1 Peter 2 1

1 Peter 2:1 kjv

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,

1 Peter 2:1 nkjv

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

1 Peter 2:1 niv

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

1 Peter 2:1 esv

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

1 Peter 2:1 nlt

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

1 Peter 2 verses

1 Peter 2 1 Meaning

First Peter 2:1 serves as a direct ethical imperative, stemming from the preceding theological truths about new birth and the enduring nature of God's Word. It exhorts believers to actively and comprehensively rid themselves of various vices—malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander—which are antithetical to the regenerated life. This purification is not merely an external act but an internal cleansing, preparing the believer for spiritual growth and authentic communal love, aligning their practical living with their new identity in Christ.

1 Peter 2 1 Context

First Peter 2:1 is the opening verse of a section (2:1-10) that logically progresses from the preceding chapter's theological exposition to practical Christian living. In chapter 1, Peter establishes the believer's new identity in Christ: redeemed by precious blood, born again through the living and abiding Word of God, purified through obedience to the truth, and called to holiness in light of God's holy nature. The verse thus serves as a consequential "therefore," connecting these profound truths to ethical behavior. The commands to shed malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander are a direct outcome of their purification and new birth. This call to purity and unity was particularly vital for Peter's original audience—scattered believers facing social ostracism and nascent persecution within a morally decadent Greco-Roman world. Their transformed conduct, devoid of such vices, would be a clear demonstration of their distinct faith and identity in Christ. It sets the stage for the positive exhortations that follow, like desiring spiritual milk for growth and living as spiritual stones in God's house.

1 Peter 2 1 Word analysis

• Therefore (Διὸ - Dio):

  • Signifies a logical inference or conclusion drawn from the preceding statements.
  • It points back to 1 Pet 1:22-25, particularly the command to "love one another fervently from a pure heart" and their rebirth "through the living and abiding word of God."
  • It underscores that the ethical demands that follow are not arbitrary rules but the natural consequence of a new identity and spiritual reality.

• laying aside (ἀποθέμενοι - apot́hemenoi):

  • A participle, meaning "having put off," "having stripped away," or "having divested oneself of."
  • Implies a decisive and conscious action, akin to taking off dirty garments.
  • Metaphorically used in the New Testament to describe the putting off of sinful habits and the old self (e.g., Eph 4:22; Col 3:8; Jas 1:21).
  • It's an active, intentional purging rather than a passive observation.

• all (πᾶσαν - pasan):

  • "Every" or "the whole of."
  • Emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the command; no exception, no partiality.
  • Believers are called to eliminate these vices entirely from their lives.

• malice (κακίαν - kakian):

  • General wickedness, evil character, ill-will, desire to harm.
  • More than simple spite; it refers to an underlying depraved disposition or harmful intent in thought, word, or deed.
  • It represents a corrupt inner state from which other sins often spring.

• all deceit (δὸλον - dolon):

  • "Cunning," "treachery," "trickery," "guile," "hidden fraudulence."
  • It denotes intentional craftiness, a desire to mislead or betray others for selfish advantage.
  • This is the opposite of sincerity and straightforwardness (1 Pet 2:22).

• hypocrisy (ὑποκρίσεις - hypokriseis):

  • Plural, suggesting various forms or acts of hypocrisy.
  • Originally "an actor playing a part" or "pretense."
  • Signifies insincerity, pretense, a public show of piety or goodness that belies a different inner reality.
  • It undermines authentic community and truthful living.

• envy (φθόνους - phthonous):

  • Plural, referring to instances or forms of envy.
  • Resentment, jealousy, or ill-will aroused by the good fortune, advantages, or success of others.
  • A destructive emotion that corrodes love and can lead to destructive actions or words (e.g., slander).

• and all slander (πάσας καταλαλιάς - pasas katalalias):

  • "All evil speaking," "backbiting," "defamation," "speaking against."
  • The use of "all" (πάσας) again emphasizes the complete elimination of all forms of slander.
  • This refers to words spoken to harm someone's reputation, spread falsehoods, or undermine trust. It is often a manifestation of malice and envy.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore, laying aside all": This opening phrase powerfully links theological conviction to ethical conduct. The new birth in Christ (1 Peter 1) necessitates a radical discarding of every kind of evil. It signifies a decisive, all-encompassing purification. The passive participle indicates that while believers have the power from God, the action is still theirs to perform, cooperating with God's work.
• "malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander": This is a comprehensive list of vices that disrupt relationships and contradict the new nature. They are predominantly relational sins, antithetical to the fervent love for one another commanded in 1 Peter 1:22. These sins foster disunity, bitterness, and mistrust within the Christian community and between believers and the world. Their inclusion implies that these were particular struggles among the original audience, common vices of human fallenness that actively hinder spiritual growth.

1 Peter 2 1 Bonus section

• The list of vices in 1 Peter 2:1 strongly mirrors lists of sins found elsewhere in the New Testament (e.g., Rom 1:29-31, Eph 4:31, Col 3:8, Gal 5:19-21), suggesting a common ethical catechism or understanding of pervasive human sinfulness that must be removed from the Christian life.
• The imperative to "lay aside" is an ongoing spiritual discipline, not a one-time event, reflecting the daily process of sanctification. While the new birth instantly changes status, the purging of sin from conduct is a lifelong commitment.
• This verse can be seen as an appeal for internal purification as a prerequisite for spiritual discernment and reception of God's truth, preparing the heart to desire and grow by "pure milk of the word" (1 Pet 2:2).
• The abandonment of these vices contributes directly to Christian witness. In a pagan society characterized by such immoralities, believers exhibiting sincerity, generosity, and truthfulness would stand out as lights for Christ.

1 Peter 2 1 Commentary

First Peter 2:1 is a pivotal ethical exhortation rooted in the profound theological truths of chapter 1. Because believers have been "born again" (1:23) through God's incorruptible Word and called to "fervently love one another from a pure heart" (1:22), they are now commanded to "lay aside" (put off) all forms of destructive behaviors. This act of "laying aside" is not passive but a conscious, determined act of purification, stripping off old sinful habits like dirty garments. The five specific vices—malice (general wickedness), deceit (trickery), hypocrisy (insincerity), envy (resentment of others' good), and slander (destructive talk)—are profoundly communal and relational sins. They corrupt the heart and tear apart the fabric of Christian fellowship. By eliminating these vices comprehensively ("all malice," "all deceit," "all slander"), believers clear the way for authentic love and prepare themselves, as the subsequent verse implies, to hunger for and grow by the spiritual nourishment of God's Word, thus demonstrating their true identity in Christ to a watching world. This verse underscores that spiritual transformation demands a deliberate abandonment of the old ways for the new, reflecting their new birth in tangible, ethical ways.