“the word of God” is acted upon. The verb means to slander or to speak lightly or injuriously of sacred things.18 This blasphemy could come from the unbelieving husband or from an unredeemed society that looks in upon the marriage. This is the first of three times in the letter when the motivating factor behind obedience is the response of unbelievers toward the Gospel message Christians are to convey (cf. vv. 8, 10). This, combined with Paul’s repeated exhortation to “good works” (1:16; 2:7, 14;