Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
1 Thessalonians 5:15 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 15. 15See 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 — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
The explicit ban on repaying harm with harm and command to pursue good toward insiders and all people govern every correction and conflict.
Read It With
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 as one complete movement. Verses 12-13 address recognition, esteem, and peace regarding those who labor, lead or care, and admonish; verse 14 gives differentiated responses to disorderly, discouraged, and weak people with patience for all; verse 15 prohibits retaliation and commands pursuit of good inside and outside the church. Verse 16 begins a compact set of worship and discernment imperatives. The church should recognize and lovingly esteem those whose work includes labor, care or leadership, and admonition, live at peace, distinguish warning from encouragement and support according to people's needs, remain patient with everyone, reject retaliation, and pursue good for one another and all.
Why This Verse Appears Here
At this point in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, The explicit ban on repaying harm with harm and command to pursue good toward insiders and all people govern every correction and conflict. This advances the unit's purpose: The paragraph shows what mutual building looks like in a real community: leaders and members are related through work, recognition, precise care, patience, peace, and a universal good-seeking boundary.
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12–15 together
Why these verses belong together: Leader recognition, peace, differentiated care, patience, non-retaliation, and good for all mutually constrain community authority.
Verse 12. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
Verse 13. 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Verse 14. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
Verse 15. 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.
Follow the Context
- Recognize those laboring among, caring for or leading, and admonishing the church.
- Esteem them highly in love because of their work and be at peace.
- Warn the disorderly, encourage the discouraged, support the weak, and be patient toward all.
- Prevent evil-for-evil retaliation and always pursue good toward one another and everyone.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“over / caring for / leading”
In plain language: The participle can mean lead, manage, or stand before in care; the local function is not a blank check for hierarchy.
Within 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, this wording supports the verse's role without deciding more than the unit states.
Why it matters: It keeps the Verse Lens tied to 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 and the exact KJV line.
How certain? strong“feebleminded / fainthearted”
In plain language: The term means discouraged or fainthearted, not intellectually deficient.
Within 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, this wording supports the verse's role without deciding more than the unit states.
Why it matters: It keeps the Verse Lens tied to 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 and the exact KJV line.
How certain? strongWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
Non-retaliation does not forbid reporting crime, protecting victims, seeking justice, or safe separation.
What Remains True
The explicit ban on repaying harm with harm and command to pursue good toward insiders and all people govern every correction and conflict.
How It Can Shape Life
- Reject retaliation while still reporting crime, protecting victims, pursuing justice, and maintaining safe boundaries.
Teach It Back
Explain 1 Thessalonians 5:15's exact contribution to 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15. Include its surrounding argument, one material wording or major alternative, what remains uncertain, and what this verse does not permit.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 — Recognize Laboring Leaders and Give Differentiated, Patient, Non-Retaliatory CareSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The exact pinned KJV wording and immediate English context for 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the shared library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, connective structure, lexical forms, and variation markers.
Exact location: Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/1Thess.txt, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15.
Open the 1 Thessalonians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible - 1 Thessalonians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005-2026 online edition
Supports: Material translation choices, syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
Exact location: NET Bible official 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 print view, translator, study, and textual notes attached to verses 12-15.
Open NET 1 Thessalonians 5 notesmodern open commentary
1 Thessalonians
David W. Chapman
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: A complete current evangelical commentary check on literary flow, historical setting, grammar, theology, and major interpretations.
Exact location: David W. Chapman, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, “1 Thessalonians,” Further Instruction (5:12-15).
Open source ↗modern annotated new testament
1 Thessalonians introduction and annotations in The Jewish Annotated New Testament
David Fox Sandmel; edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler
Oxford University Press, 2011
Supports: A Jewish-context and historical-critical check on audience, persecution, polemic, ethics, resurrection, day-of-the-Lord imagery, and communal practice.
Exact location: David Fox Sandmel, “1 Thessalonians,” in The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2011 first edition), print p. 377 annotations on 5:12-15.
Open source ↗doctoral thesis open full text
Family Matters: An Exegetical and Socio-Historical Analysis of Familial Metaphors in 1 Thessalonians
Unja Onwunta
University of Glasgow, 2000
Supports: A sustained socio-historical check on familial metaphors without reducing them either to hierarchy or hierarchy-free affection.
Exact location: Unja Onwunta, Family Matters, University of Glasgow PhD thesis (2000), chapters 4-6 on nursing, father, sibling, authority, affection, and reciprocity.
Open source ↗peer reviewed open article
Discernment in 1 Thessalonians
Francois P. Viljoen
Acta Theologica Supplementum 17, 2013
Supports: Testing language, Spirit and prophecy, communal discernment, holding good, and abstaining from evil.
Exact location: Francois P. Viljoen, ‘Discernment in 1 Thessalonians’, Acta Theologica Supplementum 17 (2013), sections 3-5, especially the verse-by-verse discussion of 5:19-22.
Open source ↗