I Thessalonians 5:18 · Bible study
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Commentary: Give Thanks in Everything, God's Will in Christ Jesus
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul commands thanksgiving in every circumstance as God's will in Christ. This study explores the meaning and power of thankfulness amid suffering.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Give thanks in every circumstance because this is God's will for you through Christ.
- Key words: εὐχαριστεῖτε (eucharisteite), present imperative of continuous thanksgiving; θέλημα (thelēma), God's purposeful desire.
- Main debate: Does "this" refer only to giving thanks or to the triad of rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving?
- Theological theme: The Christian life as constant communion with God expressed in joy, prayer, and gratitude, grounded in Christ.
- Best use: A verse for comfort in suffering and a call to habitual gratitude as an act of faith.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
WEB World English Bible 2000
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
KJV King James Version 1769
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
in every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
in everything give thanks, for this is [the] will of God in Christ Jesus towards you;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Dad gracias en todo; porque esta es la voluntad de Dios para con vosotros en Cristo Jesús.
Agradecei em tudo, pois essa é a vontade de Deus em Cristo Jesus para vós mesmos.
Rendez grâces en toutes choses, car c’ est à votre égard la volonté de Dieu en Jésus-Christ.
seid dankbar in allen Dingen; denn das ist der Wille Gottes in Christo Jesu an euch.
Dankt God in alles; want dit is de wil van God in Christus Jezus over u.
in ogni cosa rendete grazie, poiché tale è la volontà di Dio in Cristo Gesù verso di voi.
Za wszystko dziękujcie; albowiem tać jest wola Boża w Chrystusie Jezusie przeciwko wam.
За все благодарите: ибо такова о вас воля Божия во Христе Иисусе.
凡事 謝恩；因為 這是 神 在 基督 耶穌裡 向 你們 所定的旨意。
In everything give praise: for this is the purpose of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Thessalonians 5:18
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 here issues an unqualified command: give thanks in every circumstance, not only the pleasant ones. Barnes points out that we can always find something to be thankful for, even in dark dispensations, and notes Chrysostom's dying motto "Glory to God for all things." Calvin argues that this command is a remedy for impatience: we must look beyond present evils to see how God embraces us tenderly in Christ, turning all things to our advantage. Gill catalogs reasons for gratitude from temporal blessings to spiritual grace, and insists thanks should be given "in every circumstance of life." The Cambridge Bible sees prayer and thanksgiving as "the two wings of the soul." The consensus reading: "this is the will of God" likely refers to the whole triad of rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving (as JFB and Wesley hold), and this will is directed "to you-ward" as a special purpose for afflicted believers. In all, the verse grounds thanksgiving not in changing feelings but in God's settled goodwill in Christ.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Christians are called to give thanks in every circumstance, and this command is grounded in God's good will for them through Christ.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Referent of 'this' | The phrase 'for this is the will of God' refers to the preceding imperatives. | Whether it refers only to 'give thanks' or to all three commands (rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything). Lachmann and JFB read it as all three; some older commentaries (e.g., Poole) refer it specifically to the last. |
| Meaning of 'in everything' | Includes adverse circumstances, not merely pleasant ones. | Whether it covers every conceivable situation including sin. Most hold it covers all providential circumstances but not sinful acts themselves. |
| 'In Christ Jesus toward you' | God's will is directed to believers through Christ. | Whether 'will' is modified by 'in Christ Jesus' (so the will is revealed in Christ) or the command is to be done in Christ (giving thanks in Christ). Most take the former. |
| Nature of the imperative | It is a direct command for believers. | Some see it as a description of what God's will is, emphasizing that God enables what He commands. All agree it is prescriptive; the discussion is about the means of fulfillment. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Apostle writes to a church he planted amid affliction (1 Thess 1:6; 2:14). These believers knew persecution, social ostracism, and pressure to abandon their faith. Against this backdrop, Paul strings together three short imperatives in verses 16-18, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything, in a way that suggests a single posture of life. The Greek present tense of eucharisteite (give thanks) commands ongoing, habitual thanksgiving, not a one-off act. The prepositional phrase en panti covers every situation: prosperity and loss, health and sickness, success and failure. The Jewish tradition of blessing God in adversity (Job 1:21; Psalm 34:1) lies behind this, but Paul deepens it by anchoring it in "Christ Jesus toward you." The preposition eis indicates direction: God's will is personally aimed at these believers. The Cambridge Bible notes they were "so greatly afflicted and tempted to murmuring and despondency" yet are "the special objects of this Divine purpose." Thanksgiving is not a natural response to pain; it is a supernatural one, rooted in the Spirit's work (see v.19). Thus the historical context forces the question: how can they thank God when everything hurts? Paul's answer: because God's will is for you in Christ, and that will is good.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Alexandrian copy reads “towards you in Christ Jesus” (Gill), but this minor variation does not affect the meaning. The manuscript basis is stable.
Reception History
This verse has been a cornerstone of Christian gratitude through the ages. Chrysostom, the fourth-century archbishop, embodied it in his exile and persecution: as Barnes reports, his dying words were “Glory to God for all things.” In the Reformation, both Calvin and the Geneva Bible emphasized this verse as a remedy for impatience and a mark of genuine faith. The verse has comforted persecuted believers across traditions, offering assurance that God's will in Christ is always good, even when circumstances are not. It continues to be a key text for teaching thanksgiving as a discipline of the Christian life.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Command to Give Thanks in Everything, The Greek en panti spans every circumstance, including suffering. Thanksgiving is not optional but a direct imperative (present tense: keep giving thanks).
