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The Role of Thanksgiving in Christian Worship Practices

Thanksgiving is a fundamental aspect of Christian worship, deeply rooted in both Old and New Testament practices and emphasized throughout Christian tradition. It is understood as a commanded act, a sacrifice, and an expression of faith and glorification of God [1, 2, 3].

The concept of thanksgiving appears early in the biblical narrative. In the Old Testament, the "thank offering" or "peace offering" was a significant part of Jewish worship. This offering, described in Leviticus 3:1, was distinct from other sacrifices in that it was not always offered on a fixed schedule, suggesting it often arose from spontaneous gratitude [10]. The only regularly recurring peace offering was that of two firstling lambs at Pentecost (Leviticus 23:19) [10]. The very nature of this offering indicated that the offerer was already reconciled to God and in covenant with Him [10]. The Psalms frequently call for thanksgiving, stating, "Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him" (Psalm 50:23) [2]. Another passage commands, "Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High" (Psalm 50:14) [3]. This suggests that thankfulness involves looking beyond self-interest to express gratitude for God’s blessings, and that true sacrifice entails offering oneself to the glory of God (Romans 12:1-2) [13]. Even in times of gladness and at set feasts, the blowing of trumpets over burnt offerings and peace offerings served as a memorial before God (Numbers 10:10) [6]. The prophet Jeremiah foresaw a future where "Thanksgiving will proceed from them, a sound of celebration" (Jeremiah 30:19) [5].

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ Himself set an example of thanksgiving. He gave thanks before feeding the multitudes (John 6:11) and before partaking in the Last Supper (Matthew 26:27) [1]. He also offered thanks to the Father for hearing His prayer (John 11:41) [1]. The apostle Paul frequently incorporated thanksgiving into his epistles, urging believers to give thanks "in everything" (1 Thessalonians 5:18) [1]. This includes giving thanks for all temporal and spiritual blessings, such as life, sustenance, the means of grace, and the various aspects of salvation like election, redemption, and regeneration [14]. Paul also instructed that thanksgiving should be offered to God the Father in the name of Christ (Ephesians 5:20) [1, 14]. He noted that if he partook in a meal with thankfulness, he should not be denounced for that for which he gave thanks (1 Corinthians 10:30) [4, 7].

Thanksgiving is not merely an emotional response but a deliberate act of worship that glorifies God [12]. It is due to God on account of His majesty, glory, excellency, greatness, holiness, wisdom, power, goodness, mercy, and loving-kindness [11]. It is also offered to Christ [1]. This act of glorifying God is commanded (1 Chronicles 16:28) and is acceptable through Christ (Philippians 1:11; 1 Peter 4:11) [12]. The heavenly host is depicted as engaged in thanksgiving (Revelation 4:9; 7:11-12) [1].

The practice of thanksgiving extends to various aspects of Christian life and worship:

The early Christian community, as evidenced by the Dead Sea Scrolls' "Thanksgiving Hymns" (Hodayot), shows parallels with themes found in Pauline theology, such as human depravity, divine grace, and the community as a spiritual temple [8]. This suggests a continuity of emphasis on gratitude within Jewish and early Christian worship.

