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"Abstain from all
appearance of evil" 1. eidos NT:1491, properly "that which strikes the eye, that which is exposed to view," signifies the "external appearance, form, or shape," and in this sense is used of the Holy Spirit in taking bodily form, as a dove, Luke 3:22; of Christ, 9:29, "the fashion of His countenance."
It has a somewhat different significance in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, in the exhortation, "Abstain from every form of evil," i. e., every sort or kind of evil (not "appearance," KJV). This meaning was common in the papyri, the Greek writings of the closing centuries, B. C., and the New Testament era. ~from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words I will quote 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 22 from the Textus Receptus
(Received Text) first and then from the Nestle-Anland, as these are the
"closer to" the original text than what we read of in the KJV.
One commentary I found spoke to the
idea of the firstfruit not approaching the area of the sin....not
pushing the envelope.......not approaching the demarcation line or
border where one might enter into the area of sin. So clearly "form
of evil" means both the evil itself and any form or type of that
evil, best described as any process and/or action that moves us
toward or near such evil.
Evil and/or the committing of sin does not just happen. Everything is a process. There is a process of salvation as well as a process of sin. Verse 22 is an encouragement not to begin or even get near the early stages of the sin process. We check ourselves and examine ourselves for anything that might even be part of a process toward the evil or the committing of sin. Key Point In all this description of "form of evil" it is important to understand that there MUST be an evil. All forms of evil must link to a known and established evil identified in the Word of God. One cannot define what is evil and then declare certain actions as forms of that supposed evil. This Verse is Personal 1 Thessalonians 5:22 is an admonition from Paul to the lone individual in the Salvation Process. Only the individual firstfruit can make these judgments about evil, sin and his or her approach towards it. The individual has to decide what he or she is going to do regarding his proximity to evil.
Verse 22 clearly cannot be used by
third party firstfruits or other individuals to declare what is the
apparent evil in the firstfruit's life. This is the problem with
the misapplied word "appearance" rather than "form". The moment one
utters, "Abstain from all appearance of evil", the picture is
one of third parties, looking at the firstfruit and his or her
life. Carnal nature loves to judge the other person. Doing so
gives one self-justification. This verse must remain out of
the hands of third parties. It is admonition specific to the
person in his or her own Salvation Process.
Misuse of this Scripture by Would-be Judges The primary problem of third parties using this verse to judge other people is that THEY become the ones to define "appearance of evil" in the congregation. If this was allowed as common practice, we would all be forced to remain home for the duration of our lives. In my 35 years in the church, my experience is that third party judges name virtually EVERYTHING as being an appearance, form or type of evil. This was true in the first century of this church. Consider the cases of... Jesus making so much wine at the wedding.
Jesus fellowshipping with wind bibbers,
prostitutes and tax collectors.
Jesus picking corn on the Sabbath.
Paul walking among idols in Athens.
Most of these instances were seen as being evil and/or inappropriate by third parties of the day. In these modern times, we have had instances of members looking for every appearance of evil and others fearing anything they do as being possible appearances of evil. This is why this verse needs to be taken out of third party hands. Being Spring-loaded to the Negative
There is a situation I call, "happenstance
appearance of evil". This is the case where a third party stumbles
into a situation which unexpectedly and sudden unfolds and the third
party concludes evil. Two examples:
1) Third party member is walking down
the street and happens to look into a cafe window. He sees two
married members, a man and a woman. Problem is, they are not
married to each other. Assumption: Adultery or at least the
appearance of evil.
Truth: It was a double date. The mates were in the restroom.
2) Third party member is walking down
the street and encounters another member and his precocious
6-year-old daughter. As they stand talking, the daughter reaches
into her dad's coat and pulls out two marijuana cigarettes.
Assumption: The member
uses drugs.
Truth: The dad had taken those from his brother days before and forgot about them being in the jacket. Both of these were explained to the third party as I recall, but the point is that no third party should assume evil in another member unless it can be fully demonstrated and confirmed. It should never be assumed by a single viewed happenstance. Casting of Stumbling Blocks a Separate Issue The principle of casting stumbling blocks before a brother is actually a separate issue. Again, this admonition against doing so is one for the firstfruit and not third party individuals. In other words, the casting of a stumbling block is not appearance of evil....it is a specific act. Further, a stumbling block is not necessarily evil or sin, in and of itself.
Keeping to Design
Every word of God is given by His inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16) and each scripture has specific purpose and design. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 is a specific tool for the firstfruit in his or her own Salvation Process. Do all you can to keep it there. |
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Las Vegas, Nevada Church of God - part of The Intercontinental Church of God and The Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association - Tyler, Texas |