by Kevin Cauley

There are several words that can be translated "Thanks" in the New Testament and seeing that this article will be sent out shortly after Thanksgiving and on Thanksgiving weekend, I thought that I would engage in a brief word study on the concept.

The Greek words, EUCARISTIA, EUCARISTEW, and EUCARISTOS are all Greek words that involve the concept of thanksgiving. Out of all of these words, EUCARISTEW, the verb, is most frequently used (39 times). The noun, EUCARISTIA is used 14 times and the adjective EUCARISTOS, once. The word is a compound word made from EU meaning "good" and CARIS, meaning "grace" or "gift." Hence, to say "thank you" in Greek was to express "good grace to you" or "good gift to you."

The word is used to express thanksgiving to both God and men, but it is used theologically in the New Testament to describe the state of the Christian's indebtedness to God's grace and mercy (2 Thessalonians 2:13). It is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). And it is that which is expressed to God for his sovereignty (Revelation 11:17).

This word may seem familiar to you because we have an English word that roughly corresponds to the Greek word, namely, Eucharist. This is the term that many use in the religious world to refer to the Lord's Supper. It was the term used by early Christians as well. There are several references to the Lord's Supper using this word to describe the Lord's Supper in the writings of the apostolic "fathers." Indeed, Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 that thanksgiving must be involved in the prayer for both the bread and the fruit of the vine.

There are some additional words in the New Testament that may also be translated in this vein as well: CARIS, EXOMOLOGEW, and ANQOMOLOGEOMAI. CARIS usually means grace, but is used in 1 Corinthians 15:57 to express thanksgiving for the victory in Christ. It is also used in 2 Corinthians 9:15 in regard to God's "unspeakable gift."

EXOMOLOGEW is a completely different form. It is also a compound word from the preposition EK (out of) and hOMOLOGEW (confess). The idea is to express that which is out of confession. Jesus uses this word to speak to the Father in Matthew 11:25 and Luke 10:21. According to Vine's Expository Dictionary, the meaning is to "make thankful confession" or "make acknowledgment with praise."

ANQOMOLOGEOMAI is another compound word composed of the preposition ANTI (against, opposite) and hOMOLOGEW. The word is used in Luke 2:38 to describe Anna's thanksgiving and praise. The preposition ANTI seems to intensify hOMOLOGEW in this instead of offset it.

So let us practice what is written and give thanks regularly regarding all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

by Don Ruhl

Read First Timothy Chapter 3

Many members of the church have zeroed in on some particular doctrines, but give no attention to the manner in which they live or how they treat other people, even their own brothers and sisters in Christ. This is not right. Believing all the right things is important, but if the belief does not lead to the right actions, something is wrong. Paul even tells Timothy why he wrote to him,

15 ...I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15, NKJV).

A problem I have observed is that people believe good behavior is righteous, unless someone does something wrong or even believes the wrong thing, and then it is okay to tear into that person. Friends, you will never find such behavior endorsed in the Scriptures. Let us constantly examine ourselves to be sure that our conduct imitates the conduct of Jesus Christ.

by Don Ruhl

Read Jeremiah 1 and 2

The Lord says to the contemporaries of Jeremiah that their fathers failed to ask a fundamental question,

Neither did they say, 'Where is the LORD...?' (Jer. 2:6a, NKJV).

He says that even the priests, the teachers of Israel, did not ask this question (v. 8).

Failing to ask this question, led them to turn to idols. Likewise, many in our generation fail to ask this question, so they turn to other things, hoping to find answers to the perplexities and problems of life.

As disciples of Christ, we should learn from this that seeking the Lord daily is our number one concern. Observe yourself today to see if you are seeking the Lord in all that you do.

by Don Ruhl

Read First Timothy Chapter 2

After stating that we should pray for all men, especially for political leaders, that we may have a good life, Paul explains why we should pray thus. It is not for selfish reasons, but for something much higher.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3,4, NKJV).

Yes, we want a comfortable life, but if it is only for selfish reasons, then we have missed the point. We pray for the best conditions for the spread of the gospel, because that is what God wants.

Think of your garden. You remove the rocks, the weeds and other things that will keep your plants from growing healthy. You add manure, compost and other ingredients that will make your plants as healthy as possible. Why do you do this? Is it so the plants can enjoy themselves? No, you do it that you might enjoy the fruits of your garden.

So, it is with God. The world is His garden. We work with Him in His garden. By prayer we ask Him for help in removing all hindrances to growth and ask for His help in adding whatever will cause people to grow into healthy souls who will bear fruit for Him.

Do I desire what God desires or do I want Him to desire what I desire?

by Don Ruhl

Read First Timothy Chapter 1

The Christian's concern is to treat people well, but sometimes we have to be harsh, though not mean. Writing of some who made shipwreck of the faith by blaspheming, Paul says,

20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:20, NKJV).

Our job is to rescue people from Satan, but there are some people whom we must give back to Satan in order to save them from Satan! They are cast out of the fellowship of the church, putting them back into the world that they might see that sin is not tolerated in the church. Furthermore, they see that sin is the domain of Satan and that his fellowship is not good, whereas the fellowship of the church, from which they have not been cut off, is extremely dear. Hopefully, they will long for it, repent of their sin and come back. There is a time for tolerance and a time for intolerance. Let us be wise in knowing when, and over what, we should be tolerant and intolerant.