1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Praying Continually
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 contains some great advice
for all Christians: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in
all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." These
verses are written using a literary device called chiasmus. Chiasmus is
often used in Hebrew literature, including the Old Testament, and Paul,
being Jewish, was also very familiar with this writing style, using it
often in his letters, including this passage. Unfortunately, chiasmus is
difficult to spot in our English Bibles but when identified, it can often
hold the key to understanding what Paul is saying. Chiasmus is an inversion
of parallel thoughts which often focus on a central thought. In the case
of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 it can be seen when laid out like so:
| Always be joyful. |
} |
|
|
} for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. |
| always give thanks |
} |
The focus is on the command to "pray continually". But how can one
pray constantly? The concept here is to practise prayer at any time and
in any circumstance we find ourselves. God wants us to be always looking
to Him for guidance and help and always be willing to give thanks to Him.
Next week, I'll expand on the meaning of these verses.
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