1 Peter 2:1

6. Things To Put Away 2:1

1 Peter 2:1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

Expanded Translation

Laying down and renouncing therefore all ill-will, and all fraud, and hypocritical behavior, and envies and all slanderous remarks,

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Putting away

The word indicates to lay off, lay down or aside, and is sometimes used of taking off or laying aside garments (Acts 7:58). Metaphorically, it signifies to lay aside, put off, or renounce. See Ephesians 4:22-25.

therefore

Evidently referring to the teachings of Chapter 1 Peter 1:22-25. The idea is: Because God's Word has regenerated you with new life, you should have therefore laid aside your former dispositions.

wickedness

Whereas it is true that kakia frequently carries the general idea of wickedness or evil, in this instance the King James (malice) is probably more accurate. According to the lexicons, the word is sometimes used of a special kind of moral inferiority: malice, ill-will, malignity, desire to injure.

guile

Literally, a bait or contrivance for entrapping; hence, fraud, deceit, insidious artifice, guile.

hypocrisies

The Greek in English would be spelled hupokrisis. In the earlier days of Greek literature it referred to an actor on the stage, one who was portraying the life of another. Used here as a metaphor, it indicates pretence or simulation. An actor only seems to be the person he is portraying. But a Christian must live and practice the teachings of Christ from the heart. He must not only appear to be following the Saviour, but actually be following Him!

envies

Meaning envy, jealousy, spite. It is a feeling of discontent or mortification, usually coupled with ill-will, at seeing another's superiority, advantages, or success. Sometimes it also indicates a desire for some advantage possessed by another. The basic idea is that the one who harbors this evil is displeased and aggravated at another's good, success, or blessing. Christian, guard against this sin!

evil-speakings

Katalalia, refers to disparaging or belittling remarks about the reputation, worth, or character of another person. Kata, down, against, plus lalia, speech. Compare our term, running a person down. It refers also to those who would make false and malicious statements about another. To use one word, slander would fit well, The same Greek word occurs in the verb form in 1 Peter 2:12, where it is translated speak against, Employing this word, James exhorts us, Speak not one against another, brethren. (James 4:11). Slander is not befitting of a Christian toward anyone. (Note the all.) But how especially needful is this exhortation concerning our conduct toward brethren, who are to be special objects of our love (Galatians 6:10).

Peter had been speaking of the need of brotherly love (1 Peter 1:22). And it may be that he still has in mind the cultivation of that virtue when he demands that these things, so ruinous to true brotherliness, be put away.