The English term “malice” denotes ill will, tending to hatred. The Greek word denotes anything that is bad, wicked, injurious. Given the earlier command to “love one another,” the translation “malice” is understandable. But Peter has more in mind than ill will toward another. Any thought or word or action—or attitude!—that is “bad,” harmful toward another needs to be put aside, taken off as you would a coat. You cannot “love” (with God’s kind of love) as long as you give space for “malice” in your heart, however subtle. More, the person against whom your malice is directed will sense it, and so the “malice” will hinder receiving your “love.” The bottom reason for removing all malice is that there is no bad, nothing injurious in how God has treated us.