Amplified: WHAT SHALL we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow? (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
GWT: What should we say then? Should we continue to sin so that God's kindness will increase? (GWT)
KJV: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Moule: What shall we say then? Shall we cling to the sin that the grace may multiply, the grace of the acceptance of the guilty?
NLT: Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? (NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: Now what is our response to be? Shall we sin to our heart's content and see how far we can exploit the grace of God?  (Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest: What then shall we say? Shall we habitually sustain an attitude of dependence upon, yieldedness to, and cordiality with the sinful nature in order that grace may abound? (Eerdmans
Young's Literal:  What, then, shall we say? shall we continue in the sin that the grace may abound?


Continue (epimeno from epí = upon, in or at + méno = abide, endure, continue, stay or remain > epí intensifies the meaning and so this word is a strengthened form of méno and gives the force of adherence to and persistence in what is referred to) means literally to tarry, to stay at or with, to abide in, to continue in.

The most common usage of epimeno in the NT is the literal picture of one abiding, remaining on, tarrying or staying at a place (Ac 10:48, 21:4, 10, 28:12, 14, 1Co 16:7, 8, Ga 1:18)

Epimeno was used to describe someone abiding in some one’s home as a guest with the idea of fellowship, cordial relations, dependence and social intercourse.

Luke uses epimeno with the literal meaning to describe the request of new converts to Peter asking "him to stay on (epimeno) for a few days." (Acts 10:48) and with the figurative meaning describing when Peter "continued (epimeno) knocking" (Acts 12:16) and of Paul and Barnabas' urging of the new converts "to continue (epimeno) in the grace of God" (Acts 13:43).

Epimeno  was sometimes used of a person’s purposely living in a certain place and of making it his permanent residence.

Epimeno - 16x in 16v - John 8:7; Acts 10:48; 12:16; 21:4, 10; 28:12, 14; Ro 6:1; 11:22, 23; 1Cor 16:7, 8; Gal 1:18; Phil 1:24; Col 1:23; 1Tim 4:16.
BBE: At my first meeting with my judges, no one took my part, but all went away from me. May it not be put to their account.
GWT: At my first hearing no one stood up in my defense. Everyone abandoned me. I pray that it won't be held against them.
KJV: At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
Phillips: The first time I had to defend myself no one was on my side - they all deserted me. God forgive them!
Wuest: During my self-defense at the preliminary trial, not even one person appeared in court, taking his stand at my side as a friend of mine, but all let me down. May it not be put to their account.
Young's Literal: in my first defence no one stood with me, but all forsook me, (may it not be reckoned to them!)

Forsook (egkataleipo from en = in + kataleipo = forsake, desert) means literally to leave down in. It conveys the sense of deserting someone in a set of circumstances that are against him. The idea is to let one down, to desert, abandon, leave in the lurch, leave one helpless. In Romans 9:39 the verb means to cause to remain or to exist after a point in time.

The root verb kataleipo (from kata = intensifies or strengthens the meaning of leipo = to leave behind, forsake, to be wanting or deficient) literally means to leave behind or leave remaining (of a person or place - Mt 4:13, 16:4, 21:17, He 11:27). Kataleipo is often used to indicate abandoning a heritage, giving up riches, and leaving one's native land. Figuratively kataleipo was used to mean "neglect" (Acts 6:2). Kataleipo conveys a strong sense of to abandon or forsake (as forsaking true Christianity 2Pe 2:15).

Egkataleipo - 10x in 10v - Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34; Acts 2:27, 31; Ro 9:29; 2Co 4:9; 2Ti 4:10, 16; Heb 10:25; 13:5. NAS = abandon(1), abandoned(1), deserted(2), forsake(1), forsaken(3), forsaking(1), left(1).
Amplified: But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
KJV: 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:
NLT:  Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. (NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: simply concentrate on being completely devoted to Christ in your hearts. Be ready at any time to give a quiet and reverent answer to any man who wants a reason for the hope that you have within you.  (Phillips: Touchstone)
Young's Literal: and the Lord God sanctify in your hearts. And be ready always for defence to every one who is asking of you an account concerning the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Answer(apologia from apo = from + logos = word, speech) literally means, “to talk one’s self off from".

The word "answer" is the Greek word "apologia," and refers to a legal defense. It's a compound of the words apo and logos. Apo meaning, back, and logos meaning word. When compounded, it means to answer back and depicts a reply, a response, or an answer. The word was us to describe a court trial where the accused was given the opportunity to give a respond or an answer to the charges brought against him. (Sparkling Gems, by Rick Renner p. 926).>

In 1 Pet. 3:15 Peter is insisting that the believer must understand what he believes and why, and then be able to articulate one’s believes.

The Greek word apologia is where we get our word for apologetics and means to give a defense of what one believes to be true. Wilbur Smith identifies it as a verbal defense of what one believes to be true.

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