“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” (1 Peter 2:1 ESV).
The first characteristic given to us in this list of attitudes and behaviors is “malice.” This word describes a sense of ill-will towards one or more individuals. It also conveys a desire to see another person suffer. A person with malice toward another individual is someone who is resentful when he or she succeeds, and pleased when that person meets trouble. While malice is a quality that is often visible to others, there are some who are highly skilled in concealing it behind a veneer of seemingly respectful conduct.
We express a contemporary form of malice with the modern-day word schadenfreude. Schadenfreude is a word that has found increasing use over the years to describe the pleasure one feels when others suffer pain. According to one source…
“Schadenfreude is a combination of the German nouns Schaden, meaning ‘damage; or ‘harm,’ and Freude, meaning ‘joy.’ So it makes sense that schadenfreude means joy over some harm or misfortune suffered by another.” (1)
Since many of us do not wish to be associated with a negative characteristic like malice, schadenfreude offers a better (and more socially acceptable) way to express our delight when negative events overtake those we dislike. The Scriptures admonish us against this attitude (no matter what we choose to call it) because it is incompatible with genuine love. A person who loves is someone who is displeased when others meet adversity, even when they appear to deserve it.
Nevertheless, we should recognize that those who habitually engage in inappropriate behaviors will eventually reap the consequences of those behaviors. We should also recognize that God may choose to discipline those who injure us, and perhaps bring them to repentance. Therefore, the Old Testament book of Proverbs offers a practical reason to avoid malice…
“Do not rejoice when your enemy meets trouble. Let there be no gladness when he falls— for the Lord may be displeased with you and stop punishing him!” (Proverbs 24:17-18 TLB).
The next characteristic on our list from 1 Peter 1:1 is “deceit” or “guile.” While it is possible to use deception in a good way (such as when planning a surprise for a friend or loved one), the type of deceit mentioned here in 1 Peter 2:1 “…is the translation of a word which in its verb form means ‘to catch with bait,’ and in the noun which Peter uses means ‘craftiness.'” (2) We might also use words like “crooked,” “underhanded,” or “fraudulent,” as synonyms to describe this sort of conduct.
Like malice, deceit is a characteristic that involves the intent to injure someone, and should not be found among those who profess to follow Christ.
(1) See “Schadenfreude” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schadenfreude Accessed 6 October, 2023.
(2) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [1 Peter 2:1-5] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.