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1 Thessalonians 5:16

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Rejoice always;
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Rejoice evermore.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Rejoice alway;
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Rejoice always;
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Rejoice evermore.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— rejoice always;
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— Evermore, rejoice,
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— always rejoice ye;
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— Always rejoice.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Reioyce euermore.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Reioyce euermore:
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— Be joyful always.
John Etheridge Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1849)
— Be joyful always,
James Murdock Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1852)
— And be joyful always.

Strong's Numbers & Red-LettersGreek New TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
Rejoice 5463
{5463} Prime
χαίρω
chairo
{khah'-ee-ro}
A primary verb; to be full of 'cheer', that is, calmly happy or well off; impersonal especially as a salutation (on meeting or parting), be well.
z5720
<5720> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774)
Voice - Active (See G5784)
Mood - Imperative (See G5794)
Count - 592
evermore. 3842
{3842} Prime
πάντοτε
pantote
{pan'-tot-eh}
From G3956 and G3753; every when, that is, at all times.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

_ _ In order to “rejoice evermore,” we must “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He who is wont to thank God for all things as happening for the best, will have continuous joy [Theophylact]. