Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
See to it that no one render unto any one evil for evil (orate mh tiv kakon anti kakou apodw). Note mh with the aorist subjunctive (negative purpose) apodw from apodidwmi, to give back. Retaliation, condemned by Jesus (Matthew 5:38-42) and by Paul in Romans 12:17, usually takes the form of "evil for evil," rather than "good for good" (kalon anti kalou). Note idea of exchange in anti.
Follow after (diwkete). Keep up the chase (diwkw) after the good.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Thessalonians 5:15:
Romans 12:17
2 Timothy 2:22
1 Peter 3:9
Revelation 19:10
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