1 Peter Chapter 2, Verse 1
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1: αποθεμενοι ουν πασαν κακιαν και παντα δολον και υποκρισεις και φθονους και πασας καταλαλιας
1: Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and
hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,
1: Wherefore laying away all malice and all guile and dissimulations
and envies and all detractions,
Wherefore laying aside. On the word rendered laying aside, see Rom 13:12 Eph 4:22, Eph 4:25 Col 3:8.
The allusion is to putting off clothes; and the meaning is, that we are to cast off these things entirely; that is, we are no longer to practise them. The word wherefore (oun) refers to the reasonings in the first chapter. In view of the considerations stated there, we should renounce all evil.
All malice. All evil, (kakian.) The word malice we commonly apply now to a particular kind of evil, denoting extreme enmity of heart, ill-will, a disposition to injure others without cause, from mere personal gratification, or from a spirit of revenge. -- -Webster. The Greek word, however, includes evil of all kinds. see "Rom 1:29".
Comp. see "Acts 8:22, where it is rendered wickedness, and 1Cor 5:8, 1Cor 14:20 Eph 4:31 Col 3:8 Tit 3:3.
And all guile. Deceit of all kinds. see "Rom 1:29"; see "2Cor 12:16"; see "1Thess 2:3".
And hypocrisies. see "1 Tim 4:2"; see "Mt 23:28"; see "Gal 2:13, on the word rendered dissimulation. The word means, feigning to be what we are not; assuming a false appearance of religion; cloking a wicked purpose under the appearance of piety:
And envies. Hatred of others on account of some excellency which they have, or something which they possess which we do not. see "Rom 1:29".
And all evil speaking. Greek, Speaking against others. This word (katalalia) occurs only here and in 2Cor 12:20, where it is rendered backbitings. It would include all unkind or slanderous speaking against others. This is by no means an uncommon fault in the world, and it is one of the designs of religion to guard against it. Religion teaches us to lay aside whatever guile, insincerity, and false appearances we may have acquired, and to put on the simple honesty and openness of children. We all acquire more or less of guile and insincerity ill the course of life, We learn to conceal our sentiments and feelings, and almost unconsciously come to appear different from what we really are. It is not so with children. In the child, every emotion of the bosom: appears as it is. Nature there work, well and beautifully. Every emotion is expressed; every feeling of the heart is developed; and in the cheeks, the open eye, the joyous or sad countenance, we know all that there is in the bosom, as certainly as we know all that there is in the rose by its colour and its fragrance. Now, it is one of the purposes of religion to bring us back to this state, and to strip off all the subterfuges which we may have acquired in life; and he in whom this effect is not accomplished has never been converted. A man that is characteristically deceitful, cunning, and crafty, cannot be a Christian. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven," Mt 18:3.
