What does 1 Thessalonians 5:18 mean?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV) reads: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." It sits in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, a piece of pastoral letter on hope and the return of Christ from the New Testament, and is most often read as a verse about thank you. The meaning sharpens when you read the verses immediately around it and notice how 1 Thessalonians as a whole is arguing its case.

What is the context of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in 1 Thessalonians?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 belongs to 1 Thessalonians 5, which fits inside 1 Thessalonians's wider message as pastoral letter on hope and the return of Christ. Before applying the verse, read at least the paragraph it appears in so you can see who is speaking, who is being addressed, and what situation prompted the words.

Is 1 Thessalonians 5:18 from the Old or New Testament?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 is from the New Testament — specifically the book of 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5. That matters because New Testament verses are written after the resurrection and speak directly into the life of the church under the new covenant.

What translation of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is used here?

Every verse on Bible Sundays is quoted from the King James Version (KJV), the public-domain English translation first published in 1611. We use the KJV consistently so the wording you memorise on one page matches the wording on every other page of the site.

How can I memorise 1 Thessalonians 5:18?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 aloud three times, write it out by hand once, then try to recite it from memory. Repeat morning and evening for a week. Pair it with the theme of thank you so your mind has a natural retrieval cue. Reviewing on day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 30 locks it in for the long term.

How should I apply 1 Thessalonians 5:18 today?

Identify one specific situation in the next 24 hours — a conversation, a decision, a fear, a temptation around thank you — where 1 Thessalonians 5:18 should change your response. Pray the verse back to God for that situation, then act on it. Application is what turns reading into obedience.

Thank You Card Verse

1 Thessalonians 5:18 for Thank You Cards

A free, printable, share-ready KJV card verse. Pick a theme, download as a high-resolution image, or copy the text for handwritten cards.

For Thank You

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

King James Versionbiblesundays.com

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Why 1 Thessalonians 5:18 works for thank you cards

Frames your thank-you within God's will for universal gratitude.

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Read 1 Thessalonians 5 (KJV) →

How to use this thank you card

Pick a theme above that matches the recipient's taste — botanical for weddings and showers, midnight for solemn occasions, kraft for rustic.
Download the PNG at 1200×1500 — Pinterest-optimized and high enough resolution for printing on standard 5×7 cardstock.
Send digitally via text, email, or social, or print and pair with a handwritten note inside.
Reference the chapter — readers often want to look up the surrounding context. Tap the link above to read 1 Thessalonians 5 in the KJV.

More Thank You card verses

Philippians 1:3

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."

Colossians 3:15

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

Psalm 107:1

"O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

Colossians 3:17

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

2 Corinthians 9:15

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."

Psalm 136:1

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

Ephesians 1:16

"Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers."

See all 13 thank you card verses →