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1 Peter 4:2
That he no longer should live the rest ofhis time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Ephesians 6:6,7
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; …

1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God,even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

with.

1 Peter 2:12
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may byyour good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Job 5:16
So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

Psalm 107:42
The righteous shall seeit, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

the ignorance.

1 Timothy 1:13
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I didit ignorantly in unbelief.

2 Peter 2:12
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Jude 1:10
But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

foolish.

Deuteronomy 32:6
Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise?is not he thy fatherthat hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

Job 2:10
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Psalm 5:5
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

that by doing good
The call to "doing good" is a recurring theme in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of Peter and Paul. This phrase suggests active engagement in righteous and benevolent actions, which are a testimony to one's faith. In the cultural context of the early church, Christians were often misunderstood and maligned, so their good deeds served as a powerful witness to the truth of the Gospel. This aligns with Jesus' teaching inMatthew 5:16, where believers are encouraged to let their light shine before others through good works.

you should silence the ignorance
The term "silence" here implies putting to rest or refuting false accusations and misunderstandings. The "ignorance" refers to a lack of knowledge or understanding about the Christian faith and its followers. In the historical context, early Christians were often accused of subverting social norms and were misunderstood by the Roman authorities and the general populace. By living exemplary lives, Christians could counteract these misconceptions, as seen inTitus 2:7-8, where believers are urged to show integrity and soundness in their actions to silence opponents.

of foolish men
"Foolish men" in this context refers to those who lack spiritual insight and understanding, often characterized by their rejection of God's truth. The Bible frequently contrasts wisdom and foolishness, with true wisdom being rooted in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). In1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Paul discusses how the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but is the power of God to those who are being saved. The ignorance of foolish men is not just intellectual but spiritual, and the conduct of believers serves as a testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel.

God does not leave His children guessing about His desires. He plainly states that His will involves both our character and our conduct.

•1 Thessalonians 4:3 declares, “For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality.” Holiness—set-apart living—lies at the heart of God’s purpose.

•Romans 12:2 reminds us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Transformation starts in the mind and works its way out through action.

Because Scripture is accurate and literal, “God’s will” here is not vague. It specifically connects to the next phrase: doing good works that reflect His nature.

The verse does not say “by arguing well” or “by winning debates,” but “by doing good.” Tangible acts of goodness are the appointed means God uses to display His glory.

•Ephesians 2:10 affirms, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”

•Titus 2:14 adds that Christ “gave Himself for us … to purify for Himself a people … zealous for good deeds.”

Practical ways this plays out:

– Serving neighbors without expecting return

– Showing integrity at work or school

– Generously meeting needs within the church family

– Speaking truth seasoned with grace

Good works have a disarming power. They close mouths that would otherwise spread slander.

•Matthew 5:16 urges, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

•Titus 2:8 speaks of “wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed to have nothing bad to say about us.”

When accusations arise, consistent goodness makes them ring hollow. God uses our conduct as a mute button on unfair criticism.

Ignorance in Scripture is not mere lack of information; it is a spiritual blindness that accompanies unbelief.

•Acts 17:30 notes, “Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.”

•Ephesians 4:18 describes unbelievers as “darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.”

Responding to ignorance with goodness rather than contempt showcases the patience and mercy God has extended to us.

“Foolish” describes those who willfully reject God’s wisdom, not merely the uninformed.

•Proverbs 1:7 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

•Psalm 14:1 observes, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.”

Our task is not to label or insult such people but to live so faithfully that their folly is unmasked without a word from us.

1 Peter 2:15 teaches that God’s unmistakable will is for believers to engage in consistent, observable good works. Those deeds, flowing from a transformed heart, become God’s tool to silence the unfounded accusations of those who oppose the faith. Instead of fighting ignorance with harsh words, we overwhelm it with Christlike behavior, letting the light of our actions expose the darkness of foolishness and draw others toward the truth.

Put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.--A very contemptuous expression, the word for "put to silence" being the same as in1Corinthians 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. "Foolish," too, contains moral reprobation,Luke 11:40;Luke 12:20;1Corinthians 15:36. suggestingthoughtlessness rather thansenselessness. The definite article is also used in the Greek (as in2Thessalonians 3:2), and again seems to indicate that St. Peter had some particular enemies in view who had brought the charges. This accusation was evidently one of apolitical 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. They would not have minded thecultus,but they could not tolerate theChurch. Pliny distinctly says in his letter to Trajan, that it was in consequence of Trajan's issuing an order againsthet?ri? or societies, that he was led to contend with the Christians in Bithynia. . . .