1 Thessalonians 5:22

Abstain from all appearance of evil from every form of evil (R. V.). The Apostle does not advise the Thessalonians to avoid what looks likeevil; the command thus understood encourages the studying of appearances, and tends to the "doing of our works to be seen of men" which our Lord condemns (Matthew 23:5). But in completing on the negative side the previous command, "hold fast the good (in prophesyings)," he gives to it the widest possible extension: "Keep yourselves not only from this, but from every sort of evil." It is difficult, however, for the Greek scholar to justify the reading of evilin this sentence as a substantive, and the rendering of the governing noun by kindinstead of appearance(rendered form, fashion, shape, in Luke 3:22; Luke 9:29; John 5:37). This noun St Paul uses once besides, in 2 Corinthians 5:7: "We walk by faith, not by sight" i.e. with no visible form, or appearance, to walk by. His meaning here may be similar: Abstain from every evil sight (or show) from all that is evil in the outward show of things about you: ab omni specie mala(Vulgate).

There are two words for "evil" in Greek that used here, signifying harmful, mischievous(so designating "the Evil One," see note on 2 Thessalonians 3:3); and that employed in 1 Thessalonians 5:15, denoting bad, base, malicious.

With this emphatic word, keep yourselves, the Apostle concludes his directions to the Thessalonians, extending from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, as to what they must doin order to preserve and sustain the life of grace in themselves. The prayer of the next verse invokes the power of Godto accomplish for them that which mere human effort can never attain. Comp. the transition of ch. 1 Thessalonians 3:11, expressed in similar language (see note), and of 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:3. All that the Christian can do for his own safe-keeping, or for the service of his fellows, is merged in the greatness and completeness of that which God will do for them.