Koine Foundations

¹⁶ Always rejoice, ¹⁷ constantly pray, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

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Word Focus
in everything give thanks
ἐν παντὶ εὐχαριστεῖτε
en panti eucharisteite
<Hear It>

In this post I finish commenting on 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to 18. As mentioned in the prior two posts, near the end of Paul’s letter, he encourages the Thessalonian Christians to engage in three activities that should characterize all genuine believers:

¹⁶ Always rejoice,
¹⁷ constantly pray,
¹⁸ in everything give thanks.

The third activity that should characterize the genuine Christian is “in everything give thanks“.

According to the dictionary, giving thanks is expressing gratitude or appreciation for blessings. The idea being that as people go about their lives, bad things happen to them and good things happen to them, and they give thanks for the good things.

However, this is not what Paul has in mind because he says that believers should give thanks “in everything” (ἐν παντί / en panti), meaning in all circumstances. This implies giving thanks for the good things and for the bad things.

It is easy to give thanks for the good things. So here are some things to keep in mind about giving thanks for the bad things:

• For those who are believers, God superintends all things that happen in their lives and works all things out for good – both the good and the bad (Romans 8:28).
• Everything that happens to the believer is part of a larger loving and wise plan by God for the person’s growth (Romans 8:28). God does not cause suffering and pain, but He uses it.
• The things that trouble us are temporary and produce eternal benefits (2 Corinthians 4:17).
• Giving thanks for bad things changes a person’s attitude and provides strength to endure the bad things. It is typical for unbelief to lack thanksgiving (Romans 1:21).
• Giving thanks should be habitual and constant, in every situation in life, as implied in the phrase “in everything“. This same idea is expressed in another letter by Paul when he writes, “always giving thanks for all things to God our Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
• It is “God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” to give thanks in everything (and to always rejoice and constantly pray). This means they are important and not optional, and the power to do these things is found in Christ Jesus.

When we understand that God’s hand is in all things, good and bad, we learn to give thanks in everything. To give thanks in everything is to see God working in every situation.

Links to all three posts in this series:
Always rejoice
Constantly pray
In everything give thanks

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Eucharist

The Eucharist is a sacrament or ordinance observed by Christians that is also know as Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper, or the Blessed Sacrament. It was instituted by Jesus during the Last Supper with his disciples, the night before his crucifixion.

The word Eucharist is derived from the Greek word εὐχαριστία / eucharistia (<Hear It> G2169), which means “thanksgiving”. This term to describe the sacrament or ordinance originated in the first or second century A.D., appears in very early Christians writings, and is based on Jesus’ words as he gave thanks for the bread and wine:

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them. (Mark 14:23)

(See also: Matthew 26:27; Luke 22:17; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

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Word Focus Lexicon

Lexical Form: εὐχαριστέω <Hear It>
Gloss: I give thanks, I am thankful
Part of Speech: Omega Contract Verb
New Testament Frequency: 38
English Derivative: Eucharist
Strong’s Number: G2168 (Link to Blue Letter Bible Lexicon)

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Bibliography

Thomas, Robert L. 1 Thessalonians, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 11. The Zondervan Corporation. 1978.
Barclay, William. The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. The Westminster Press. 1954, 1959.
Danker, Frederick William (Editor). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, Third Edition (BDAG). The University of Chicago Press. 2000.
Best, Ernest. A Commentary on the First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians, Harper’s New Testament Commentaries. Hendrickson Publishers. 1972, 1977, 1979, 1986.
Morris, Leon. The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1991.
Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians, The New International Greek Testament Commentary. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1990.

Unless otherwise noted, English translations of Bible verses are by the author from the Greek text and are not quotations from any copyrighted Bible version or translation.