1 Peter 2:15-16 English Standard Version (ESV)
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servantsof God.
The KJV uses may rather than should in verse 15. Having recently written about the uses of may and might in translations I felt compelled to check out the Greek here. I was very surprised to discover a phrase and not just a word.
Phimoō means to close the mouth with a muzzle. My understanding is that we are not allowed to place a muzzle on another person’s animal. Since my understanding is limited in this meaning I must seek answers from my Lord.
There was no social media in the first century and it is not fair to compare what we see these days with what was being said back then. Mean spirited and hateful people don’t just shut up. Those that answer to another authority will not be muzzled. They however are not foolish.
Aphrōn is the Greek word used for foolish and it means without reason. The hateful, spiteful and mean spirited have reason to respond as they do. The foolish do not. It is the foolish who are muzzled.
1 Corinthians 1:27 English Standard Version (ESV) But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
The foolish, without reason, without cause, can be used of God by giving them something the hateful, spiteful and mean spirited refuse. A reason to seek God, His salvation and a hope for a life without bitterness and harsh words.