1 Thessalonians 5:15
in 1 Thessalonians 5Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.
KJV
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 5
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
See that none render evil for evil - See the notes on Mat 5:39, Mat 5:44. The meaning here is, that we are not to take vengeance; compare notes on Rom 12:17, Rom 12:19. This law is positive, and is universally binding. The moment we feel ourselves acting from a desire to “return evil for evil,” that moment we are acting wrong.
This site's exposition
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil forbids retaliation as a settled policy, addressed to the whole congregation. The phrase for one another and for all people carries the command past the church's walls, the reach 3:12 already gave the church's love.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
A brother asked Poemen about the words, 'Do not render evil for evil' (1 Thess. 5:15). He said to him, 'The passions work in four stages: first in the heart, then in the face, third in words, fourth in deeds – and it is in …
"What does 'See that none of you repays evil for evil' mean?" The old man said … 'Passions work in four stages—first, in the heart; secondly, in the face; thirdly, in words; and fourthly, it is essential not to render evil for evil in deeds. …
"See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but alway follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all." If we ought not to render evil for evil, much less evil for good; much less, when evil has not been previously done, to render evil. Such an one, you say, is a bad man, and has aggrieved me, and done me much injury. Do you wish to revenge yourself upon him? Do not retaliate. Leave him unpunished. Well, is this the stopping-place? By no means; "But alway follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all." This is the higher philosophy, not only not to requite evil with evil, but to render good for evil. For this is truly revenge that brings harm to him and advantage to thyself, or rather great advantage even to him, if he will. And that thou mayest not think that this is said with respect to the faithful, therefore he has said, "both one toward another and toward all."
The Medieval Church2 voices
If one must not repay evil for evil, then how much more so — evil for good, or to begin doing evil and harming one who has done no harm at all. It is not enough not to repay evil for evil; one must, he …
Then, when Paul says: see that none of you repays evil for evil, he shows them in general how they ought to behave towards everyone. And concerning this, he does two things: first, he shows how everyone should behave in certain matters; secondly, he shows …
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
We must always endeavour to be beneficent and instrumental to promote the welfare of others, both among ourselves (in the first place to those that are of the household o faith ), and then, as we have opportunity, unto all men, Gal. vi. Various Short Exhortations. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
This we must look to, and be very careful about, that is, we must by all means forbear to avenge ourselves. If others do us an injury, this will not justify us in returning it, in doing the same, or the like, or any other injury to them. It becomes us to forgive, as those that are, and that hope to be, forgiven of God.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man,.... Not an ill word for an ill word, railing for railing, nor an ill action for an ill action; no, not to any man whatever, not to an enemy, a persecutor, a profane person, as well as not to a brother, a believer in Christ; and this the saints should not only be careful of, and guard against in themselves, but should watch over one another, and see to it, that no such practice is found in each other.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
See that none render evil for evil - Every temper contrary to love is contrary to Christianity. A peevish, fretful, vindictive man may be a child of Satan; he certainly is not a child of God. Follow that which is good - That by which ye may profit your brethren and your neighbors of every description, whether Jews or Gentiles.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁρᾶτε | horate | do see that | G3708 → | |
| μή | me | no | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| τις | tis | one | G5100 → | 528 times |
| κακὸν | kakon | evil | G2556 → | |
| ἀντὶ | anti | for | G473 → | |
| κακοῦ | kakou | evil | G2556 → | |
| τινι | tini | to anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἀποδῷ, | apodo | may repay, | G591 → | |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| πάντοτε | pantote | always | G3842 → | 40 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγαθὸν | agathon | good | G18 → | |
| διώκετε | diokete | do pursue | G1377 → | |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἰς | eis | toward | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ἀλλήλους | allelous | one another | G240 → | 100 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἰς | eis | toward | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| πάντας. | pantas | all. | G3956 → | 1235 times |
ὁρᾶτεdo see that
horateG3708 →
μήno
meG3361 →1066 times
τιςone
tisG5100 →528 times
κακὸνevil
kakonG2556 →
ἀντὶfor
antiG473 →
κακοῦevil
kakouG2556 →
τινιto anyone
tiniG5100 →528 times
ἀποδῷ,may repay,
apodoG591 →
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
πάντοτεalways
pantoteG3842 →40 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἀγαθὸνgood
agathonG18 →
διώκετεdo pursue
dioketeG1377 →
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἰςtoward
eisG1519 →1755 times
ἀλλήλουςone another
allelousG240 →100 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἰςtoward
eisG1519 →1755 times
πάντας.all.
pantasG3956 →1235 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 6:10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
- Hebrews 13:16
Through
Leviticus 19:18Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
it leads to
- Matthew 22:39–40
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
- Romans 13:9
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Mark 12:31–34
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
- Luke 10:27–37
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
- Matthew 22:39–40
Through
1 Peter 3:9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
it leads to
- Romans 12:17
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
- Romans 12:17
Where this verse is studied
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About 1 Thessalonians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Abba Poemen, SAYINGS OF THE FATHERS 34; Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 10; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.