So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter doesn't just tell us to stop these things, he urges us to put them away as if they're dirty clothes to be discarded. Notice he lists them all together, showing how these negative qualities are all interconnected and feed into each other.
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter is urging believers, scattered and facing hardship, to shed their old, sinful ways like a newborn baby yearns for pure milk. He's just reminded them of their new identity in Christ, who is the living Stone rejected by many but chosen by God. Therefore, they must actively strip away the destructive behaviors that characterized their former lives and embrace the nourishing truth of God's Word.
Peter doesn't tiptoe around sin. He calls us to actively shed destructive behaviors. What does this radical 'putting away' really mean for us today?
The Apostle Peter uses a strong verb here, one that implies stripping off dirty clothes or discarding something useless and harmful. This isn't a passive hope that sin will just fade; it's an active, decisive act of the will.
A Deliberate Choice
Think about it: You don't accidentally 'put away' malice. You have to choose to remove it from your life. This command is a call to conscious effort, a spiritual discipline of intentional living.
From Inside Out
Peter lists a series of sins that originate from the heart and manifest in our words and actions: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These are not external pressures, but internal attitudes that corrupt our relationships and our walk with God.
Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander – these aren't random bad habits. They are a coordinated attack from our sinful nature. What binds them together?
Peter's list isn't just a random assortment of negative traits; it's a picture of the 'old self' or the 'flesh' at work.
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The Enemy Within
These sins often feed each other. Envy can breed malice, which can lead to deceitful slander. Hypocrisy is the mask that hides these ugly realities. Peter calls us to disarm this entire arsenal by stripping it away.
Understand the original words
kakia · Greek Noun
A comprehensive term for the desire to do harm to others, encompassing ill-will, wickedness, and a depraved disposition. It is a fundamental attitude of the unregenerate heart that must be cast off by the believer.
dolos · Greek Noun
A crafty, underhanded way of misleading others, often involving trickery or treachery. It stands in direct opposition to the truth and transparency expected in the body of Christ.
hypokrisis · Greek Noun
The act of playing a part or wearing a mask; a discrepancy between one's outward profession and one's true internal state. It is a profound form of spiritual dishonesty.
phthonos · Greek Noun
A painful or resentful awareness of another's advantage, often leading to malice. It is a work of the flesh that destroys communal unity.
katalalia · Greek Noun
Evil speaking, detraction, or disparaging talk about others. It is the verbal expression of a heart that lacks love and seeks to undermine its neighbor.
logikos adolos gala · Greek Noun phrase
Referring to the unadulterated, life-sustaining word of God. This metaphor highlights the believer's need for constant, foundational nourishment for spiritual maturity.
soteria · Greek Noun
The ultimate deliverance of the believer, beginning with justification and progressing through sanctification to final glorification in the presence of God.
Peter is writing to believers scattered throughout the Roman Empire who are facing intense external pressure and likely internal struggles, making the call to shed malice and deceit particularly urgent for their witness and unity.
c. AD 64— this verse
Nero's Persecution Begins
Following the Great Fire of Rome, Emperor Nero falsely blamed Christians for the disaster, initiating a brutal period of persecution. This created immense pressure and fear among early believers.
c. AD 60s
Widespread Roman Social Unrest
The Roman Empire experienced significant social and political instability during this period, with tensions between various ethnic and social groups contributing to a climate of suspicion and conflict.
c. AD 60s
Jewish Diaspora and Tensions
Jewish communities were scattered throughout the Roman Empire, often facing prejudice and discrimination, which could fuel internal strife and outward conflict with their neighbors.
c. AD 60s
Early Church Growth and Challenges
The Christian church was rapidly expanding but still a minority faith, grappling with internal disagreements and the challenge of integrating diverse people while maintaining purity of conduct.
This passage similarly calls believers to 'put off your old self' which is associated with deceitful desires, directly echoing Peter's command to shed deceit and malice.
Colossians 3:8Paul urges the Colossian church to 'put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk,' mirroring Peter's list and emphasizing the need to actively remove these sinful behaviors.
Romans 12:9This verse emphasizes genuine love as the antidote to these negative traits, stating 'Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good,' which provides the positive motivation for putting away malice and deceit.
James 1:21James connects receiving God's word with 'putting away all filthiness and all that is evil' and humbly accepting it, highlighting the spiritual receptivity required to truly abandon sin like envy and slander.
Peter doesn't just tell us to stop these things, he urges us to put them away as if they're dirty clothes to be discarded. Notice he lists them all together, showing how these negative qualities are all interconnected and feed into each other.
Peter is urging believers, scattered and facing hardship, to shed their old, sinful ways like a newborn baby yearns for pure milk. He's just reminded them of their new identity in Christ, who is the living Stone rejected by many but chosen by God. Therefore, they must actively strip away the destructive behaviors that characterized their former lives and embrace the nourishing truth of God's Word.
Peter is urging believers, scattered and facing hardship, to shed their old, sinful ways like a newborn baby yearns for pure milk. He's just reminded them of their new identity in Christ, who is the living Stone rejected by many but chosen by God. Therefore, they must actively strip away the destructive behaviors that characterized their former lives and embrace the nourishing truth of God's Word.
"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—" — Peter doesn't just tell us to stop these things, he urges us to put them away as if they're dirty clothes to be discarded. Notice he lists them all together, showing how these negative qualities…
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Last reviewed October 2026