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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Pe_2:1-3
1Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
1Pe_2:1 "Therefore" This shows that the following discussion is based on what has just been stated.
▣ "putting aside" This is an aorist middle participle which literally refers to personally "stripping off." The removal of clothing is a common biblical metaphor describing the spiritual life (cf. Job_29:14; Psalms 109; Psalms 29; Isa_61:10; Rom_13:12; Eph_4:22; Eph_4:25; Eph_4:31; Col_3:8; Heb_12:1).
Notice the middle voice, which emphasizes the action of the subject. Believers are to once-and-for-all (aorist tense as a completed act) strip off all evil. This is only possible because of the previous theological presentation of the work of the Triune God (cf. 1Pe_1:2). Fallen mankind is not able unaided to turn from sin and evil, but God in Christ through the Spirit has enabled believers to turn completely to God (cf. Romans 6). The tragedy is that believers continue to relinquish this God-given power and choose to return to evil (cf. Romans 7).
▣ "all malice" This refers to an "active ill-will"(cf. Rom_1:29; 1Co_5:8; 1Co_14:20; Eph_4:31; Col_3:8; Tit_3:3; 1Pe_2:16). Lists of vices were common in the Roman world (e.g. Stoics) and the NT (cf. Mar_7:21-27; Rom_1:29-31; Rom_13:13; 1Co_5:10; 1Co_6:9-10; 2Co_12:2; Gal_5:19-20; Eph_4:31; Col_3:8; 1Ti_1:9-10; 2Pe_2:10-14; Rev_21:8; Rev_22:15).
▣ "all deceit" This term was used of "fishing bait." It depicts an attempt to entrap another by means of trickery (cf. 1Co_12:16; 1Th_2:3; 1Pe_2:1; 1Pe_2:22; 1Pe_3:10).
▣ "hypocrisy" This is literally "to judge under." It is a theatrical word used of actors speaking behind a mask.
▣ "envy" This is a jealousy caused by the desire to have something another person possesses (cf. Mat_27:18; Mar_15:10; Rom_1:29; Php_1:15; 1Ti_6:4; Tit_3:3; Jas_4:5).
▣ "slander" This refers to speaking evil of another person, to defame them (cf. Rom_1:30; 2Co_12:20; 1Pe_2:1; 1Pe_2:12; 1Pe_3:16). This activity is used in both the OT and the NT to describe Satan. It is obvious by its very mentioning that it was also a problem in these early churches who were experiencing such persecution.
1Pe_2:2 "like newborn babies" This possibly related to Jesus' admonition to His disciples to have faith like little children (cf. Mat_18:3 ff). It also relates to the earlier familial metaphor of being born again (cf. 1Pe_1:3; 1Pe_1:23; Joh_3:3).
In 1 Peter 2, Peter uses several metaphors to describe believers.
1. newborn babes, 1Pe_2:1
2. living stones forming a spiritual house, 1Pe_2:5
3. a priesthood, 1Pe_2:5; 1Pe_2:9
4. a people, 1Pe_2:9-10
5. aliens and strangers, 1Pe_2:11
6. sheep, 1Pe_2:25
▣ "long for" This is an aorist active imperative. This is a strong word for desire (cf. Php_1:8; Php_2:26). Spiritual growth and maturity are not automatic in the Christian's life. The essence of this command may be seen in Psa_42:1-4 and Mat_5:6.
▣ "the pure" This is a term taken from the wine industry of the first century. It is the term dolon (guile, cf. 1Pe_1:1) with the alpha privative. Wine was often mixed with water, especially older wine. Often merchants tried to sell watered down or diluted wine. Therefore, this term was used metaphorically of that which was "unmixed"or "genuine."
Keeping with the contextual metaphor of newborn baby Christians, this refers to the necessary nourishment of babies, milk. These people were saved by the word of God (cf. 1Pe_1:23); now they need to develop in the word of God. This is an expected and required result of new birth. Oh, the tragedy of believers remaining baby Christians.
▣ "milk" Tertullian gave "new believers" milk and honey after their baptism as a symbol of their new life in Christ based on this very texts. We need the truth of God, which is revealed in Christ and the preaching of the Apostles continually (cf. Heb_5:12).
NASB, NKJV "of the word"
NRSV, TEV,
NJB "spiritual"
This is the philosophical term logikos as in Rom_12:1. It can refer to mental reasoning (cf. NASB, NKJV) or metaphorically of the spiritual (cf. NRSV, TEV, NJB). It is obviously related to the new believers' need for Apostolic preaching and teaching (cf. 1Pe_1:23-25). Believers need to read and know the Bible.
▣ "you may grow in respect to salvation" This is an Aorist passive subjunctive. Apostolic preaching is personified as the agent of the passive voice, which causes believers to grow. Salvation is viewed in the NT as
1. a past decision (aorist tense)
2. an ongoing process (present tense)
3. a past event culminating in a current state (perfect tense)
4. a future consummation (future tense)
This context is stating that spiritual growth by means of God's revealed truth (cf. 1Pe_1:23; 1Pe_1:25; 1Pe_2:2) is crucial for a consummated Christian life. See Special Topic at 1Pe_1:5.
1Pe_2:3 "if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord" This is a first class conditional which is assumed to be true. Believers who have experienced the grace of God are expected to desire God's truth and grow in God's truth into a full and complete salvation. 1Pe_2:3 is an allusion to Psa_34:8. The Psalm refers to YHWH, but here it refers to Jesus. The United Bible Societies Handbook on the First Letter from Peter asserts that this may refer to a believer's first communion (p. 53).
1. a word play between kindness (chrçstos) and Christ (Christos)
2. Psalms 34 was used by the early church during communion services
3. "taste" (aorist tense) refers to the first communion (possibly after baptism)
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