1 Peter 2:12

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. CONVERSATION - `conduct.' In two things 'pilgrims' ought to bear themselves well: (1) The conduct, as subjects (1 Peter 2:13), servants (1 Peter 2:18), wives (1 Peter 3:1), husbands (1 Peter 3:7), and under all circumstances (1 Peter 2:8.); (2) Confession of the faith ...

12_Your conversation _The second part of the exhortation is, that they were to conduct themselves honestly towards men. What, indeed, precedes this in order is, that their minds should be cleansed before God; but a regard should also be had to men, lest we should become a hindrance to them. And he expressly says _among the Gentiles; _for the Jews were not only hated everywhere, but were also almost abhorred. The more carefully, therefore, ought they to have labored to wipe off the odium and infamy attached to their name by a holy life and a well-regulated conduct. (26) For that admonition of Paul ought to be attended to, “To give no occasion to those who seek occasion.” Therefore the evil speakings and the wicked insinuations of the ungodly ought to stimulate us to lead an upright life; for it is no time for living listlessly and securely, when they sharply watch us in order to find out...

11,12 Even the best of men, the chosen generation, the people of God, need to be exhorted to keep from the worst sins. And fleshly lusts are most destructive to man's soul. It is a sore judgment to be given up to them. There is a day of visitation coming, wherein God may call to repentance by his word and his grace; then many will glorify God, and the holy lives of his people will have promoted the happy change....

Verse 12. _HAVING YOUR CONVERSATION HONEST_] Living in such a manner among the Gentiles, in whose country ye sojourn, as becomes the Gospel which ye profess. _THAT WHEREAS THEY SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVIL DOERS_] In all the heathen countries, in the first age of the Church, the Christians and the Jews were confounded together; and as the latter mere everywhere exceedingly troublesome and seditious, the Christians shared in their blame, and suffered no small measure of obloquy and persecution on this very account. It was doubly necessary, therefore, that the Christians should be exceedingly cautious; and that their conduct should prove that, although many of them were of the same nation, yet they who had embraced Christianity differed widely in their spirit and conduct from those, whether Jews or Gentiles, who had _not_ received the faith of Christ. _IN THE DAY OF VISITATION._] I believe...

HAVING YOUR CONVERSATION HONEST - Your conduct. See the notes at Philippians 1:27. That is, lead upright and consistent lives. Compare the notes at Philippians 4:8. AMONG THE GENTILES - The pagans by whom you are surrounded, and who will certainly observe your conduct. See the notes at 1 Thessalonians 4:12, “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without.” Compare Romans 13:13. THAT, WHEREAS THEY SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVIL DOERS - Margin, “wherein.” Greek...

EXPOSITIONS 1 PETER 2:1 WHEREFORE LAYING ASIDE. Those who would wear the white robe of regeneration must lay aside the filthy garments (Zechariah 3:3) of the old carnal life. So St. Paul bids us put off the old man and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22, Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:8, Colossians 3:10; comp. also Romans 13:14

HAVING YOUR CONVERSATION HONEST AMONG THE GENTILES,.... To have the conversation honest, is to provide things honest in the sight of men; to live and walk honestly before all; to do those things which are right and honest in the sight of God, and among men; to order the conversation aright, according to the law of God, which is a rule of walk and conversation, and as becomes the Gospel of Christ; and which was the more, and rather to be attended to, because these converted Jews were "among the Gentiles", that knew not God; idolaters, and unbelievers, profane sinners, who were watching for their halting, and that they might take an advantage against them, and the Gospel, and the religion they professed, from their conversations: THAT WHEREAS THEY SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVILDOERS: charging them with the grossest immoralities, as the Heathens did the Christians in the first ages; which appea...

1 Peter 2:1. _Wherefore laying aside all malice,_ This is one of the old corruptible things, so put it away from you 1 Peter 2:1. _And all guile,_ All crafty tricks, all falsehood, exaggeration, double meanings to your words, and the like,- 1. _And hypocrisies, and envies,_ All hatred of those who are either better or better off than you are,- 1 Peter 2:1. _And all evil speaking,_ Thus the tongue expresses what the heart feels. Laying all these evil things aside, you will prove that you have been born again, born of the incorruptible seed which liveth and abideth for ever....

III. CHRIST THE PATTERN FOR HIS SAINTS CHAPTER 2:11-3:9 _ 1. Abstinence and submission (1 Peter 2:11)_ 2. Christ the pattern for those who suffer (1 Peter 2:18) 3. Glorifying Christ in the marriage relation (1 Peter 3:1) 4. True Christian character (1 Peter 3:8) 1 Peter 2:11 The first exhortation is addressed to them as strangers and pilgrims. Such all true believers are. Because we belong to a heavenly home we cannot be at home in a world which lieth in the wicked one, which has cast out the Lord of glor

1 Peter 2:12. DAY OF VISITATION: a phrase derived from OT (Isaiah 10:3), but its meaning is not quite clear in this passage. It may mean (1) the final judgment day, which fills so large a place in the mind of NT writers, (2) the day of trial before the magistrates, or (3) the day when the Gentiles themselves are convinced of the truth of the faith. The last seems most likely....