of this kind, and to defend himself vigorously against attack. In 1 P 3:15 we have the well-known injunction to be ‘ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you,’ whether before a judge or in informal conversation—which should probably be interpreted in this sense. In v. 21 of the same chapter ‘the answer (AV) of a good conscience towards God’ is a difficult phrase, and the commentaries should be consulted. ἐπερώτημα can hardly mean ‘answer,’