Amy asked me to post this, so I will.
My concern is with 1 Thess 5:22. If you're a King James Version reader, you know it as:
"Abstain from all appearance of evil."
I often hear people say that this passage is teaching that we shouldn't do anything that even "looks" sinful. While this is true (I'll post on that later), that is not what this verse is talking about.
Consider the following translations:
NASB
22abstain from every [a]form of evil.
Footnotes: Or appearance
NKJV
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
And the context (NKJV)
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
The verse is speaking in the context of either partaking in right or wrong ("hold fast what is good"). The word "appearance" in the KJV isn't a mistranslation, but it does, I think, cloud the meaning. It is the word "appearance" in the same meaning as "President Bush made an appearance at A&M this week", not how we "appear" to others around us.
More to come later!
