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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →They must not repay evil for evil, but always pursue what is good toward one another and toward everyone.
What Does 1 Thessalonians 5:15 Mean?
Paul calls them to a radical refusal: 'see that none render evil for evil.' When wronged, they are not to strike back. Instead they are to 'ever follow that which is good,' actively pursuing the good of others, and this toward both 'yourselves' within the church and 'all men' beyond it.
This is the way of Christ, who did not return evil for evil but overcame it with good. Repaying wrong with wrong simply multiplies the evil; pursuing good breaks the cycle. Paul does not merely forbid revenge but commands its opposite, the eager seeking of others' good. And the scope is universal: not just fellow believers but everyone, even those who do the wrong. This is one of the hardest and most beautiful marks of the Christian life, to meet evil with good rather than retaliation. It reflects the heart of God, who is kind even to the ungrateful. Paul asks the whole church to watch over this together, 'see that none,' guarding one another against the impulse to repay harm with harm.