The Nugget:
1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; (KJV)
1Ti 2:1 First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and prayers of thanks for all people, (GW, God’s Word translation)
1Ti 2:1 First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)
My Comment:
Very often, in Paul’s writings in the New Testament, thanksgiving or thankfulness is mentioned in connection with prayer. 1 Timothy 2:1 is an example of this. Paul actually spells out several different kinds of prayer in this verse, which is clearer in the King James Version than in the Contemporary English Version cited above.
Paul encourages us all to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and in the very next verse he encourages us to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
It would be a very interesting study to uncover the extent of Paul’s prayer life as reflected by his incidental comments about who he prays for and what he prays for as reflected in his letters in the New Testament. On this topic, one place to start would be Ephesians 1:16.
Using the cross references for Ephesians 1:16 will get you started on this important and interesting theme:
Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Ephesians 1:16
Cease not. *Rom 1:8; *Rom 1:9, 1Sa 7:8; +*1Sa 12:23, **Php 1:3; **Php 1:4, Col 1:3; Col 1:9, +*1Th 5:17, 2Th 1:3, *2Ti 1:3.
give thanks. Gr. eucharisteō (S# G2168, 2Co 1:11). Eph 5:4, Rom 6:17; Rom 16:19, Php 1:3, 2Ti 1:3, *Phm 1:4.
making mention of you. Gen 40:14, Isa 62:6, *+Rom 1:9, *1Th 1:2; *1Th 1:3, *Phm 1:4.
in my prayers. Gr. proseuchē (S# G4335, Mat 17:21). *Eph 3:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; Eph 6:18, Joh 16:24, Act 6:4, Php 1:4, Col 1:9, 2Th 1:11, 2Ti 1:3.
Paul encourages his readers to “be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 4:16
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
King James Version
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
King James Version
This Thanksgiving, we can all be thankful to God for all the blessings He has given to us.