1 Peter 2:15
in 1 Peter 2For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
KJV
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
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This verse in 1 Peter 2
Commentary
10 notes on this versePeter said this because there were some subversive people who were saying that Christ had come to overthrow the state, teaching us that we should despise every earthly power. But when they see us submitting to them because it is God's will, then they are …
This site's exposition
with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men
on 1 Peter 2:15-17
Well doing is named the church's answer to slander, silencing ignorant accusation not by argument but by a life examined and found blameless. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness balances the submission just commanded against any reading that would make Christian freedom an excuse for license, freedom and service held together rather than opposed. The closing chain of four short commands, honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king, orders every relationship in one breath, love reserved for the family of faith and honour extended to all, including Caesar.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Therefore, be subject to every human creature for the Lord's sake: whether to the king as the supreme authority, or to governors as those sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do well. For it is the will …
The Medieval Church2 voices
"Because this is the will of God, that by doing good, etc." This is therefore the praise of the good, to which he says leaders sent by the king, while using the ignorance of unwise leaders, the good act well to their own perpetual praise.
He calls rulers appointed by kings a "human creation," and even the kings themselves, since they too are elected or appointed by people; and Scripture sometimes calls an institution a "creation" as well, as for example in the following passage: "to create in Himself one …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
They were free spiritually from the bondage of sin and Satan, and the ceremonial law; but they must not make their Christian liberty a cloak or covering for any wickedness, or for the neglect of any duty towards God or towards their superiors, but must still remember they were the servants of God. Learn, [1.] All the servants of Christ are free men ( John viii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
For so is the will of God,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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. That with well doing - By a life of uprightness and benevolence. Ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men - See the notes at Tit 2:8. 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.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Their ignorance should move the believer's pity, not his anger. They judge of things which they are incapable of judging through unbelief (compare 1Pe 2:12). Maintain such a walk that they shall have no charge against you, except touching your faith; and so their minds shall be favorably disposed towards Christianity.
For so is the will of God - God, as their supreme governor, shows them that it is his will that they should act uprightly and obediently at all times, and thus confound the ignorance of foolish men, who were ready enough to assert that their religion made them bad subjects. The word φιμουν, which we translate put to silence, signifies to muzzle, i.e., stop their mouths, leave them nothing to say; let them assert, but ever be unable to bring proof to support it.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅτι | hoti | because | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | this | G3779 → | |
| ἐστὶν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θέλημα | thelema | will | G2307 → | 62 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἀγαθοποιοῦντας | agathopoiountas | doing good | G15 → | 9 times |
| φιμοῦν | phimoun | to put to silence | G5392 → | |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τῶν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀφρόνων | aphronon | of foolish | G878 → | |
| ἀνθρώπων | anthropon | men | G444 → | 549 times |
| ἀγνωσίαν· | agnosian | ignorance; | G56 → |
ὅτιbecause
hotiG3754 →1292 times
οὕτωςthis
houtosG3779 →
ἐστὶνis
estinG1510 →2333 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
θέλημαwill
thelemaG2307 →62 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
ἀγαθοποιοῦνταςdoing good
agathopoiountasG15 →9 times
φιμοῦνto put to silence
phimounG5392 →
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
τῶν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀφρόνωνof foolish
aphrononG878 →
ἀνθρώπωνmen
anthroponG444 →549 times
ἀγνωσίαν·ignorance;
agnosianG56 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:20
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
- Hebrews 13:15
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
- Job 1:21
saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
- Ephesians 5:20
Through
1 Peter 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:16
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Titus 2:7–8
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- 1 Peter 3:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
About 1 Peter
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.