Thanksgiving

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

The true ideal of human life, as interpreted in the NT, is to make it a great service of thanksgiving. The thanksgivings of our Lord, culminating in His institution of the Eucharist, which was typified in His thanksgiving prayers at the feeding of the crowds, prepared the Church for this thought, linking worship with work.

It has been finely said: ‘As prayer is a recognition of our dependence upon God amid the darkness and uncertainties of the future, so thankfulness is a recognition of our indebtedness to Him for the blessings of the past.’*[Note: P. Liddon, Sermons on Some Words of Christ, London, 1892, p. 217.]St. Paul’s Epistles are full of a deep spirit of joy which is the constant reward of a truly thankful spirit. All his letters addressed to churches, with the exception of the Epistle to the Galatians, begin with words of thanksgiving. We note this especially in  2 Corinthians 1:11, when the dark cloud of grief over the backsliders at Corinth is passing (cf.  2 Corinthians 4:15).

He regards unbroken and universal thanksgiving as ‘the will of God in Christ Jesus’ ( 1 Thessalonians 5:18). He traces one root of the degradation of the heathen world to lack of thanksgiving ( Romans 1:21). In  Romans 14:6 he demands that the scrupulous man no less than the Christian who is indifferent to ordinances about meats or days should show thankfulness.

The great collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem is to be motived by thanksgiving, and will produce results beyond the material offering in the recipients as in the givers: ‘Ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality which maketh through us thanksgiving to God’ ( 2 Corinthians 9:11-12). In  Ephesians 5:20 he teaches that thanksgiving is the inspiration of Christian poetry and music, in which it found its most characteristic expression.

That St. Paul feels that it cannot be carried too far is proved by such strong expressions as  Colossians 2:7, ‘abounding in thanksgiving,’ for the glory of the faith in Christ. His main line of thought is always ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him’ ( Colossians 3:17). He expects that the universality of our intercessions will be matched by equal universality in our thanksgivings ( 1 Timothy 2:1).

Finally, we note that, when writing to the Philippians, whose unwavering loyalty was a constant solace to him in many trials, his thanksgiving ( Philippians 1:3-5) was ‘more than usually earnest. The Apostle dwells long and fondly on the subject. He repeats words and accumulates clauses in the intensity of his feeling’ (Lightfoot, ad loc .).

In  Revelation 11:17-18 ‘the Elders represent the Church in her great function of εὐχαριστία’ (Swete, ad loc .) and respond to the great voices of the living creatures in stirring strains.

The Apostolic Fathers strike the same note, e.g. Clement of Rome ( Ep. ad Cor . i, xxxviii): ‘Seeing therefore that we have all these things from Him, we ought in all things to give thanks to Him, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ The Ignatian Epistles are redolent of the spirit of thanksgiving, especially for the Revelation in Christ and ‘the love of the churches’ (Romans 9) (see Epistle of Barnabas , 7, quoted under Praise). See also articlePrayer.

Literature.-E. von Dobschütz, Christian Life in the Primitive Church , London, 1904; W. H. Frere and A. L. Illingworth, Sursum Corda . do., 1911; W. Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life , do., 1899; A. J. Worlledge, Prayer , do., 1902, pp. 219-228.

A. E. Burn.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

The lives of God’s people are to be characterized by the offering of thanksgiving to God always, for everything, and in all circumstances ( Ephesians 5:19-20;  Philippians 4:6;  1 Thessalonians 5:18). They are to give thanks for blessings, spiritual and physical ( Colossians 1:12;  1 Timothy 4:3-4), in their own lives and in the lives of others ( Acts 28:15;  2 Thessalonians 1:3;  2 Thessalonians 2:13). Thanksgiving is part of praise, prayer and worship ( Psalms 95:1-7;  Psalms 116:17;  Colossians 4:2;  Revelation 7:12;  Revelation 11:17). (See also Praise ; Prayer ; Worship .)

Believers should remind themselves constantly to thank God for all his blessings. They can do this by making sure that thanksgiving accompanies all their requests to God ( Psalms 30:12;  Psalms 92:1-4;  Psalms 103:1-5;  Philippians 4:6;  Colossians 4:2;  1 Timothy 2:1). They should be particularly thankful that God, in his love, has chosen them ( 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14), made them sharers in his grace ( 1 Corinthians 1:4), equipped them with faith, hope and love ( Colossians 1:3-5), and given them a part in the service of the gospel ( 2 Corinthians 1:11;  Philippians 1:4-5). By constantly offering thanks to God, Christians help counter the influence of sin ( Ephesians 5:4). By failing to offer thanks to God, they fail to give him the glory due to him ( Luke 17:16-18).

