1 Thessalonians 5:15 (DBY)

Passage

See that no one render to any evil for evil, but pursue always what is good towards one another and towards all;

Nearby Context

1 Thessalonians 5:13 and to regard them exceedingly in love on account of their work. Be in peace among yourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 But we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, sustain the weak, be patient towards all.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that no one render to any evil for evil, but pursue always what is good towards one another and towards all;

1 Thessalonians 5:16 rejoice always;

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray unceasingly;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "render", "evil", "pursue", "always", "good", "towards", and "another". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "render" and "evil", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "But we exhort you brethren admonish the..." into verse 16's "rejoice always...", so "render" and "evil" belong inside that flow. In 1 Thessalonians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "render" and "evil" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.