1 Peter 3:10 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For he that will love life,— He that would enjoy life. See Psalms 34:12. The apostle here urges in favour of the virtue which he recommends, that by this the comforts of life will be secured; 1 Peter 3:10-11 the favour of God engaged 1 Peter 3:12 and the malice of men in a great degree disarmed, 1 Peter 3:13, &c.—three arguments of very great weight and importance. This passage seems to be brought in, to anticipate an objection, which would very naturally arise in their minds: "Our patience under injuries, they might say,—and especially our returning good for evil,—will rather invite injuries, than lessen them; and when men see that they can trample upon us with impunity, nay, to their own advantage, they will be the more ready to do so; and the consequence will be, that they will escape, and we shall perish." To this St. Peter replies, that meekness and patience, a holy and peaceable life, are the way for Christians to be preserved, and to escape numberless evils; for God approves of such as behave in that manner, and mankind in general are disposed to treat them kindly.