It is not easy for the wicked to reply to this argument. They were not thoroughly acquainted with the principles of the Christian religion and the way to meet those charges was to act in every way as became good citizens, and so as 'to live them down.' One of the best ways of meeting the accusations of our enemies is to lead a life of strict integrity. Yet, though there might be malice at the bottom, the charges were really based on ignorance. Peter says they were brought by foolish men, perhaps using the word foolish in the sense of evil-disposed, or wicked, as it is often used in the Bible. Such charges, it is well known, were often brought against them by their enemies in the early ages of Christianity. The reference here is to men who brought charges against Christians, by accusing them of being inimical to the government, or insubordinate, or guilty of crimes. Ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men - See the notes at Titus 2:8. That with well doing - By a life of uprightness and benevolence. Christians must endeavour, in all relations, to behave aright, that they do not make their liberty a cloak or covering for any wickedness, or for the neglect of duty but they must remember that they are servants of God.For so is the will of God - That is, it is in accordance with the divine will that in this way you should put them to silence. Regard to those duties is the will of God, consequently, the Christian's duty, and the way to silence the base slanders of ignorant and foolish men. Pliny distinctly says in his letter to Trajan, that it was in consequence of Trajan's issuing an order against hetœriœ or societies, that he was led to contend with the Christians in Bithynia.2:13-17 A Christian conversation must be honest which it cannot be, if there is not a just and careful discharge of all relative duties: the apostle here treats of these distinctly. They would not have minded the cultus, but they could not tolerate the Church. This accusation was evidently one of a political nature and, indeed, history shows us that the hostility of the empire to the faith was entirely based on the corporate nature of the Christian religion.
Peter had some particular enemies in view who had brought the charges. The definite article is also used in the Greek (as in 2Thessalonians 3:2), and again seems to indicate that St. suggesting thoughtlessness rather than senselessness. 'Foolish,' too, contains moral reprobation, Luke 11:40 Luke 12:20 1Corinthians 15:36. Put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.-A very contemptuous expression, the word for 'put to silence' being the same as in 1Corinthians 9:9 1Timothy 5:18, to 'muzzle' or 'gag,' implying that there is something of the animal about these 'foolish men.' The same contempt appears in each word of the clause, even down to 'men,' which might be rendered 'people' or 'creatures.' The word for 'ignorance' implies a stolid and wilful ignorance, and is so used by heathen authors, as well as very markedly in the only other place in the New Testament, 1Corinthians 15:34. The 'well-doing' of this and the last verse bears the most general sense of good conduct, not the special sense noticed on the 'fair works' and 'fair life' of 1Peter 2:12. THE REBELLION AGAINST THE.įor so is the will of God.-This refers to the command contained in the last two verses, which then is further explained by the clause which follows, 'that with well-doing.' See a very similar construction in 1Thessalonians 4:3.
Querious 2 1 15 Commentary Blue Letter Bible.
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