EXPLORE THE TEXT
Believers grow in spiritual maturity through studying and applying God’s Word.
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice,
all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.
2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,
so that by it you may grow up into your salvation,
3 if you have tasted that the Lord is good.
The Greek word used by Peter here is logikos, which is closely associated with logos (“word” or “reason”).
Translating logikos as word makes it clear for English readers
that Peter was referring to something innately spiritual with God as its source.
Whether in the first century or the 21st century, “milk” refers to the Scriptures.
While one’s affections or emotions are not excluded
from one’s spiritual growth, the mind cannot be bypassed.
Rational thought and mental assent also play a crucial role in one’s spiritual growth.
Hindrances and Encouragements.
summarize the attitudes that mature believers should renounce.
Therefore likely relates directly back to verse 23. Because believers have come to life through God’s Word, the sin that interfered with their calling to love one another had to be set aside. Sin destroys relationships-between individuals and God and between individuals and those around them. To truly join people in love, one must set aside sin not just once, but regularly.
Grammatically, this is not an imperative, but it can be rendered as a command because of Peter’s urgency related to desiring God’s Word, which is the primary command in the verses. In addition, Peter was challenging his readers to renounce all behavior that would keep them from pursuing God with a passion. He had encouraged his readers to love one another, so they had to eliminate anything that might hinder or damage that love.
The five sins listed in verse 1 are broad, but they are not random. Most assuredly, these represent sins that beset the body of believers Peter was addressing in his letter. They also continue to plague people today and tend to drive wedges between Christ followers.
For example, the Greek word for malice (kakia) refers to general wickedness or evil behavior toward others. Meanwhile, deceit and hypocrisy are closely related. The former refers to deception that lures people into other forms of sin or evil, while the latter refers to a lack of authenticity. One should not hide his or her true identity through insincere motives or agendas.
Envy relates to jealous feelings that could lead someone to treat others spitefully or with bitterness. Slander highlights the human tendency to speak of people in a way that makes others think less of them. There is simply no room for any of these behaviors if Jesus is to be worshiped and shared by the community of faith.
summarize what is required of mature believers,
Most likely, Peter was not suggesting that the members of his audience were entirely new Christians. Instead, the imagery of newborn infants is perhaps best understood as a powerful metaphor meant to motivate these believers to crave the Lord and to grow in their faith.
After all, believers should never stop growing in their faith, regardless of how long they have been following Jesus! Therefore, in the same way that an infant possesses a powerful and intrinsic desire for mother’s milk, Christ followers should pursue the Lord in full recognition of our utter dependence on Him for life and faith.
The conditionality of verse 3 (if) evenly presses Peter’s audience to consider to what degree they have experienced the kindness of God. The wording does not suggest doubt, nor should it be read as if their delight in God is a foregone conclusion (such as “since” or “because”). Rather, Peter wanted his readers to reflect on this truth with the assurance that what he was saying was true.
The allusion to Psalm 34 is unmistakable, for that Psalm’s themes are similar to Peter’s letter. God is unquestionably present with His people when they are suffering for the sake of righteousness, and this truth offers great hope.
Peter transitioned from addressing personal, spiritual maturity to sharing God’s plan for bringing Christians together in community as His representatives in the world.