Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 35

Paul Exhorts them not to Return Evil for Evil

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. KJV

To be quite honest, I for a long time struggled with this exhortation from the Apostle Paul to these believers in the city of Thessalonica, for I initially thought it meant that as a Christian we were not even allowed to defend ourselves or our families from attack that would kill us or cause us great bodily harm, but after much prayer and listening to and reading the understanding from men of God whom I think much of and highly respect, this is not what Paul means here at all when he exhorts these believers with these words, "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men." (KJV). At the very beginning of this verse, the Apostle Paul uses this English word 'see' and it is translated here by the Greek word horao meaning here not to gaze upon or to look upon someone or something, but it means here (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally). The English word 'render' here is translated by the Greek word apodidomi which simply means to pay back or reward or return. In other words, they/we are to distinguish and recognize what has been done to them/us and not to pay back the same thing in kind.

Note: "Again as I have said before, this in no way means that Christians are forbidden by God the Father and our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ from defending ourselves or our families from attack that would hurt us or kill us. But many will say to me what about Matthew 5:39, my response to this is that the entire 'Sermon on the Mount' is not for the Church now in this dispensation, but these words spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ is for the 1000 year Millennial Reign and my Scriptural proof comes from the words of our Lord Jesus Himself when He said this to the Apostles as they journeyed on to Jerusalem before He was arrested and murdered, 'And He said to them, When I sent you out with no purse or [provision] bag or sandals, did you lack anything? They answered, Nothing! Then He said to them, But now let him who has a purse take it, and also [his provision] bag; and let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy a sword. For I tell you that this Scripture must yet be fulfilled in Me: And He was counted {and} classed among the wicked (the outlaws, the criminals); for what is written about Me has its fulfillment [has reached its end and is finally settled]. And they said, Look, Lord! Here are two swords. And He said to them, It is enough.' (Luke 22:35-38) (Amplified Bible)."

The English word 'evil' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word kakos and means that which is injurious, harmful, or hurtful to another person. The 'evil' Paul refers to here does not always come in the form of bodily attack, but it can be administered by gossip, slander, or any other ways of verbally injuring a person. It can also be intimidation, stalking, or threatning a person. In other words, perpetrating 'evil' to other people is not or should not be the desire of these Thessalonian believers nor we believers today or of any generation or era, for again 'Love, that is God's Love (agape) does no harm to a neighbor' (Romans 13:10). It is those who hate God, hate Christ, whose 'god' is the god of this world (the devil) who seek their reward in the riches, resources, and real estate of this decaying, desolate, and dying world who will do what ever 'evil' it takes to get to the top and to enjoy all that this world has to offer. But not the Christian, for we know that our reward is in Heaven with Christ Jesus our Lord and where He is and that it is His entire Universe and all that is contained in it that will be one day ours to enjoy for all eternity, therefore, the Apostle Paul tells these Thessalonian Christians to 'follow' 'that which is good' and the English word 'follow' is translated by the Greek word dioko a primary verb meaning to pursue and the little English phrase 'that which is good' is translated by one Greek word agathos meaning properly beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good, that is, valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and which is properly intrinsic): - better, fair, honest, meet, well, worthy. This is to be practiced always in the Church, but also in the world outside of the Church by the believer in Jesus Christ.

"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. It may be right to defend our lives and the lives of our friends; to seek the protection of the law for our persons, reputation, or property, against those who would wrong us; to repel the assaults of calumniators and slanderers, but in no case should the motive be to do them wrong for the evil which they have done us." Albert Barnes

"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. Ever to follow that which is good. In general, we must study to do what is our duty, and pleasing to God, in all circumstances, whether men do us good turns or ill turns; whatever men do to us, we must do good to others. 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, Galatians 6:10." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…