once the Son of Man has come to God and received the kingship and the glory (Daniel 7:13-14; Daniel 7:22), the saints of the Most High must suffer for righteousness sake in the process that leads to the establishment of His Kingly Rule. For it is this that will lead on to final triumph when they too share in His Kingship (Daniel 7:22; Daniel 7:27).