<p>2:8 <i>Sound speech that cannot be condemned; so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us- </i>Again we have the impression of the Christian churches being surrounded by critics, who had infiltrated them, and who were ever seeking to slander the Christian movement. The context requires that there were within the churches such 'opponents', eagerly grabbing hold of the words and behaviour of Christian leaders in order to speak evil of the Way of God in Christ. We recall how the Jewish opposition &quot;spake evil of the Way&quot; in Acts 19:9. The opposition were going to do this no matter how careful Titus was. Therefore the &quot;put to shame&quot; may refer to how they would ultimately be silenced at the day of judgment, where it will supremely be manifest that the true Christian &quot;cannot be condemned&quot;. Speaking of the sudden destruction of the wicked at the future judgment, David reflected: &quot;So they shall make their own tongues to fall upon themselves&quot; (Ps. 64:8). Unsound speech will be condemned, or perhaps will lead to our condemnation.</p>