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Jon Courson
'Giving Thanks FOR Everything! Thanksgiving 2014 Ephesians 5:20 11-26-14'
I was listening to Pastor Jon Courson of Searchlight, online the other early morning as part of my bedtime wind-down after corporate security work.
He noted from Ephesians 5: 20, contrary to what many Biblical scholars state, based on Ephesians 5: 20, Christians are to always be thankful for all things; as opposed to always thankful for all things in Christ.
I state that theologically this would mean that Biblically one is to always be thankful for everything God wills.
As opposed to being thankful for what are perceived as all good things that do not include suffering, death and the problem of evil.
This includes things willed within both God's perfect will and permissible will.
So this would include suffering and death and the problem of evil within the permissible will of God.
Pastor Courson reasoned his point can be seen by reviewing Scripture.
So I will review three English texts
From the New American Standard Bible
Ephesians 5:20
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to [a]God, even the Father;
Footnotes: Ephesians 5:20 Lit the God and Father New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Ephesians 5:20 in all English translations
From the English Standard Version
Ephesians 5:20
English Standard Version (ESV)
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Ephesians 5:20 in all English translations
From the King James Version
Ephesians 5:20
King James Version (KJV)
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
King James Version (KJV) by Public Domain Ephesians 5:20 in all English translations
Reviewing a KJV-NIV Greek Interlinear
Ephesians 5:20
It is translated as giving thanks
'always'
pantote
for
'all things'
pantwn
This is consistent with the English translations as well as the Greek manuscript versions presented via link below.
Greek New Testament
Also consistent with Greek New Testament cited.
I therefore, as I have concluded previously before hearing the sermon, from a basic English reading of Biblical texts and listening of Ephesians online reason that Pastor Courson's interpretation is correct.
This fits theologically well with soft-deterministic and compatibilistic concepts presented in Ephesians 1 of God choosing us in him before the foundation of the world (4) and that God predestined us to adoption as sons (daughters also in our modern context) through Jesus Christ through his will (5).
In Ephesians 2 it can be seen that those in Christ are saved by grace through faith, not of self unto good works (8-10).
Romans 8: 28-30 also demonstrates that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, to those called according to his purpose.
It would Biblically and theologically correct to view God as causing and willing all things, being perfectly good and for the good of those in Christ, therefore the Christian should always be thankful because God is providentially in charge as sovereign, working toward the good of those in Christ.
However, the great tension and counter is that in this fallen realm cursed with a problem of evil many sufferings befall each person; things occur which certainly persons wish would have not occurred. There is various types of human loss.
I admit my own significant resentment with God over some of these issues.
But a key from a Christian perspective is to stay true to the Scripture with its historical, religious documentation, gospel message, and theological truths in regard to the perfect nature of God and loving nature to persons as can be seen in the Gospel of John, for example.
Another key is to be thankful in principle, in an objective sense, always for all things that God does, as first cause, even when there may be significant human resentment and a subjective distaste for problems of suffering and evil encountered.
I am not in any way downplaying significant human suffering. Rather, I am acknowledging that God is infinite and sovereign, perfectly good and in control of the lives for the good of those in the Church. Christ, the Apostles, Prophets, and Job suffered, within Scripture, for example.
There is not only the future realm hope of the new creation (Revelation 21-22, 1 Corinthians 15) and more immediate the hope of the departed spirit in Paradise (2 Corinthians 12, Luke 23), but also there is hope in this present realm that God is still working for the better of those within the Church (Romans 8).
MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT (1993) Stuttgart, United Bible Societies.
