‘Ready to speak the truth of the gospel in a hostile world’ (1 Peter 3:13-17)

Peter’s readers, who lived in the first century world, faced much hostility from all kinds of peoples who did not understand the truths of the Christian faith. It was for this reason that in 1 Peter 3:13-17, Peter exhorted his readers to always be ready to give an account of the hope that they have in Christ. They were to do this with gentleness and respect, but yet be faithful to the gospel they had come to know and believe. Peter’s command remains a challenge for believers in this generation who often face a similar kind of hostility from this world.