1 THESSALONIANS 5:15 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all — the gospel ethic transcends retribution; non-retaliation (mimēmai Rōmaiōn) is the way of Christ. 'Seek to do good' is the positive counterpart to negative restraint. The universal scope ('to all') mirrors God's comprehensive mercy.
Church Fathers on 1 Thessalonians 5:15
If we ought not to render evil for evil, much less evil for good; much less, when evil has not been previously done, to render evil, Such an one, you say, is a bad man, and has aggrieved me, and done me much injury. Do you wish to revenge yourself upon him? Do not retaliate. Leave him unpunished. Well, is this the stopping-place? By no means; This is the higher philosophy, not only not to requite evil with evil, but to render good for evil. For this is truly revenge that…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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