Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Read Chapter 12
Ambrosiaster
AD 400
The law said: “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,” but the Lord says: “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of God.” Therefore, in order for this to be the case, it is taught that we should not repay evil with evil. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
Paul means this: As far as possible, play your part and give nobody, either Jew or Gentile, any cause for fighting. But if you see the faith suffering anywhere, do not put harmony above truth. Make a noble stand, even to the point of death. And even then, do not be at war in your soul or of an adverse temper, but concentrate on the things themselves.
"Recompense to no man evil for evil.".
Conjoins. And the precept is absolute, that evil is not to be repaid with evil.
(That) we all know; provided, however, we remember what the same (God) has said through the apostle: "Let your probity appear before men.".
Has now grown old, ever since "Let none render evil for evil"