- The Ground of Thanksgiving: God's Will in Christ, Calvin stresses we must look beyond suffering to see God's disposition toward us. Barnes and others anchor this in Romans 8:28 promise that all things work for good.
- The Life of Continuous Thanksgiving, This triad (rejoice, pray, give thanks) is a continuous posture. Gill reminds us we always have reasons for gratitude: election, redemption, the hope of heaven.
Five-point outline
- Context: Suffering Thessalonians, Persecution and social pressure tempted them to despondency (Cambridge). Paul writes to reorient their perspective.
- The Command: Unqualified Thanksgiving, "In everything" means no situation is exempt. This is counter-cultural, even unnatural.
- Connection to Joy and Prayer, Thanksgiving does not exist alone. It flows from joy and dependence on God (Matthew Henry).
- Christological Foundation, "In Christ Jesus toward you" (eis humas). God's will is favorable because of Christ's work. Union with Christ makes thanksgiving possible even in pain.
- The Will of God, This is not a suggestion but God's definite purpose for believers. As Wesley says, "This is the will of God, always good, always pointing at our salvation."
Illustration hooks
- Losing a job: The initial shock and bitterness, then the slow realization that God might be redirecting you. How does thanksgiving fit?
- A difficult medical diagnosis: The temptation to rage against God. Thanksgiving does not deny the pain but trusts God's presence in it.
- Daily frustrations (traffic, broken plans, minor setbacks): The small-scale test of whether we really believe God orders all things.
Questions your congregation is asking
- "Does God expect me to give thanks for abuse or trauma?" (Clarify: we give thanks in the midst of evil, not for the evil itself. We thank God for His sustaining grace and for the hope of redemption.)
- "How can I be thankful when I feel nothing?" (Thanksgiving is an act of the will, not a feeling. Obedience precedes emotion.)
- "What if I can see no good in my situation?" (Faith trusts that God is working even when we cannot see it. Look to Christ, who suffered and gave thanks.)
Leading a Discussion
This verse asks us to do something unnatural: give thanks when life is hard. Yet Paul calls it God's will. These questions will help your group explore the meaning and practice of Christian gratitude.
Discussion questions
- What does the phrase "in everything" tell us about the scope of this command? How might it apply to different kinds of hardship?
- Why do you think Paul links thanksgiving with unceasing prayer and constant joy? What is the relationship among these three?
- How does being "in Christ Jesus" change our ability to give thanks in adversity? (Consider Calvin's point about seeing God's disposition toward us.)
- Does giving thanks in everything mean giving thanks for everything? How do you understand the difference? (Gill: give thanks in adversity but not necessarily for the evil itself.)
- What is one area of your life right now where you struggle to give thanks? What would it look like to obey this command there?
- How can your group help each other practice thanksgiving when you feel unable?
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)
| Job 1:21 | He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name.” |
| Psalms 34:1 | By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. |
| Ephesians 5:20 | giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; |
| Philippians 4:6 | In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. |
| Colossians 3:17 | Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. |
| I Thessalonians 4:3 | For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, |
| Hebrews 13:15 | Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name. |
| I Peter 2:15 | For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. |
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
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke ties the command to give thanks in everything to the truth that all things work for good to those who love God. Because both prosperity and adversity are equally helpful to the believer who lives for God, every event becomes a proper subject of gratitude. He further notes that gratitude and obedience are inseparable.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes insists that even in dark and painful circumstances we can always find reasons for gratitude, because God has a merciful purpose in everything he sends. He points to Chrysostom, who in exile and suffering still said "glory to God for all things." This grateful spirit is God's will for us, grounded in the gift of Christ.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that the call to give thanks goes deeper than a mere duty. Because God in Christ embraces believers so tenderly, even their afflictions become reasons for gratitude. Every event is turned to their advantage. The cure for impatience is to look at God's loving disposition rather than at present suffering.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator shows that Paul’s command to give thanks in everything is not separate from the letter’s main point. Suffering itself is part of God’s purpose to make believers perfect in thankfulness. Christian joy and prayer, both inspired by the Holy Spirit, reach their goal in full sanctification.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses that giving thanks in every situation is not optional but a direct command that reveals God’s specific will for believers. This call extends to all circumstances because it is grounded in Christ Jesus and aimed at the good of His people.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill insists thanksgiving must extend to every circumstance, even adversity, suffering, and temptation, because everything comes from God's hand for some good. He grounds this not in feeling but in obedience: giving thanks in all things is God's explicit will, revealed in Christ, and exemplified by Christ himself.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JF&B insists that "in every thing" covers even what appears to be misfortune, since nothing is truly adverse for God's people. They also point out that "this" refers to all three commands—rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks—as together forming God's will for believers in Christ.
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.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that the Greek word for will here carries the sense of a requirement or demand, not merely a wish. The emphasis falls on what God expects from believers, making the verse about a divine obligation rather than a general intention.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the specific actions of rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks are what God wills for us. He adds that God's will is always good and always directs us toward our salvation, never toward harm.