1 Peter 2:1

1 Peter 2:1 ‘Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.'

‘Therefore' -‘resumes the line of argument which was interrupted by verses 23 to 25. The word “so”, or “therefore”, refers back to the command “love one another” in verse 22. This verse explains in more detail what is involved in loving one another “earnestly”: one must put away (give up, get rid of) attitudes and habits which are harmful to others.' (Grudem p. 93) (Romans 6:2; Romans 6:11; Colossians 3:1)

‘putting aside' -‘lay aside, rid oneself of' (Arndt p. 101). The tense is aorist, which indicates. definite and decisive act with permanent results. The admonition is to put off the following things for good, make. clean break. The phrase ‘putting aside', ‘means literally to discard clothing…signifies the putting away of the evils of one's former life as one would discard dirty and defiled linen (Romans 13:12; Colossians 3:8; Colossians 3:10; James 1:21).' (Woods p. 53) ‘So once for all get rid of' (Wms); ‘Now that you have done with..'(TCNT) (See also Ephesians 4:22; Ephesians 4:25; Hebrews 12:1).

POINT TO NOTE: No one can remove these things from our lives, but ourselves. The final decision to part with sinful attitudes and actions must rest with us. We make the choice! Therefore, sin isn't inherent or genetic. And years of counseling, therapy, listening to good preaching, etc…can never make the choice that only we can make. The good news is that each one of us has within ourselves the ability to part with any sin. Thus. habitual sin, is simply. sin that. presently do not want to stop.

‘all' -Even. little bit of sin cannot be justified. Notice that the word ‘all' not only applies to malice, but all the other sins mentioned here. We need to remember this, because rationalizing. little sin is such. common practice.

‘malice' -ill will and especially the desire to injure. ‘an evil disposition and. malignant spirit' (Woods p. 53). This word in the New Testament is frequently joined with grumbling, bitterness and envy (1 Corinthians 5:8; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8; Titus 3:3). ‘Especially when. community (congregation) is under pressure there is. tendency to begin bickering and division, which only makes the community that much more vulnerable to outside pressure.' (Davids p. 80) Malice is the opposite of love. One is active ill will directed toward others, the other, is active good will. ‘A malicious disposition leads to deception, deceit, envy and defamation; and the effort to conceal such produces hypocrisy' (Woods p. 54)

‘all guile' -‘all deceitfulness' (Wey). ‘craft, deceit' (Thayer p. 155); ‘full of every kind of treachery' (Arndt p. 203). All manner or every form of deception. ‘Deceitfulness that harms others through trickery or falsehood.' (Grudem p. 93) This would involve removing all deception in your business dealings, marriage, family, and associations with brethren. Let us be careful that in dealing with others we don't adopt worldly and carnal methods that are so often justified in the surrounding society. Since God is. God of truth, then His people must be truthful. This verse also infers that when we teach others the gospel, that we are completely honest with them. When someone asks what we believe about. certain topic, we need to be honest. If we aren't sure, then admit it.

‘hypocrisy' -‘insincerity' (TCNT). ‘pay acting' (Vine p. 241). This would include, speaking or acting from impure motives (Matthew 6:1); pretending to be righteous on the outside, while remaining unconverted on the inside (Matthew 23:23 ff). The love commanded, which we are to have for our brethren, must be real (1 Peter 1:22). The presentation of God's word must be done with complete truthfulness (1 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 4:2).

‘envy' -‘the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others.' (Vine p. 37) ‘the opposite of thankfulness for good which comes to others.' (Grudem p. 94) Notice how ‘mental' sinful attitudes need to be removed just as well as the actual act. ‘Therefore in his list Peter has neatly cut the ground from any practice other than open truth and love among members of the Christian community; it may be the “tough love” of. rebuke, but Christians should be able to trust that no ulterior motives lie behind fellow-believers' actions and that nothing is said in their absence that has not already been said to their face.' (Davids p. 81)

‘slander' -‘evil speech, defamation, detraction' (Arndt p. 412) The above sins are all interconnected. Included in ‘slander' would be backbiting and gossip. ‘The tongue is. very willing instrument to express the ill will of the heart.' (Hamilton p. 63) (James 4:11)