1 Peter 2:1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

1 Peter 1:18-25
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; …

laying.

1 Peter 4:2
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Isaiah 2:20
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

Isaiah 30:22
Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

malice.

1 Peter 2:16
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

1 Corinthians 5:8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

guile.

1 Peter 2:22
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

1 Peter 3:10
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Psalm 32:2
Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

hypocrisies.

Job 36:13
But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

Matthew 7:5
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Matthew 15:7
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

envies.

1 Samuel 18:8,9
And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? …

of all malice,
Malice refers to a desire to harm others or see them suffer. It is a deep-seated ill will that contradicts the love and compassion expected of believers. In the cultural context of the early church, malice would have been particularly destructive to the unity and witness of the Christian community. The call to rid oneself of malice aligns with Jesus' teachings on loving one's neighbor and even one's enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).

deceit,
Deceit involves misleading others or concealing the truth. It is contrary to the nature of God, who is truth (John 14:6). In a historical context, deceit would undermine trust within the Christian community and damage its testimony to outsiders. The early church was called to be a light in the world, and deceit would obscure that light (Matthew 5:14-16).

hypocrisy,
Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to be something one is not, particularly in terms of moral or religious behavior. Jesus frequently condemned the Pharisees for their hypocrisy (Matthew 23:27-28). For early Christians, living authentically was crucial for maintaining the integrity of their witness. Hypocrisy not only damages personal credibility but also the reputation of the church as a whole.

envy,
Envy is the feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, or possessions. It is a destructive emotion that can lead to division and strife within the community. The Bible consistently warns against envy, encouraging believers to be content and to rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15). Envy is contrary to the love that seeks the good of others (1 Corinthians 13:4).

and slander.
Slander involves making false and damaging statements about others. It is a sin that can destroy relationships and reputations. In the early church, slander would have been particularly harmful, as the community relied on mutual support and trust. The call to avoid slander is consistent with the biblical emphasis on speaking truthfully and building others up (Ephesians 4:29). Slander is also a violation of the commandment against bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16).

Peter doesn’t say, “Wait for these attitudes to fade,” but “Rid yourselves.” The phrase calls for decisive, personal action, echoing Ephesians 4:22: “to put off your former way of life, your old self…” and Hebrews 12:1: “let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles.” We actively strip away sinful habits the way we’d peel off filthy clothes, trusting the Spirit’s power but choosing to cooperate.

“Therefore” links back to 1 Peter 1:23: “For you have been born again… through the living and enduring word of God.” Because we are born of imperishable seed and called to live in holy love (1 Peter 1:22), we now have a clear motive: our new birth demands a new lifestyle. The change is not optional; it’s the logical outcome of the gospel.

Malice is the settled desire to harm or hurt. Ephesians 4:31 groups it with anger and bitterness, urging believers to “Get rid of all… malice.” Any lingering wish for someone’s downfall contradicts the God who “is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35). Replace malicious thoughts with active goodwill and prayer for those who wrong you (Matthew 5:44).

Deceit covers every form of dishonesty—half-truths, hidden motives, manipulative flattery. Psalm 34:13 counsels, “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech,” while Colossians 3:9 adds, “Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self.” Truthful speech reflects the God who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Integrity builds the trust essential to Christian community.

Hypocrisy masks reality—pretending to be godly while harboring sin. Jesus condemned it in Matthew 23:27, calling the Pharisees “whitewashed tombs.” Romans 12:9 sets the alternative: “Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.” Transparent living lets others see Christ’s transforming work instead of a polished façade.

Envy resents another’s blessings, skills, or opportunities. James 3:16 warns, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.” Galatians 5:26 urges, “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.” Gratitude for God’s unique gifting and contentment in His provision uproot envy.

Slander speaks against someone to damage reputation—whether open accusations, subtle innuendo, or careless gossip. James 4:11 commands, “Brothers, do not slander one another.” Titus 3:2 instructs believers “to malign no one, to be peaceable and gentle.” Words wield power; using them to tear down God’s image-bearers opposes the command to “encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13).

1 Peter 2:1 calls every believer to an intentional house-cleaning of the heart. Because we have been born again through God’s living word, we actively throw off malicious intent, deceitful schemes, hypocritical posing, resentful envy, and destructive speech. Clearing out these relational toxins makes room for the pure spiritual milk of the Word (v. 2) to nourish real growth, displaying a life that honors the Savior and strengthens His people.

Laying aside.--This implies that before they had been wrapped up in these sins. There had been "malice" (i.e., ill will put into action) on the part of these Hebrew Christians against their Gentile brethren, and "guile," and "hypocrisies," and "jealousies," which are all instances of concealed malice. Of these three, the first plots, the second pretends not to plot, and the third rejoices to think of the plot succeeding. The word for "all evil speakings" is literally, all talkings down--this is "malice" in word. Archbishop Leighton well says, "The Apostles sometimes name some of these evils, and sometimes other of them; but they are inseparable, all one garment, and all comprehended under that one word (Ephesians 4:22), 'the old man,' which the Apostle there exhorts to put off; and here it is pressed as a necessary evidence of this new birth, and furtherance of their spiritual growth, that these base habits be thrown away, ragged filthy habits, unbeseeming the children of God." All these vices (natural vices to the Jewish mind) are contrasted with the "unfeigned (literally, un-hypocritical) brotherly kindness" of 1Peter 1:22.