Abstain from every form of evil.
Parallel translations
- WEB Abstain from every form of evil.
- KJV Abstain from all appearance of evil.
- NKJV Abstain from every form of evil.
- NASB abstain from every form of evil.
- NLT Stay away from every kind of evil.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Having tested all things, believers are to keep away from every kind of evil.
Overview
This completes the thought of verse 21: hold fast to the good, but reject evil in all its forms. "Every form" calls for thorough, comprehensive avoidance of sin, not merely the obvious kinds. Such holiness flows from belonging to Christ and anticipates the prayer for sanctification that immediately follows.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Cor 6:3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
- Phil 4:8Finally, 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.
- 2 Cor 8:20–21We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.
- 1 Cor 10:31–33So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- Rom 12:17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Exod 23:7Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.
- 1 Cor 8:13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
- Jude 1:23save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
- 1 Th 4:12Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.
- Isa 33:15He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil—
- Matt 17:26–27“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The believer waits for God's Son from heaven, Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come and who will return to gather his people to himself.
How 1 Thessalonians 5:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.