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Luke 17:9 Acts 24:3 Romans 16:4 Psalm 54:6 Jonah 2:9 Psalm 69:30-31 1 Chronicles 16:4 1 Chronicles 23:30 Nehemiah 12:46 Psalm 42:4 Psalm 95:2 Psalm 100:4 Psalm 122:4 Psalm 35:18 Psalm 44:7-8 Psalm 100:5 Psalm 30:4-5 Isaiah 12:1 Psalm 145:10

Thanksgiving is a natural element of Christian worship ( 1 Corinthians 14:16-17 ) and is to characterize all of Christian life ( Colossians 2:7;  Colossians 4:2 ). Early Christians expressed thanks: for Christ's healing ministry ( Luke 17:16 ); for Christ's deliverance of the believer from sin ( Romans 6:17-18;  Romans 7:25 ); for God's indescribable gift of grace in Christ ( 2 Corinthians 9:14-15;  1 Corinthians 15:57; compare  Romans 1:21 ); and for the faith of fellow Christians ( Romans 1:8 ).

2. Epistolary thanksgiving: An element in the opening of a typical Greek letter. All of the Pauline Letters with the exception of Galatians begin with a thanksgiving. See Letters.

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

That part of divine worship wherein we acknowledge benefits received. "It implies, " says Dr. Barrow, (vol. 1: ser. 8 and 9.) "

1. A right apprehension of the benefits conferred.

2. A faithful retention of benefits in the memory, and frequent reflections upon them.

3. A due esteem and those benefits with a willing mind, a vehement affection.

5. Due acknowledgment of our obligations.

6. Endeavours of real compensation; or, as it respects the Divine Being, a willingness to serve and exalt him.

7. Esteem, veneration, and love of the benefactor."

The blessings for which we should be thankful are,

1. Temporal; such as health, food, raiment, rest, &c.

2. Spiritual; such as the Bible, ordinances, the Gospel and its blessings; as free grace adoption, pardon, justification, calling, &c.

3. Eternal, or the enjoyment of God in a future state.

Also for all that is past, what we now enjoy, and what is promised: for private and public, for ordinary, and extraordinary blessings; for prosperity, and even adversity, so far as rendered subservient to our good. The excellency of this duty appears, if we consider,

1. Its antiquity: it existed in Paradise before Adam fell, and therefore prior to the graces of faith, repentance, &c.

2. Its sphere of operation: being far beyond many other graces which are confined to time and place.

3. Its felicity; some duties are painful; as repentance, conflict with sin, &c. but this is a source of sublime pleasure.

4. Its reasonableness.

And,

5. It perpetuity. This will be in exercise for ever, when other graces will not be necessary, as faith, repentance, &c.

The obligation to this duty arises,

1. From the relation we stand in to God.

2. The divine command.

3. The promises God hath made.

4. The example of all good men.

5. Our unworthiness of the blessings we receive. And, 6. The prospect of eternal glory.

King James Dictionary

THANKSGIV'ING, ppr. Rendering thanks for good received.

THANKSGIV'ING, n. The act of rendering thanks or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies.

Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if received with thanksgiving.  1 Timothy 4

1. A public celebration of divine goodness also, a day set apart for religious services, specially to acknowledge the goodness of God, either in any remarkable deliverance from calamities or danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of his bounties. The practice of appointing an annual thanksgiving originated in New England.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness; also, a day set apart for religious services, specially to acknowledge the goodness of God, either in any remarkable deliverance from calamities or danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of his bounties.

(2): ( n.) The act of rending thanks, or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

the act of giving thanks or expressing gratitude for favors or mercy received. It implies, according to Dr. Barrow (Sermons, 1, ser. 8,9),

(1) a right apprehension of the benefits conferred;

(2) a faithful retention of benefits in the memory, and frequent reflections upon them;

(3) a due esteem and valuation of benefits;

(4) a reception of those benefits with a willing mind, a vehement affection;

(5) due acknowledgment of our obligations;

(6) endeavors of real compensation, or, as it respects the Divine Being, a willingness to serve and exalt him;

(7) esteem, veneration, and love of the benefactor. The blessings for which we should be thankful are (1) temporal, such-as health, food, raiment, rest, etc.;

(2) spiritual, such as the Bible, ordinances, the Gospel and its blessings, as free grace, adoption, pardon, justification, calling, etc.;

(3) eternal, or the enjoyment of God in a future state;

(4) also for all that is past, what we now enjoy, and what is promised; for private and public, for ordinary and extraordinary blessings; for prosperity, and even adversity, so far as rendered subservient to our good.

The obligation to this duty arises

(1) from the relation we stand in to God; (2) the divine command; (3) the promises God has made; (4) the example of all good men; (5) our unworthiness of the blessings we receive; (6) the prospect of eternal glory. Whoever possesses any good without giving thanks for it deprives him who bestows that good of his glory, sets a bad example before others, and prepares a recollection severely painful for himself when he comes in his turn to experience ingratitude. See Chalmers, Sermons; Hall, Sermons; Dwight, Theology.