1 Peter 2:1-3
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— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse doesn't just list bad behaviors; it calls them "all malice" and "all deceit," emphasizing that there's no room for even a little bit of these things in our lives. Notice how Peter groups envy with slander, showing that even internal feelings of coveting can lead to outward harm.
Peter is addressing believers who are scattered and facing hardship, reminding them of their new identity in Christ. He's just described them as living stones being built into a spiritual house, so here he shifts to practical instructions for how this community should live. This call to strip away sinful attitudes and actions is foundational for building that spiritual house together in unity and love, especially as they navigate a world hostile to their faith.
Ever feel like you're carrying around emotional baggage? This verse calls us to a radical unpacking, shedding anything that pollutes our relationship with God and others.
Peter uses a strong, active command here: "put away" (or "strip off"). It’s not a gentle suggestion but an urgent necessity. Think of it like shedding old, dirty clothes. You don't just fold them; you take them off because they are hindering you.
The "Why":
Peter lists specific, destructive attitudes and actions that need to be removed: malice (ill will), deceit (lying, trickery), hypocrisy (acting a part), envy (resentment of others' good), and slander (malicious gossip). These aren't minor flaws; they are significant barriers to living the life God calls us to.
These aren't just bad habits; they are the fingerprints of our pre-Christ lives. Why does Peter group them all together so forcefully?
Peter isn't just giving a checklist of sins. He's identifying the core attitudes and actions that belong to the "old self" – the life we lived before Christ.
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
Peter wrote this letter while Christians were facing intense external pressure and persecution, making the call to shed 'malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander' not just a moral exhortation, but a vital practice for communal survival and authentic witness.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The foundational events of Christianity, Jesus' death and resurrection, occur, sparking the movement that would spread throughout the Roman Empire.
c. AD 33-60
Early Church Growth and Persecution
The Christian faith rapidly spreads, particularly among Jewish communities and then Gentiles, facing increasing suspicion and sporadic persecution from both Jewish authorities and Roman officials.
c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome
A devastating fire sweeps through Rome. Emperor Nero blames the Christians, initiating the first widespread, officially sanctioned Roman persecution of believers.
c. AD 64-67— this verse
Peter's Ministry in Rome
Tradition holds that the Apostle Peter was active in Rome during this period, ministering to and strengthening the beleaguered Christian communities facing intense pressure and suffering.
This passage echoes Peter's call to shed old ways, directly listing similar vices like anger, wrath, malice, and slander, showing a consistent theme of spiritual renewal across the New Testament.
Ephesians 4:22-24Peter's instruction to 'put away' these negative traits is mirrored here by the command to 'put off' the old self, which is corrupt, and 'put on' the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Romans 12:9This verse challenges believers to let their love be genuine, by explicitly rejecting evil and holding fast to what is good, which directly relates to Peter's command to abandon malice and deceit.
James 1:21James encourages receiving God's word with humility and gentleness, urging believers to 'rid yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent,' a sentiment closely aligned with Peter's directive to cleanse oneself of malice and deceit.
This verse doesn't just list bad behaviors; it calls them "all malice" and "all deceit," emphasizing that there's no room for even a little bit of these things in our lives. Notice how Peter groups envy with slander, showing that even internal feelings of coveting can lead to outward harm.
Peter is addressing believers who are scattered and facing hardship, reminding them of their new identity in Christ. He's just described them as living stones being built into a spiritual house, so here he shifts to practical instructions for how this community should live. This call to strip away sinful attitudes and actions is foundational for building that spiritual house together in unity and love, especially as they navigate a world hostile to their faith.
Peter is addressing believers who are scattered and facing hardship, reminding them of their new identity in Christ. He's just described them as living stones being built into a spiritual house, so here he shifts to practical instructions for how this community should live. This call to strip away sinful attitudes and actions is foundational for building that spiritual house together in unity and love, especially as they navigate a world hostile to their faith.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 1 Peter 2:1-3 is available in the Sola app.
When we are "in Christ," we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The "old self"—with all its inherent sinfulness and destructive tendencies—is meant to be put off. Continuing to live in these things is like trying to wear grave clothes after being resurrected!
This verse isn't the goal of faith, but it's absolutely the necessary first step. What does Peter set us up for by commanding this cleansing?
Peter presents this command right before he talks about craving "pure spiritual milk" (verse 2). This isn't a coincidence!
The Connection:
By putting these things away, we create the space and the hunger for the "pure spiritual milk" – God's Word – that leads to genuine, healthy spiritual growth.
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.
c. AD 67
Martyrdom of Peter
According to tradition, Peter is martyred in Rome, likely under Nero's persecution, making his final teachings and letters especially poignant for those enduring hardship.
"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— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good." — This verse doesn't just list bad behaviors; it calls them "all malice" and "all deceit," emphasizing that there's no room for even a little bit of these things in our lives. Notice how Peter groups e…
