ACC ~ 1 Peter 3 v15

REVERENCE CHRIST AS LORD. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: This is just what the Lord’s Prayer says: “Hallowed be your name.” ADUMBRATIONS.

WITH GENTLENESS AND REVERENCE. DIDYMUS THE BLIND: We must be so well instructed in the knowledge of our faith that whenever anyone asks us about it we may be able to give them a proper answer and to do so with meekness and in the fear of God. For whoever says anything about God must do so as if God himself were present to hear him. CATENA.

BE PREPARED TO MAKE A DEFENSE. AUGUSTINE: The apostle tells us to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks us for an explanation of our faith, because if an unbeliever asks me a reason for my faith and hope and I perceive that he cannot accept it unless he believes, I give him that very reason, so that he may see how absurd it is for him to ask a reason for things which he cannot grasp until he believes. LETTERS 120.

MAKING CLEAR ONE’S FAITH. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The one who decides to do this is not doing anything new, nor is he making up some new explanation. Rather he is making clear to those who ask him what his faith in Christ is all about. LETTERS 40.8.

SANCTIFY THE LORD IN YOUR HEARTS. ANDREAS: Just as magnifying God cannot add anything to his greatness and glorifying him does not make him any more glorious, so sanctifying the Lord does not mean that there is any addition to his existing holiness. Rather we are called to sanctify him in our hearts, and if we form a clear understanding of his holiness, then we do not sanctify him on one occasion only, but rather by doing this we have a better understanding of what his holiness is and something of it is implanted in our hearts. Likewise someone who magnifies God receives a share of his greatness, and someone who glorifies him is glorified in turn. It is a prophetic voice which says that there should be no fear in you which might prevent you from confessing Christ in your hearts. You should sanctify him there also. For this confession is sanctification both for the soul and for the body. Some people wonder why the Savior said: “Do not worry about what you will say,”but here the apostle writes: “Be ready to give an explanation.” However, there is no contradiction. Jesus was speaking about bearing witness, whereas Peter is talking about teaching others the faith. CATENA.

GOD’S HOLINESS SHINES FORTH. BEDE: What does it mean to sanctify God in your heart if not to love that holiness of his which is beyond understanding, in the innermost depths of your heart? Think what strength to overcome all enemies God gives to those from whose hearts his holiness shines forth. ON 1 PETER.

1 Pet