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NASB | 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. |
Bible Question: When Paul speaks about giving thanks for everything in 1 Thess.5:18, what do you think he means? Is the emphasis on "in" everything and not just "for" everything? |
Bible Answer: Hi, Professor Riggs... Welcome to the forum! That is a very good question concerning 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Furthermore, you have correctly stated the question. For the sake of some participants, let us point out that this verse is an imperative, not an indicative. For some reason, people try to cull indicative statements out of imperative statements and vice versa. This yields many of the odd teachings given rise from the more parochial pulpits in our land. A right interpretation of Scripture -- and this applies to anything written or spoken -- is afforded from a sound grammatical and historical basis. We are quite blessed by having all of these epistles from Paul. He always follows a regular pattern, as he likely did in his preaching. He presents doctrine (i.e., indicative assertions about what is true) then follows it with commands (i.e., imperative statements about what is to be done). In a very literal sense, orthodoxy (right doctrine) results in orthopraxy (right action). In other words, what we do (application) arises out of what we know (truth). As you rightly understood, this command is given to believers (v5). Failure to give thanks can characterize both believers or unbelievers. If automatic thanksgiving was magically granted in regeneration, Paul would never have given it as a command. What is more, he does so under the auspices God's explicit will for the believer (v9) in Christ Jesus (v18b). The NASB translation of this verse is very good, but I do not think that so much hinges on the preposition "in." Based on how the particular Greek word is used elsewhere by Paul, we may rightly assert that it is refers without qualification to all that the happens to or around the believer. Hence, the question, how is the believer to do this. Many things that happen to us or around us can be unpleasant, to say the least. However, we aren't superstitiously fearful of bad things visible or invisible. On the contrary, we know with certainty that "God has not destined us for wrath, God has not destined us for wrath" (v9) and we have the full evidence of that through Jesus Christ, "who died for us" (v10b). God is sovereiegn; i.e., He controls all things. Scripture, in which God reveals His very nature, tells us that He is sovereign over the entire universe (Psalm 103:19; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11). God is sovereign over all of nature (Psalm 135:6-7; Matthew 5:45; 6:25-30). God is sovereign over the angels, including Satan (Psalm 103:20-21; Job 1:12). God is sovereign over nations (Psalm 47:7-9; Daniel 2:20-21; 4:34-35). God is sovereign over human beings (1 Samuel 2:6-7; Galatians 1:15-16). God is sovereign over animals (Psalm 104:21-30; 1 Kings 17:4-6). God is sovereign over "accidents" (Proverbs 16:33; John 1:7; Matthew 10:29). God is sovereign over the free acts of men (Exodus 3:21; 12:25-36; Ezekiel 7:27). God is sovereign even over the sinful acts of men and Satan (2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Genesis 45:5; 50:20). God cannot be thwarted, impeded, interfered with, stymied, blocked, or prevented in the tiniest of details (Job 4:2; Isaiah 14:27). When He acts, no one can reverse it (Isaiah 43:13). Nothing can hold back His hand or bring Him to account for what He does (Daniel 4:35); for God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, and whatever He pleases (Isaiah 46:10). Consequently, we can offer thanks for each and every thing, as we are commanded. Because each and every thing is perfectly under God's control, for His glory and for our benefit. Finally, please note that Paul is telling us to "give thanks" -- not feel thankful. He doesn't say anything about feeling something. So this command does not mean that we are mindlessly happy about every experience. It does not mean that everything that happens to us will be joyful and pleasant. That is not what we are told to do. Instead, we are told to give thanks. We can offer thanks to God for everything because all the things that transpire ultimately are perfectly falling into place as He has designed. Thank you again, professor, for joining us in our study of the Word. In Him, Doc |
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Questions and/or Subjects for 1 Thess 5:18 | Author | ||
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mbooker | ||
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WalkingTalkingBible | ||
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hvette | ||
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itsall4him | ||
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Ken Riggs | ||
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EdB | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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EdB | ||
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DocTrinsograce |