“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.”
So that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us — the integrity of pastoral conduct silences criticism, as verse 7's uncriticizable speech prevents hostile rhetoric. The phrase nothing evil (mēden ekhein phaulon) suggests complete moral inattackability; the goal is proactive silencing of opposition through virtue. This echoes 1 Peter 2:12 and reflects early Christian awareness of persecution through gossip.
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