“ ..what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness ”- Peter.
Conduct regards one's behaviour/one's walk. The NT writers speak of 'good conduct', 'holy conduct', even 'filthy conduct'. The writer of Hebrews speaks of 'conduct without covetousness', and Paul speaks of being 'an example in conduct', and of conduct 'worthy of the Gospel of Christ'. Paul also claimed, by the grace of God, to have conducted himself in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity.
Paul says 'we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh', but he says 'put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts'.
Holiness, for mankind, is being set apart from unclean and corrupt purpose of heart, to pure and undefiled purpose of heart.
That is, being holy is being set apart to God's purpose and belonging to him, because, unlike the ungodliness of the world, God's purpose is morally pure and perfect. So by putting off our old unclean and corrupt purpose of heart, and exchanging it for a pure and undefiled purpose, in line with God's, we can become holy, according to his forgiveness.
Therefore holy conduct is the behaviour manifested by walking according to a pure and undefiled purpose of heart, wholly consecrated to the known will of our holy God.
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