Theological interpretations further elaborate on the nature of thanksgiving. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, emphasizes that thanks are to be given to God the Father in the name of Christ for all things, both temporal and spiritual [14]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist/Puritan commentator, notes that thanksgiving should be a part of every prayer, and whatever brings joy should be a matter of thanksgiving [15]. He observed Paul's practice of giving thanks for the faith and fidelity of others, even those he had not personally met [15, 16].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Thanksgiving — Christ set an example of -- Mt 11:25; 26:27; Joh 6:11; 11:41. The heavenly host engaged in -- Re 4:9; 7:11,12; 11:16,17. Commanded -- Ps 50:14; Php 4:6. Is a good thing -- Ps 92:1. Should be offered To God. -- Ps 50:14. To Christ. -- 1Ti 1:12. Through Christ. -- Ro 1:8; Col 3:17; Heb 13:15. In the name of Christ. -- Eph 5:20. In behalf of ministers. -- 2Co 1:11. In private worship. -- Da 6:10. In public worship. -- Ps 35:18. In everything. -- 1Th 5:18. Upon the completion of great undertakings. -- Ne 12:31,40. Before taking food. -- Joh 6:11; Ac 27:35.”
  2. Psalms “Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.” -- Psalms 50:23”
  3. Psalms “Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High. -- Psalms 50:14”
  4. I Corinthians “I Corinthians 10:30 (BSB) — If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?”
  5. Jeremiah “Jeremiah 30:19 (BSB) — Thanksgiving will proceed from them, a sound of celebration. I will multiply them, and they will not be decreased; I will honor them, and they will not be belittled.”
  6. Numbers ““Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God. I am Yahweh your God.” -- Numbers 10:10”
  7. 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 10:30 (NASB) — If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?”
  8. Dead Sea Scrolls “Thanksgiving Hymns (Hodayot) (1st century BCE), section 5: the Psalms of Solomon, the Prayer of Manasseh, the hymns embedded in 1 Enoch and Jubilees, and the later Odes of Solomon. They provide evidence for the vitality and diversity of Jewish worship in this period. Early Christian Parallels: Several themes in the Hodayot find remarkable parallels in early Christian literature. The emphasis on human depravity and divine grace, the concept of the community as a spiritual temple, the role of the inspired teacher-mediator, and the language of light and darkness all resonate with Pauline theology”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
  10. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Thank Offering, Or Peace Offering — the properly eucharistic offering among the Jews, in its theory resembling the meat offering and therefore indicating that the offerer was already reconciled to and in covenant with God. Its ceremonial is described in (Leviticus 3:1) ... The peace offerings, unlike other sacrifices, were not ordained to be offered in fixed and regular course. The only constantly-recurring peace offering appears to have been that of the two firstling lambs at Pentecost. (Leviticus 23:19) The general principle of the peace offering seems to have been ”
  11. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
  12. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glorifying God — Commanded -- 1Ch 16:28; Ps 22:23; Isa 42:12. Due to him -- 1Ch 16:29. For his Holiness. -- Ps 99:9; Re 15:4. Mercy and truth. -- Ps 115:1; Ro 15:9. Faithfulness and truth. -- Isa 25:1. Wondrous works. -- Mt 15:31; Ac 4:21. Judgments. -- Isa 25:3; Eze 28:22; Re 14:7. Deliverance. -- Ps 50:15. Grace to others. -- Ac 11:18; 2Co 9:13; Ga 1:24. Obligation of saints to -- 1Co 6:20. Is acceptable through Christ -- Php 1:11; 1Pe 4:11. Christ, an example of -- Joh 17:4. Accomplished by Relying on his promises. -- Ro 4:20. Praising him. -- Ps 50:23. Doing all ”
  13. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 50:14: 50:14 Thankfulness means looking beyond self-interest to express gratitude for God’s blessings (see 51:15-17; 54:6). • True sacrifice requires offering one’s self to the glory of God (50:23; Rom 12:1-2).”
  14. 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 5:17: In everything give thanks,.... That is, to God the Father, in the name of Christ; see Eph 5:20 thanks are to be given to him for all things, as the Ethiopic version renders it; for all temporal good things; for our beings, the preservation of them; for food and raiment, and all the mercies of life; for the means of grace, the word and ordinances, and the ministers of the Gospel; for spiritual blessings, for electing, redeeming, regenerating, adopting, pardoning, justifying, and persevering grace: for a meetness for heaven, a right unto it, and a good hope of ”
  15. Colossians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Colossians 1:3: Here he proceeds to the body of the epistle, and begins with thanksgiving to God for what he had heard concerning them, though he had no personal acquaintance with them, and knew their state and character only by the reports of others. I. He gave thanks to God for them, that they had embraced the gospel of Christ, and given proofs of their fidelity to him. Observe, In his prayers for them he gave thanks for them. Thanksgiving ought to be a part of every prayer; and whatever is the matter of our rejoicing ought to be the matter of our thanksgiving. Observe, 1. W”
  16. Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:4: Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,.... This expresses the matter of their thankfulness, or what it was they gave thanks to God for, their faith in Christ; by which is not only meant their hearty assent to the whole doctrine of faith, concerning the person, offices, and grace of Christ, their soundness and steadfastness in it, and their sincere and constant profession of it; but the grace of faith in them, the operation of the Spirit of God in their souls, which had not Moses, nor any mere man, but Christ for its object; by which they looked unto him as a”
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