οὕτως may refer to the words which follow, viz. silencing ignorance by well-doing. But οὕτως is regularly used retrospectively to sum up some preceding statement. So here St Peter means that by employing civil magistrates for the praise of well-doers God indicates His own method of working. His plan is that His servants should silence (literally “gag”) senseless ignorant calumnies by well-doing, including loyal submission to civil authority.

τῶν�. The article might mean “those senseless men who have been described as speaking evil of you,” or “men such as are senseless and reckless in their charges.”

ἀγνωσία, purblindness, is a much stronger word than ἀγνοία. It describes the ignorance which cannot and will not recognize the truth. Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:34 only.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament