I Thessalonians 5:20-22 · Bible study
1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 Commentary: Testing Prophecies, Holding to Good
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What Paul meant by 'prophesyings,' why believers might despise them, and how to test all things while avoiding evil.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul urges believers to value prophetic preaching, evaluate it carefully by Scripture, retain what is good, and completely avoid evil in every form.
- Key words: προφητείας (prophesyings: Spirit-inspired teaching), δοκιμάζετε (test: like assaying metals), καλόν (good: morally beautiful, excellent), εἴδους (form/appearance: kind or semblance of evil).
- Main debate: Whether εἶδος πονηροῦ means 'appearance of evil' (avoid seeming sinful) or 'every kind of evil' (avoid all types).
- Theological theme: The Spirit works through the preached word; discernment is a community practice; holiness requires both embrace of good and rejection of evil.
- Best use: As a guide for how to receive and assess teaching, ensuring we neither naively accept everything nor cynically reject the Spirit's work.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
20Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
21but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
22Abstain from every form of evil.
WEB World English Bible 2000
20Don’t despise prophecies.
21Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
22Abstain from every form of evil.
KJV King James Version 1769
20Despise not prophesyings.
21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
20despise not prophesyings;
21prove all things; hold fast that which is good;
22abstain from every form of evil.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
20prophesyings despise not;
21all things prove; that which is good hold fast;
22from all appearance of evil abstain ye;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
20do not lightly esteem prophecies;
21but prove all things, hold fast the right;
22hold aloof from every form of wickedness.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
20Despise not prophecies.
21But prove all things: hold fast that which is good.
22From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Thessalonians 5:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Paul's three short commands form a single chain of reasoning. The prophesyings (προφητείας) refer not primarily to future prediction but to Spirit-inspired preaching, teaching, and exhortation, the kind Paul values highly in 1 Corinthians 14. Calvin, Barnes, and Wesley all note that these are the ordinary means by which the Spirit works, so to despise them is effectively to quench the Spirit (v.19). The temptation to despise them likely came from a preference for more spectacular gifts like tongues (Barnes) or from exposure to false teachers who discredited genuine prophecy (Calvin, Gill). Paul's solution is twofold: 'test all things' (πάντα δοκιμάζετε), a verb used for assaying metals, implying careful scrutiny by Scripture (Clarke, JFB), and 'hold fast' what survives the test. The command to 'abstain from every form of evil' (ἀπό παντός εἴδους πονηροῦ ἀπέχεσθε) is taken by Clarke and the KJV as avoiding even the appearance of sin, while Vincent and the Cambridge Bible argue the Greek word εἶδος means 'kind' or 'form,' so Paul commands avoidance of every type of evil. Both readings call believers to radical holiness.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Avoid the appearance of evil: KJV translation 'appearance'; supported by Barnes, Clarke, and many older commentators; emphasizes that believers should not even seem to sin, to avoid scandal.
- Avoid every kind of evil: R. V. and modern translations 'every form of evil'; supported by Vincent, Cambridge Bible, and lexical evidence that εἶδος normally means 'form' or 'kind,' not 'semblance'; commands comprehensive avoidance of evil in all its types.
- Testing limited to prophecies: Some (JFB) argue 'test all things' is primarily about evaluating prophetic utterances, while others (Barnes, Vincent) apply it generally to all teaching and conduct.
What is clear: All Christians agree that Paul commands his readers to value Spirit-inspired teaching, to critically examine it against God's Word, to retain what is good, and to separate themselves entirely from evil.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'prophesyings' (προφητείας) | Commentators agree that in context it refers to Spirit-inspired teaching, exhortation, and preaching, often based on Scripture, not primarily prediction of future events. | Some (e.g., Calvin) define it narrowly as interpreting Scripture, while others (e.g., Cambridge Bible) include any direct revelation from God spoken through a human instrument. |
| Scope of 'test all things' (πάντα δοκιμάζετε) | All agree that testing is necessary and should be done by Scripture and sound doctrine. | Some (e.g., Barnes, Vincent) see it as a general command applying to every area of life, while others (e.g., JFB) limit it primarily to testing the claims of supposed prophets. |
| Meaning of 'appearance/form of evil' (εἶδος πονηροῦ) | The phrase commands believers to avoid evil in some comprehensive sense. | One reading (KJV, Clarke, Barnes) takes it as 'appearance', avoid even what looks like evil. Another (R.V., Vincent, Cambridge) takes it as 'form' or 'kind', avoid every type of evil, not just the obvious ones. |
| Connection to quenching the Spirit (v.19) | Despising prophecy is a form of quenching the Spirit, since the Spirit operates through the preached word. | No significant debate; all commentators link these verses to v.19 as a unit. |
Historical & Cultural Context
In the Old Testament, prophecy was a recognizable gift: Moses wished all God's people were prophets (Numbers 11:29), and bands of prophets appeared under Samuel's leadership (1 Samuel 10:5-13; 19:20-24). In the early church, prophecy was one of the Spirit's manifestations, ranked by Paul above tongues because it built up the congregation (a point Barnes notes the Thessalonians may have overlooked). A prophet was an interpreter of God's will, speaking forth what the Spirit revealed (Calvin, Cambridge Bible). The Thessalonian church had received Paul's teaching about the Spirit (1:5-6; 4:8), but as in Corinth, some may have prized flashier gifts over plain preaching.
The surrounding context (vv.16-19) includes a cluster of commands about joy, prayer, thanksgiving, and not quenching the Spirit. The phrase 'quench not the Spirit' (v.19) is immediately followed by 'despise not prophesyings,' linking the Spirit's activity directly to the ministry of the word. In a culture where many claimed divine inspiration, pagan oracles, Jewish prophets, Christian charismatics, discerning true from false became urgent. Paul does not forbid prophecy; he regulates it. The command to 'test all things' reflects a mature congregation, not passive consumers but active evaluators of what they heard. The Old Testament background of prophetic bands and the New Testament experience of false teachers (both noted by Gill and JFB) show why testing was essential.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants that affect the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown mention that some of the oldest manuscripts insert δέ (“but”) at the beginning of verse 21, giving “but prove all things” as a contrast to the preceding negative commands. This reading is adopted by the ASV and BSB. Whether present or not, the sense remains that testing is the necessary counterpart to not despising prophecy. The wording is stable across the major Greek manuscripts.
Reception History
Early Christian writers frequently cited verse 21 in conjunction with an apocryphal saying of Jesus: “Become approved money-changers.” Vincent’s Word Studies notes that Origen and others pair this saying with Paul’s text, treating it as a call to discernment, to test doctrines as a moneychanger tests coins. In the Reformation, this passage became a key text for the principle of private judgment: Calvin used it to argue that laypeople must examine what they hear from the pulpit, and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown specifically oppose the Roman Catholic claim of priestly infallibility with this verse. In Wesleyan and Methodist traditions, Clarke and Wesley connected the commands to the means of grace, urging regular attendance upon preaching and careful testing of all teaching against Scripture. The phrase “abstain from every form of evil” has been invoked in many traditions to encourage both personal holiness and the avoidance of scandal or even the suspicion of wrongdoing.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Don't despise the ordinary means of grace. Prophecy here is Spirit-inspired teaching and preaching. The early church risked undervaluing it in favor of more dramatic gifts. Today, we may dismiss a plain sermon or an unpolished preacher. Paul says such contempt quenches the Spirit. Stay hungry for the Word however it comes.
- Test everything by Scripture. The word δοκιμάζω was used of testing metals to see if they were genuine. Not every message that claims to be from God is. Use the Bible as your assay. Healthy Christians don't believe everything they hear; they weigh it.
- Hold fast to good, flee every evil. After testing comes action: cling to what passes the test, and keep clear of evil in all its forms. Whether εἶδος means 'appearance' or 'kind,' the call is to separation from sin and scandal.
Five-point outline
- Prophecy in the New Testament was inspired preaching, not necessarily prediction.
- It could be despised because of elitism (tongues seemed higher) or because false teachers discredited the real thing.
- Testing (δοκιμάζω) is the proper response, by Scripture, by reason, by the church's discernment.
- What passes the test must be retained and practiced with a firm grip.
- Evil, however defined, is to be avoided entirely, not flirted with.
Illustration hooks
- A jeweler tests gold with acid to prove its purity. In the same way, Christians should test teaching against the touchstone of God's Word.
- A shopper learns to spot counterfeit bills by studying the real thing, not the fake. The more familiar we are with Scripture, the quicker we detect error.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if a prophecy or sermon is truly from God?
