1 Peter 3:15
1 Peter 3:1515But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,
JWs cite as a call to be prepared to defend their faith through the door-to-door ministry. Watchtower publications use it to encourage readiness for field service and to justify their preaching programme. The NWT renders it "sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts" — using "Lord" rather than "Jehovah" despite the OT background in where the command is to sanctify YHWH. The verse is also invoked to emphasise the mild, respectful tone expected of JWs in their ministry encounters.
First Peter 3:15 deliberately echoes , where the command is to "sanctify YHWH of armies — he is the one you should regard as holy." Peter substitutes "the Christ" for "YHWH," identifying Jesus with the God of Isaiah's passage. The NWT avoids inserting "Jehovah" here despite its programme of 237 New Testament insertions and despite the J-references supporting it. The reason is transparent: inserting "Jehovah" would make the verse read "sanctify Jehovah as Lord" while Peter explicitly places "the Christ" in that slot — equating Jesus with YHWH. The verse also models the posture of apologetic engagement: the defence is made "with a mild temper and deep respect," not with aggression or condescension. The apologetic task is grounded in worship ("sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts") before it becomes a public defence.
First Peter 3:15 echoes ("sanctify YHWH of armies"), yet the NWT renders it "sanctify the Christ as Lord" rather than inserting "Jehovah" — despite its programme of 237 NT Jehovah insertions and despite the J-references supporting "Jehovah" here. The insertion is avoided because it would identify Jesus as YHWH. This is part of a broader pattern: the NWT inserts "Jehovah" where it separates Jesus from God, but omits it where insertion would identify Jesus as YHWH (cf. , ).