Articles
The Appearance of Evil
Abstain from every form of evil.” “Hold yourself aloof from every form of evil.” “Shun every form of evil.” “Continue to abstain from every sort of evil.” “Steer clear of evil in any form.”
These five translations of 1 Thessalonians 5:22 are from the American Standard Version, The Epistles of Paul by W. J. Coneybeare, The Twentieth Century New Testament, Williams Translation, and J. B. Phillips Translation. This passage is made clearer by observing and comparing other renderings. They all bear the same message. This, of course, it not to say that the King James Version is inaccurate in rendering the passage, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” However, some erroneous conclusions have been drawn from the word “appearance” not intended by the Holy Spirit. Some interpret appearance to mean “the outward aspect of anything.” But a thing is not evil just because someone thought it looked that way. The passage means whenever evil (the real thing) appears, abstain from it.
Add to these five translations of 1 Thess. 5:22 Thayer’s definition of eidos (“appearance”): “from every kind of evil and wrong” (p. 172), and Nestle’s Interlinear: “from every form of evil, abstain.” This shows the verse is not talking about what may “look like” evil or what someone may associate with evil.
That becomes subjective, for what some may associate with evil may not “look like” evil to others. It is in the eye of the beholder. For example, some suspicious minds accused Jesus of being a glutton and a wine bibber because he ate with publicans and sinners (Mt. 9). “Guilt by association.” He also spent some time with a woman who had had five husbands (Jn. 4). It astonished his disciples and to some it may have had the outlook of evil. Was Jesus wrong or were the suspicious minds in error? If we are not careful we may put ourselves in the position of reading other people’s minds and of falsely accusing them.
To some Pentecostal groups it appears (“looks like”) evil when you wear jewelry, makeup, etc. In years past about the only place where billiards was played was in beer joints. Unable to see that it was the drinking that was wrong, not the billiards, some erroneously concluded that it was wrong to play pool even when drinking was not present because it had the “appearance” of evil and was therefore questionable. The same happened with dice, cards, and moving pictures on a screen. Though no drinking or gambling was involved, those who used dice and cards or watched a picture move across a screen, were pronounced “guilty by association.” If I came to your home and saw you playing a board game with dice or a game of Rook (cards), I would have no right to accuse you of violating 1 Thes. 5:22.
Certainly, a Christian should not try to see how close to evil he can get, or seek to make it look like he is doing wrong. Nothing in this article should be misconstrued as a defense of any sin named herein. But this passage is not saying every time one is found in circumstances another might question that he has actually sinned.
In some states the grocery stores sell beer and lewd magazines. If a Christian is seen in one of these stores, has he sinned by “the appearance of evil?” No, but he may have violated someone’s misconception of 1 Thes. 5:22.
While aboard a plane, the man sitting next to me ordered a cocktail and so did the people behind me. Rather than come under the scrutiny of a suspicious person who thought I violated 1 Thes. 5:22, I reluctantly decided not to jump out.
Another example: a Christian may be present where cursing, lasciviousness, cheating and gambling are taking place, without sinning. There are two places I have in mind where these often occur—at school and at work! Because one is present where these occur, is he guilty of “the appearance of evil?” If 1 Thes. 5:22 is teaching that we sin every time we are found in association with that which could be sinful, then the only possible solution would be as Paul states, “for then must ye needs go out of the world” (1 Cor. 5:10).
It is possible that one may sin through impure thoughts when he sees others involved in sin. He may also sin when he sees murder, stealing, materialism, or lasciviousness on TV in his own home. Does one sin when he sees sin re-enacted on television? He may or he may not. He may have placed himself in a dangerous situation—dangerous to his spiritual well-being. It may cost him dearly. He needs to beware of self-deception. He needs to ask: “What is my motive for watching this program?” He may have sinned terribly. All I am saying is that I cannot read his mind (1 Cor. 2:11). I must avoid the temptation to become a mote hunter or to always put the worst interpretation on another’s action or circumstances. We must “do good to all men, especially to those of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). Being charitable and using the Golden Rule applies here too (1 Cor. 13; Lk. 6:31).
I have often heard this verse misquoted to the effect that we should “Abstain from the very appearance of evil.” The word “very” is added to make it sound like it is wrong because it “looks like” evil to someone. “Very” is not in the text nor in any of over 30 translations I have checked. It is an addition which contributes to misunderstanding the verse.
The misinterpretation of 1 Thes. 5:22 has caused no small amount of problems for brethren and congregations. This misinterpretation encourages mote hunting. Accusations are often made on suspicion and one may become guilty of speaking evil against a brother (Js. 4:11) when, in fact, he may have done no evil. Dissension and division are often the result.
Let us “judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (Jn. 7:24). Vine’s Expository Dictionary points out that this is the only time the word appearance is used to mean “the outward aspect.” It is from opsis, not eidos. Jesus plainly commanded us not to judge this way. He did not contradict Paul. He contradicted the misconception some have of 1 Thes. 5:22. Christians should be cautious of dangerous situations. Likewise, we should be concerned about one another. But let us not misinterpret 1 Thes. 5:22 or John 7:24. The consequences are disastrous.
(Adapted from 1972)
