1 Peter 2:1

In this great chapter, Peter stressed the duties of the church as the new Israel of God, who were bound by their privileges to exhibit lives worthy of their sacred calling (1 Peter 2:1-10); and then he gave the first of a number of admonitions directed to the Christians with regard to their obligations to the outward society (1 Peter 2:11-25).

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

Putting away therefore ... This is from [@apothesthai], "which is the word for stripping off one's clothes."[1] The child of God must denounce and turn away from all manner of wickedness, just as one might strip off filthy clothing. The words here are strongly suggestive of what occurs at the time of baptism:

Paul connects the putting on of Christ with baptism (Galatians 3:27); and Peter, when speaking of baptism in 1 Peter 3:21; both used the Greek word which corresponds to the word here, "laying aside."[2]

Hunter also agreed that the words here have the meaning of "Since you are born again,"[3] the sins about to be enumerated being by implication survivors from the old bad way of life.

Guile ... is deceitfulness, especially lying and false speech; thus it is usually spoken of as being on the lips, or found in the mouth.

Hypocrisies and envies ... Hypocrisy was the leaven of the Pharisees, according to Christ himself, the same being a way of life for the religious leaders of that day. It is pretending to be what one knows he is not.

Envies ... So long as self remains active in one's heart, there will be envy in his life."[4] It springs from jealousies which are, in fact, concealed malice in hearts that are displeased with all beauty, achievement, virtue, or any other desirable quality in others.

And all evil speakings ... All evil speakings are prohibited to Christians, whether against brethren, officers of the state, or any other persons.

[1] William Barclay, The Letters of James and Peter (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1976), p. 189.

[2] B. C. Coffin, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 20,1Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 68.

[3] Archibald M. Hunter, The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. XII (New York and Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1957), p. 105.

[4] William Barclay, op. cit., p. 190.