- Does 'avoid every kind of evil' mean I can't go to certain places or associate with certain people?
- What if a preacher I respect gets something wrong, do I reject everything they say?
Leading a Discussion
These three short verses pack a punch. Paul links how we receive teaching, how we evaluate it, and how we live it out. The goal is not suspicion but discernment, not cynicism but holiness. Use these questions to help your group apply the passage.
Discussion questions
- In what ways might a church today despise ordinary preaching? What attitudes or actions show we value or undervalue it?
- How does Paul's teaching about prophecy elsewhere (e.g., 1 Corinthians 14) help us understand 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22?
- The word 'test' (δοκιμάζω) means to prove the genuineness of something. What tools has God given us to test teaching? How do you personally use them?
- Why is it important to 'hold fast' to what is good and not just discover it? What does that look like in daily life?
- Some translate verse 22 as 'abstain from every form of evil,' while others read 'avoid even the appearance of evil.' How does each reading challenge you differently?
- How can Christians lovingly test each other's sermons or teachings without becoming harsh or judgmental?
- In what area of your life do you most need to apply the command to test and then hold fast?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 11:25 | Yahweh came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more. |
| Numbers 11:29 | Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all Yahweh’s people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!” |
| I Samuel 10:5 | “After that you will come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is; and it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a lute, a tambourine, a pipe, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. |
| I Samuel 10:6 | Then Yahweh’s Spirit will come mightily on you, then you will prophesy with them and will be turned into another man. |
| I Samuel 10:10 | When they came there to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily on him, and he prophesied among them. |
| I Samuel 10:13 | When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place. |
| I Samuel 19:20 | Saul sent messengers to seize David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, God’s Spirit came on Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied. |
| I Samuel 19:24 | He also stripped off his clothes. He also prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke warns that neglecting preaching and instruction stems from self-conceit and leads to shallow faith. He urges hearers to test all teaching against Christ's words and apostolic doctrine, keeping only what builds holiness. On avoiding evil, he presses not just the substance but even the appearance of sin.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that Christianity, unlike other religions, demands free inquiry rather than blind trust. Believers must test every teaching by reason and Scripture, then hold firmly to what proves true. He also warns against anything that merely looks wrong, since abstaining causes no harm but indulgence may wound the faith.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin defines prophecy as the interpretation of Scripture applied to present use, not predicting the future. He warns against two errors: rejecting all preaching because some teachers are false, or accepting everything in God's name without testing it. The "appearance of evil" means doctrine that raises suspicion even when not clearly false, and Paul says to abstain from giving such teaching any credit.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator argues that "abstain from all appearance of evil" does not mean avoiding what looks evil, which would encourage performing for others. Rather the Greek points to abstaining from every form or visible show of what is harmful. This command concludes Paul's practical directions; the prayer that follows invokes God's power to accomplish what human effort cannot.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Try all things, and keepe that which is good.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill warns against despising preachers who lack formal education or the gift of tongues, insisting that their Scripture explanations still carry divine value. He urges testing every teaching by the Word, holding fast to sound doctrine even when the majority or learned oppose it, and avoiding anything that even looks like doctrinal or moral evil.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB argues that "hold fast that which is good" should be read with the next command about abstaining from evil. He takes "every appearance of evil" to mean the outward forms of false spirit-inspired teachings. Christians must reject any prophetic claim that wears a pious appearance but is actually evil.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees Paul's closing exhortations as deliberately ordered, not miscellaneous. He notes Paul uses "beseech" when addressing the congregation about their leaders, but "exhort" when urging all believers to action, and that Paul describes leaders by their functions (toil, preside, admonish) rather than official titles, avoiding any hierarchical tone.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry links the three commands as a chain: unceasing prayer is the path to constant joy, and that steady prayer in turn supplies endless reasons for thanksgiving. The joy he has in view is spiritual joy in God, which can remain full even when earthly circumstances cause sorrow.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley interprets "prophesyings" as ordinary preaching, not miraculous gifts. He warns that despising any means of grace will gradually and almost insensibly quench the Spirit. He reads "prove all things" as testing every practical advice by Scripture, not doctrines, and cautions against using this as an excuse to seek teachers who please oneself.