What's In Your Bible?
…for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. – Psalms 138:2
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstaining from the appearance of evil versus just evil.
Abstaining from every form of evil is implying that as long as you don’t actually do the sin, (evil) you’re okay.
The Bible takes it a step further: Don’t even look like you are doing evil.
This fits with Jesus teaching in Matthew 5:27-28
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
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Abstaining from the appearance of evil versus just evil.
Abstaining from every form of evil is implying that as long as you don’t actually do the sin, (or evil) you’re okay.
The Bible takes it a step further: Don’t even look like you are doing evil.
This fits with Jesus teaching in Matthew 5:27-28 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Abstaining from Adultery isn’t quite good enough. We need to abstain from all appearance of committing the sin.
1 Corinthians 8 and 10 we are told that “All things are lawful for me but not all things are expedient” and then given the example of eating meat that has been offered to an idol. In order not to offend the conscience of a weak brother or the church of God, we should abstain from eating it. It’s not evil to eat it, but for the benefit of another, we should abstain.
Reformation Bibles that have “Appearance”
Tyndale Coverdale Matthews Great Bible Geneva Bible Douay-Rheims Bible Bishops’ Bible Beza New Testament
Matthew Henry – We should therefore abstain from evil, and all appearances of evil, from sin, and that which looks like sin, leads to it, and borders upon it. He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the occasions of sin, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to sin, will not long abstain from the actual commission of sin.
Adam Clarke – Abstain from all appearance of evil – Sin not, and avoid even the appearance of it. Do not drive your morality so near the bounds of evil as to lead even weak persons to believe that ye actually touch, taste, or handle it. Let not the form of it, ειδος, appear with or among you, much less the substance.