John Calvin Commentary 1 Thessalonians 5:22

"abstain from every form of evil." — 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (ASV)

From every evil appearance. Some think that this is a universal statement, as if he commanded us to abstain from all things that present an appearance of evil. In that case, the meaning would be that an internal testimony of conscience is not enough, unless consideration is also given to fellow believers, so as to prevent occasions of offense by avoiding everything that can have the appearance of evil.

Those who explain the word speciem in the manner of dialecticians, as meaning the subdivision of a general term, fall into a very serious error. For he has used the term speciem to mean what we commonly call appearance. It may also be translated as either evil appearance or appearance of evil. The meaning, however, is the same. I rather prefer Chrysostom and Ambrose, who connect this sentence with the previous one. At the same time, neither of them explains Paul’s meaning, and perhaps they have not fully grasped what he intends. I will briefly state my view of it.

In the first place, I understand the phrase appearance of evil, or evil appearance, to mean the following: It refers to when the falsity of a doctrine has not yet been discovered in such a way that it can be rejected on good grounds. Yet, at the same time, a troubling suspicion remains in the mind, and fears are harbored that some poison might be lurking.

Accordingly, he commands us to abstain from that kind of doctrine which has an appearance of being evil, though it is not really so—not that he allows that it should be completely rejected, but rather that it ought not to be received or believed. For why has he previously commanded that what is good should be held fast, while he now desires that we should abstain not simply from evil, but from all appearance of evil? It is for this reason: when truth has been brought to light by careful examination, it is certainly appropriate in that case to believe it.

When, on the other hand, there is any fear of false doctrine, or when the mind is beset by doubt, it is proper in that case to draw back, or to pause, as they say, so that we do not receive anything with a doubtful and perplexed conscience. In short, he shows us how prophecy will be useful to us without any danger—if we are attentive in proving all things, and if we are free from carelessness and haste.