Fulton Church of Christ

Thanks in the KJV

The most common word, used 55 times, is from the root eucharist, used as a noun, verb, or adjective: to give thanks, to thank, or to be thankful.
Ten times, charis (grace) is translated thanks.
Three times, forms of logia (profess) are translated thanks.

On many occasions, someone thanked God for doing something that people cannot do

Luke 17:16 [The Samaritan leper] fell down at His feet, giving Him thanks
John 11:41 Then they took away the stone and Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.”
Romans 1:8 I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Romans 7:24 – 5 Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God that I speak with tongues more than you all.
2 Corinthians 1:11 …you also helping in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf for the gift granted to us through many
2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 9:11 – 12 …you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
Ephesians 1:15 – 16 Therefore, I also, after I heard of your faith…do not cease to give thanks for you.
Ephesians 5:20 …giving thanks always for all things to God
Philippians 1:3 I thank God…for your fellowship in the gospel
Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to the Lord…since we heard of your faith
Colossians 1:12 …giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers…
Colossians 3:17 …do all in the name of the Lord, giving thanks
1 Thessalonians 2:13 We thank God without ceasing because when you received the word of God…you welcomed it not as the word of men…but the word of God
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you…remembering your work of faith
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you…because your faith grows exceedingly and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other
2 Thessalonians 2:13 We are obligated to give thanks to God always for you…because God chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
Philemon 4 I thank my God, making mention of you in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith…that the sharing of your faith may be effective
Revelation 11:17 We give thanks…because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

We need to be careful that we thank God for what He did specifically, not for what I like.

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not as other men.”

Some contexts are made richer by including the idea that God caused something.

Acts 28:15 When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
Romans 1:21 Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him…nor were thankful
Ephesians 5:4 …but rather the giving of thanks
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Colossians 2:7 …rooted and built up in Him…abounding with thanksgiving.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of God rule in your hearts…and be thankful
Colossians 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 3:9 For what thanks can we render to God for you?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 …in everything give thanks
1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort…that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men
Revelation 4:9 The living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to Him
Revelation 7:12 Thanksgiving and power and honor and might be to our God

Thanks given for ordinary food show that the direct action of God is not always the point.

Matthew 15:36 (Mark 8:6) He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks.
Matthew 26:27 (Mark 14:23, Luke 22:17, 19, 1 Corinthians 11:24) He took the [bread] [cup] and gave thanks
John 6:11, 6:23 Jesus took the loaves and, when He had given thanks….
Acts 27:35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God
Romans 14:6 He who eats, eats to the Lord and gives thanks
1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over
which I give thanks?
1 Corinthians 14:16 – 17 How will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say, “Amen,” at your giving of thanks?
1 Timothy 4:3 – 4 …foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving

And a few odd applications:

Romans 16:4 To [Priscilla and Aquila] not only I give thanks but also all the churches…
1 Corinthians 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius lest any should say that I had baptized in my own name.
Acts 24:3 We accept it, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

Summary

Thankfulness should seek the direct actions of God
We should be cautious about thanking God for things He did not promise
Food is a promise (Matthew 5:33)