1 Peter 2:1

ἀποθέμενοι οὖν. In the first three verses of this chapter St Peter shews (a) what must be put away (οὖν) as inconsistent with the strenuous love involved in the new life, (b) the spiritual hunger for divine food by which that life must be maintained and developed, and so in 1 Peter 2:4 reverts once more to the high privileges and corresponding responsibilities of the new Israel of God.

ἀποτίθεσθαι in the middle frequently suggests the idea of stripping off, like clothing, e.g. of the works of darkness to put on the armour of light, Romans 13:12, or of the old self to put on the new, Ephesians 4:22. But in the parallel passage, Colossians 3:8-10, the stripping off (ἀπεκδυσάμενοι) of the old self is coupled with putting away (ἀπόθεσθε) of anger, malice, etc., and in James 1:21 (see Introduction, p. lvi.) and 1 Peter 3:21 ἀποτίθεσθαι and ἀπόθεσις are used of putting away filthiness. So here certain unhealthy humours must be got rid of from the system in order that the spiritual appetite necessary for growth unto salvation may assert itself.

κακία in classical Greek means vice in general as opposed to ἀρετή, virtue, but in the N.T. the word occurs generally as one of a list of vices and means malice. Malice of every kind, whether open or secret, deceit and unreality, envyings of the advantages enjoyed by others, and all varieties of evil-speaking among Christians are utterly inconsistent with unfeigned love of the brethren and fervent love from the heart.