Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Parallel translations
- WEB Abstain from every form of evil.
- BSB Abstain from every form 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 6:3Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
- Phil 4:8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
- 2 Cor 8:20–21Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
- 1 Cor 10:31–33Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
- Rom 12:17Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
- Exod 23:7Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
- 1 Cor 8:13Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
- Jude 1:23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
- 1 Th 4:12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
- Isa 33:15He 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;
- Matt 17:26–27Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
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.