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1Pe_3:17. κρεῖττον γάρ ] γάρ gives the ground of the exhortation contained in συνείδ . ἔχ . ἀγ .; the explanation of this κρεῖττον is contained in chap. 1Pe_2:19 ff.
ἀγαθοποιοῦντας … πάσχειν ] The connection between these two ideas is the same as that between ἀγαθοποιοῦντες καὶ πάσχοντες , chap. 1Pe_2:20, the participles giving not simply the special circumstances, as Hofmann asserts, but the reason of the suffering; this Schott denies as regards the first member: ἀγαθοποιοῦντας .[192]
The parenthetical clause: ΕἸ ΘΈΛΟΙ ΤῸ ΘΈΛΗΜΑ ΤΟῦ ΘΕΟῦ , belongs to ΠΆΣΧΕΙΝ ; the optative denotes the possibility: “if such should be the will of God”
On the pleonasm: θέλοι τὸ ΘΈΛΗΜΑ , see Winer, p. 562 [E. T. 755]. The thought here is not quite the same as that of chap. 1Pe_2:20. There, chief stress is laid on ὙΜΟΜΈΝΕΙΝ , to which no special prominence is here given. But, as in the former case the exhortation is enforced by reference to Christ, i.e. to His sufferings, so is it here also, in the following paragraph on to the end of the chapter, only that in this passage the typical character of His sufferings is less emphasized, whilst the exaltation which followed them is brought specially forward.
[192] It must, indeed, be noted that those sufferings which the believers, as such, have to endure from the unbelieving world, overtake them because of their ἀγαθοποιεῖν ; Christians who, though confessing Christ, at the same time live entirely like the children of the world, are well liked by the world.