1-thessalonians 5:18

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

American King James Version (AKJV)

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

American Standard Version (ASV)

in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

In everything give praise: for this is the purpose of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Webster's Revision

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

World English Bible

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

English Revised Version (ERV)

in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.

Clarke's 1-thessalonians 5:18 Bible Commentary

In every thing give thanks - For this reason, that all things work together for good to them that love God; therefore, every occurrence may be a subject of gratitude and thankfulness. While ye live to God, prosperity and adversity will be equally helpful to you.

For this is the will of God - That ye should be always happy; that ye should ever be in the spirit of prayer; and that ye should profit by every occurrence in life, and be continually grateful and obedient; for gratitude and obedience are inseparably connected.

Barnes's 1-thessalonians 5:18 Bible Commentary

In every thing give thanks - See the Ephesians 5:20 note; Philippians 4:6 note. We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning. Chrysostom, once the archbishop of Constantinople, and then driven into exile, persecuted, and despised, died far away form all the splendors of the capital, and all the comforts and honors which he had enjoyed, uttering his favorite motto - δόξα τῷ Θεῷ πάντων ἕνεκεν doxa tō Theō pantōn heneken - "glory to God for all things." Bibliotheca Sacra, 1:700. So we may praise God for everything that happens to us under his government. A man owes a debt of obligation to him for anything which will recall him from his wanderings, and which will prepare him for heaven. Are there any dealings of God toward people which do not contemplate such an end? Is a man ever made to drink the cup of affliction when no drop of mercy is intermingled? Is he ever visited with calamity which does not in some way contemplate his own temporal or eternal good! Could we see all, we should see that we are never placed in circumstances in which there is not much for which we should thank God. And when, in his dealings, a cloud seems to cover his face, let us remember the good things without number which we have received, and especially remember that we are in the world of redeeming love, and we shall find enough for which to be thankful.

For this is the will of God - That is, that you should be grateful. This is what God is pleased to require you to perform in the name of the Lord Jesus. In the gift of that Saviour he has laid the foundation for that claim, and he requires that you should not be unmindful of the obligation; see the notes, Hebrews 13:15.

Wesley's 1-thessalonians 5:18 Bible Commentary

5:18 For this - That you should thus rejoice, pray, give thanks. Is the will of God - Always good, always pointing at our salvation.