“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men–” (1 Peter 2:15).
Anyone who seeks to follow God will inevitably wrestle with the following question: “What is God’s will for my life?” In seeking to answer that question, we might first look to those areas where God has already revealed his will. In addition to our text from 1 Peter 2:15, we can find other expressions of God’s will for our lives in Micah 6:8 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
In this instance, the will of God involves the act of silencing the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. One source illuminates this passage with a look at the original language of this verse…
“The words ‘put to silence’ are the translation of a Greek word which means ‘to close the mouth with a muzzle.’ It was used of the muzzling of an ox (1Co 9:9). It means here, ‘to reduce to silence.’ Matthew uses it (Mat 22:34) of our Lord putting the Sadducees to silence, and Mark, of stilling the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mar 4:39).” (1)
We should also note the intersection of ignorance and foolishness within this portion of Scripture. Since Psalm 14:1 tells us, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’…” (ESV), those who embrace that belief will inevitably demonstrate those characteristics, no matter how knowledgeable or cultured they seem.
We can find a similar example in those who express an interest in Biblical spirituality but have little intent to act upon it. The Gospel of Mark and its revealing portrait of King Herod’s interaction with John the Baptist offers one such illustration…
“…Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly” (Mark 6:20).
Although Herod listened to John, he never allowed John’s message to influence his conduct. Unfortunately, Herod’s wife later seized the opportunity presented by his foolish behavior to orchestrate John’s death. If Herod had chosen to act upon what he heard from John, things might have been different. Instead, he opted to sanction the horrifying murder of a great man of God for the sake of his reputation.
It often takes prayer, wisdom, humility, grace, sensitivity, and discernment to engage with those described here in 1 Peter 2:15. Perhaps this is why 2 Timothy 2:24-25 offers the following counsel…
“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth” (NLT).
(2) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [1 Peter 2:15] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.