What does 1 Peter 2:1 mean?

At the end of chapter 1, Peter urged his Christian readers to love each other deeply, earnestly, exhaustingly, from pure hearts. They had been born again through the word of God, which lasts forever. They had become eternal people with the capacity to give true, Christlike love to each other. In other words, built into our identity as Christians is the responsibility to love each other. This is not because of how it will benefit us, but because it is what our Father does. It is one way that He expresses His holiness (1 Peter 1:15–16). We are made to do the same.

In verse 1, Peter describes the ways in which we fail to give love to each other. He writes that we must get rid of these five attitudes and actions which oppose love. In every case, they represent a choice to focus on my benefit over and above the interests of someone else.

Malice is a wicked ill-will, hoping for another person to be harmed. Deceit is intentional dishonesty. Hypocrisy is also falseness, holding others to standards we don't live up to, for the sake of pride. Envy has been called "resentful discontent," focusing our angst on someone who has what we crave. Slander is using false or misleading words to harm another's reputation.

To put away these attitudes and actions means not serving ourselves first or above all other people. The church—the community of Christians—is intended to be a place where each of us is confident of God's care and providing. The relationships we have with each other should free us from promoting and defending ourselves, and enable us to do the work of freely and fully loving each other as our Father loves us.