1 Peter 3:15
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:
Study Note
Study Note
'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' — this is the New Testament's most explicit call to apologetics, grounding it in internal sanctification rather than external technique. The Greek apologia (defense, reasoned account) entered legal vocabulary as a formal defense before a court, and the verse applies it to any questioner about Christian hope. The combination of readiness, content (reason/logos), and manner (meekness and fear/reverence) shapes the classic Christian apologetic ideal: intellectually prepared, experientially grounded, and characterologically humble in contrast to arrogant disputation.
Other Translations
but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:
and the Lord God sanctify in your hearts. And <FI>be<Fi> ready always for defence to every one who is asking of you an account concerning the hope that <FI>is<Fi> in you, with meekness and fear;
But give honour to Christ in your hearts as your Lord; and be ready at any time when you are questioned about the hope which is in you, to give an answer in the fear of the Lord and without pride;
Cross References
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of …
For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me …
Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the …
I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as …
But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my …
Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The Lord sent me to prophesy against …
Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy …