1 Thessalonians 5:22
New International Version
reject every kind of evil.

New Living Translation
Stay away from every kind of evil.

English Standard Version
Abstain from every form of evil.

Berean Standard Bible
Abstain from every form of evil.

Berean Literal Bible
Abstain from every form of evil.

King James Bible
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

New King James Version
Abstain from every form of evil.

New American Standard Bible
abstain from every form of evil.

NASB 1995
abstain from every form of evil.

NASB 1977
abstain from every form of evil.

Legacy Standard Bible
abstain from every form of evil.

Amplified Bible
Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].

Christian Standard Bible
Stay away from every kind of evil.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Stay away from every kind of evil.

American Standard Version
abstain from every form of evil.

Contemporary English Version
and don't have anything to do with evil.

English Revised Version
abstain from every form of evil.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Keep away from every kind of evil.

Good News Translation
and avoid every kind of evil.

International Standard Version
Keep away from every kind of evil.

Majority Standard Bible
Abstain from every form of evil.

NET Bible
Stay away from every form of evil.

New Heart English Bible
Abstain from every form of evil.

Webster's Bible Translation
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Weymouth New Testament
Hold yourselves aloof from every form of evil.

World English Bible
Abstain from every form of evil.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
abstain from all appearance of evil;

Berean Literal Bible
Abstain from every form of evil.

Young's Literal Translation
from all appearance of evil abstain ye;

Smith's Literal Translation
Keep away from all appearance of evil.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Abstain from every kind of evil.

New American Bible
Refrain from every kind of evil.

New Revised Standard Version
abstain from every form of evil.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Abstain from every sort of evil.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Flee from every evil matter.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Abstain from every appearance of evil.

Godbey New Testament
abstain from every evil sight.

Haweis New Testament
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Mace New Testament
if it has the least appearance of evil, reject it.

Weymouth New Testament
Hold yourselves aloof from every form of evil.

Worrell New Testament
Abstain from every form of evil.

Worsley New Testament
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Christian Living
21but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil. 23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.…

Cross References
Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.

1 Peter 3:11
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Ephesians 5:11
Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Timothy 6:11
But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. / It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Matthew 5:29-30
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. / And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.

Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

1 John 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.


Treasury of Scripture

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1 Thessalonians 4:12
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Exodus 23:7
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

Isaiah 33:15
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

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Abstain Aloof Appearance Avoid Evil Form Hold Kind Wickedness Yourselves
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Abstain Aloof Appearance Avoid Evil Form Hold Kind Wickedness Yourselves
1 Thessalonians 5
1. He proceeds in the description of Christ's coming to judgment;
16. and gives various instructions;
23. and so concludes the epistle.














Abstain
The Greek word used here is "ἀπέχεσθε" (apechesthe), which means to hold oneself back or to refrain. This term implies a conscious and deliberate action, suggesting that believers must actively choose to distance themselves from evil. In the context of the early church, this would have been a call to maintain purity and holiness in a world filled with pagan practices and moral corruption. The use of "abstain" emphasizes the importance of self-control and the intentional effort required to live a life pleasing to God.

From
The preposition "from" indicates separation or distance. It suggests a clear demarcation between the believer and the object in question, which in this case is "every form of evil." This separation is not merely physical but also spiritual and moral. It calls for a distinct lifestyle that sets Christians apart from the prevailing cultural norms that are contrary to God's will.

Every
The word "every" (Greek: "παντός," pantos) signifies totality and inclusiveness. It leaves no room for exceptions or compromises. This comprehensive term underscores the idea that all forms of evil, regardless of how minor they may seem, are to be avoided. It reflects the holistic nature of Christian ethics, where even the smallest deviation from righteousness is significant.

Form
The Greek word "εἴδους" (eidous) can be translated as "appearance" or "kind." This suggests that believers are to avoid not only evil itself but also anything that might appear to be evil or could be perceived as such by others. This reflects a concern for both personal integrity and the witness of the Christian community. It calls for discernment and wisdom in evaluating actions and situations to ensure they align with God's standards.

Of evil
"Evil" in Greek is "πονηροῦ" (ponērou), which encompasses wickedness, malice, and moral corruption. In the biblical context, evil is anything that is contrary to the nature and will of God. The early Christians lived in a world where evil was prevalent in various forms, from idolatry to immorality. This exhortation serves as a reminder that believers are called to be holy, as God is holy, and to reject anything that would compromise their relationship with Him or their testimony to the world.

(22) Abstain from all appearance of evil.--This translation cannot stand. Possibly it might be rendered "every form of evil," but the most natural version would be, "Hold yourselves aloof from every evil kind"--i.e., evil kind of whatever you may be testing. The word "evil" is here used in the moral sense, and does not constitute an exact antithesis to the "good" of the preceding verse.

Verse 22. - Abstain from all appearance of evil. This verse is connected with the last, and states negatively what is there stated positively. Test the declarations of the prophets; retain the good, and reject the evil. The word translated "appearance" has been differently rendered; it denotes form, figure, species, kind; so that the clause is to be rendered, "Abstain from all form of evil" (R.V.), or, "of the evil," the word being an abstract substantive. The whole exhortation is similar to that given in Romans 12:9, only there the negative statement is put first: "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." Some suppose that the metaphor employed is from the practice of money-changers who tested the money offered to them, rejecting what was base and retaining what was genuine. Among the Fathers we meet with the phrase, "Be ye experienced money-changers," as a traditionary saying of our Lord; and some suppose that the apostle refers to this saying, and give the following paraphrase: "The good money keep; with every sort of bad money have nothing to do; act as experienced money-changers: all the money presented to you as good, test." Such a supposition is fanciful and far-fetched.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Abstain
ἀπέχεσθε (apechesthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 568: To have in full, be far, it is enough. From apo and echo; to have out, i.e. Receive in full; to keep away, i.e. Be distant.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

every
παντὸς (pantos)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

form
εἴδους (eidous)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 1491: Visible form, shape, appearance, outward show, kind, species, class. From eido; a view, i.e. Form.

of evil.
πονηροῦ (ponērou)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4190: Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful.


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NT Letters: 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil (1 Thess. 1 Thes. 1Th iTh i Th)
1 Thessalonians 5:21
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