<p>5:15 <i>See that no one repays anyone evil with evil, but always follow after that which is good one toward another and toward all</i>- This follows on from the appeal at the end of :14 to be forgiving toward all. Forgiveness is &quot;that which is good&quot;, and again they are told to practice this &quot;toward all&quot;. To not forgive is therefore to repay evil with evil. The response to evil done is therefore to forgive, and there is no assumption here that we are to forgive only if repentance is shown. Paul uses the same words when commenting that Alexander had done him much evil, but the Lord would repay that evil (2 Tim. 4:14). The commands not to repay evil for evil are therefore because it is not for <i>us </i>to do this, but for the Lord (Rom. 12:17; 1 Pet. 3:9). Instead of repaying evil for evil, we are to bless or forgive (1 Pet. 3:9). But that is not to say that the person shall not have the evil repayed at the last day. But for us to do so in this life would be a form of playing God.</p>