1 Peter 2 · Verse 15

1 Peter 2:15

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1 Peter 2:15, King James Version

1 Peter 2:15 in other translations

BSBFor it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
WEBFor this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
ASVFor so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
YLTbecause, so is the will of God, doing good, to put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men;
DARBYBecause so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of senseless men;
BBEBecause it is God's pleasure that foolish and narrow-minded men may be put to shame by your good behaviour:
WebsterFor so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

What does 1 Peter 2:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. Ground of his directing them to submit themselves (1Pe 2:13). put to silence--literally, "to muzzle," "to stop the mouth." ignorance--spiritual not having "the knowledge of God," and therefore ignorant of the children of God, and misconstruing their acts; influenced by mere appearances, and ever ready to open their mouths, rather than their eyes and ears. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. 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. 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. Such charges, it is well known, were often brought against them by their enemies in the early ages of Christianity. 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. Yet, though there might be malice at the bottom, the charges were really based on ignorance. 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 o meeting the accusations of our enemies is to lead a life of strict integrity. It is not easy for the wicked to reply to this argument.

(b) "that with" Tit 2:8

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Peter 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. 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. Christians must endeavour, in all relations, to behave aright, that they do not make their…

Read the full comment on 1 Peter 2:13-17 →

1 Peter 2:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
οὕτωςhoutōsthisG3779
ἐστὶνestinisG1510
τὸtotheG3588
θέλημαthelēmawillG2307
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ἀγαθοποιοῦνταςagathopoiountasdoing goodG15
φιμοῦνphimounto put to silenceG5392
τὴνtēntheG3588
τῶνtōn<the>G3588
ἀφρόνωνaphronōnof foolishG878
ἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōnmenG444
ἀγνωσίαν·agnōsianignorance;G56

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Peter 2:15

  • 1 Peter 3:17

    For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

  • Titus 2:8

    Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

  • 1 Peter 2:12

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

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:18

    In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

  • Matthew 7:26

    And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3

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

  • Proverbs 9:6

    Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

  • Jeremiah 4:22

    For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

  • 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;

  • Romans 1:21

    Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

  • Ephesians 6:6-7

    Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

  • 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
so.
4:2; Eph 6:6,7; 1Th 4:3; 5:18
with.
12; Job 5:16; Ps 107:42; Tit 2:8
the ignorance.
1Ti 1:13; 2Pe 2:12; Jude 1:10
foolish.
De 32:6; Job 2:10; Ps 5:5; Pr 9:6; Jer 4:22; Mt 7:26; 25:2; Ro 1:21
Ga 3:1; Tit 3:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Peter 2:14

    Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

  • 1 Peter 2:15

    For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

  • 1 Peter 2:16

    As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Read all of 1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque esta es la voluntad de Dios; que haciendo bien, hagáis callar la ignorancia de los hombres vanos:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car c’est ici la volonté de Dieu, qu’en faisant le bien vous fermiez la bouche à l’ignorance des hommes dépourvus de sens,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn also ist es der Wille Gottes, daß ihr durch Gutestun die Unwissenheit der unverständigen Menschen zum Schweigen bringet:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quia sic est voluntas Dei, ut benefacientes obmutescere faciatis imprudentium hominum ignorantiam: