complete verse (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Thessalonians 5:15:

  • Uma: “If there is someone who does evil to us (incl.), let’s not repay with evil behavior also. It is better for us (incl.) to do good always to our (incl.) companions and to all people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Be careful so that you don’t revenge if someone does bad (things) to you. But strive for/aim at always doing good to your fellow believers in Isa Almasi and to other people also.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Do not permit that any of you pay back evil, rather you must always treat each other well. Also treat all people well.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If moreover there is someone who does bad to you, don’t revenge-it but rather be constantly trying to do good to your companions and also to all people.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Be careful that you don’t have in your mind/inner-being to reciprocate-in-kind if your companion does evil to you. On the contrary, whatever is good, that’s what you are always to do to your fellowman, whether or not he has believed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Be careful, do not return the evil which is done to you. Rather do good to each other, and also to those who are not believers, do good.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5:15

In this verse, as at the end of verse 14, Paul’s concern widens to include non-Christians. No one and to all people make this clear. To one another means “to fellow-Christians.”

English, like Greek, can naturally use the metaphor see in the sense of “take care” or “make sure.” In New Testament Greek, as in modern English, the metaphor is dead or dying, but in continues in certain negative expressions, for example, “see that (something) does not happen.” It is therefore often appropriate to translate it by a literal equivalent. (See also the notes on 5.19 for the translation of metaphors.)

See that no one pays back wrong for wrong may need some restructuring. This is particularly the case with the introductory expression see, for example, “prevent people paying back wrong for wrong,” or “do not permit people to pay back wrong for wrong.” On the other hand, it is possible that this admonition is directed to each individual, in which case one can translate “no one should pay back wrong for wrong.”

The phrase pays back wrong for wrong is a very condensed expression involving a number of complex relations. These are expressed in various languages in quite different ways, for example, “exchange one bad deed for another bad deed,” or “give back a bad deed when one has received a bad deed.” It may, in fact, be necessary to be even more explicit, for example, “No one should do wrong to someone else just because that person has done wrong to him.”

Greek dictionaries commonly distinguish between the words for good used here and in verse 21. The word used here tends to mean “morally good” or “physically sound,” while the word used in verse 21 tends to mean “good to look at, attractive, beautiful.” In this context, however, they have virtually the same meaning, and Good News Translation therefore translates them both by good.

At all times may be translated as “always,” but since in Greek it is a relatively strong term in an emphatic position, one may translate it as “regardless of the circumstances” or “regardless of what happens.”

Make it your aim may be translated as “try earnestly” or “endeavor strongly.”

To do good to one another may be equivalent to “help one another.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:15

5:15a

Make sure that no one repays evil for evil: Paul was telling the Thessalonian believers that they should make sure that no one among them retaliated if someone, whether a fellow believer or an unbeliever, wronged him. Notice that it is not just a command to the person who has been wronged but to the whole Christian community. Christians have responsibility to make sure their fellow believers obey commands such as this.

5:15b

Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people: Here Paul balanced the negative command in 5:15a with a positive command. It is not enough just to avoid harming others. Paul commanded them to do what is good for both believers and unbelievers.

Always: Paul emphasized the Greek word pantote (Always) by placing it at the beginning of the sentence. You should emphasize this in your translation in the way that is natural in your language.

pursue: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek verb diōkō literally as pursue. Therefore the meaning here is “to try earnestly/strongly, to make a great effort.”

General Comment on 5:16–22

From this point onward, through to 5:22, Paul emphasized certain words in each command by putting that word at the start of the command. These are mentioned as they occur in the notes that follow.

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Sung version of 1 Thessalonians 5

Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).

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