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Thanksgiving (2)

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

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THANKSGIVING (εὐχαριστία, εὐχαριστέω) is an important Christian virtue, and in pre-Christian Greek the word is rare. Used chiefly of man’s attitude to God, it implies a recollection of Him, a recognition of His actions in the past (cf. ὁμολογεῖν and cognates, Hebrews 13:15, Matthew 11:25 etc.), quite apart from any thought of petition for the future. Meaning originally to do a good turn to a man (cf. ἔχειν χάριν, 1 Timothy 1:12), εὐχαριστία acquires the meaning of repaying a favour, and hence of showing gratitude. Philo uses it in the technical sense of thank-offering. Outside the Gospels and Apocalypse it occurs in the NT only in the writings of St. Paul.

1. Usage in the Gospels.—The word εὐχαριστέω (εὐχαριστία does not occur in the Gospels), though found in other connexions (John 11:41, Luke 17:16), occurs principally in relation to grace before meat, especially at the miracles of the loaves, and the institution of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 15:36; Matthew 26:27, Mark 8:5; Mark 14:23, Luke 22:17; Luke 22:19 [before the breaking of the bread we have in the || Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22 εὐλογήσας (Authorized and Revised Versions ‘blessed’) for εὐχαριστήσας in Lk.], John 6:11; John 6:23). From this fact, in later times, though not in the NT itself, the word Eucharist became a recognized term for the Holy Communion, and is found in the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (9:1) and other sub-Apostolic literature (Ign. Smyr. 7, Just. Mart. Apol. 1, 65), as well as in later writings. See, further, artt. Benediction and Blessing.

Besides εὐχαριστέω we find in the Gospels, as terms denoting the giving of thanks, (1) ἐξομολογέομαι (Matthew 11:25 || Luke 10:21, (Revised Version margin) ‘praise’); (2) ἀνθομολογέομαι (Luke 2:38); and (3) ὤχω χάριν (Luke 17:9; cf. Luke 6:32 ff.). In (1) Jesus Himself thanks His Father for revealing to babes what is hidden from the wise and understanding. In (2) Anna the prophetess gives thanks to God for the vision of the infant Jesus. In (3) Jesus sets aside the idea that a servant should be thanked for doing the things which were commanded him.

2. Christ’s lessons regarding thanksgiving.—(1) His own example is a lesson. He gives thanks to His Father for daily bread (Matthew 15:36 || Mark 8:6, John 6:11; John 6:23; cf. Luke 24:30); for the revelation to babes of the secrets of the heavenly Kingdom (Matthew 11:25 || Luke 10:21); for the Divine hearing of His prayer (John 11:41); for the bread and wine of the Holy Supper, and all the spiritual blessings which they connote (Matthew 26:26 f., Mark 14:22 f., Luke 22:17; Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24 f.). (2) His words convey lessons. We have no claim to be regarded as profitable servants, deserving to be thanked, if we have merely done our duty (Luke 17:9 f.). There is a kind of thanksgiving to God which is only a form of hypocrisy, being really a flattery of ourselves (Luke 18:11). The truly thankful heart is rare (Luke 17:16 ff.); it recognizes God’s hand in the gifts of human benefactors (Luke 17:18); it is inspired by faith, and wins great blessings (Luke 17:19).

It is worth noting that it is to St. Luke alone that we owe the story of the Ten Lepers and the Grateful Samaritan, which is typical of the Christian grace of gratitude that finds expression in thanksgiving; while it is to St. Luke’s beloved friend and teacher, St. Paul, as to no other, that we owe the repeated and characteristic Christian utterance of thanks to God for His unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15, and the Pauline Epistles, passim).

Literature.—Cremer, Lexicon, s.vv. εὐχαριστέω, εὐλογέω; Swete, JThSt [Note: ThSt Journal of Theological Studies.] , Jan. 1902, p. 163; Trench, Miracles, 357 ff.; Mozley, University Serm. 253; Rashdall, Christus in Ecclesia, 179.

H. C. Lees and J. C. Lambert.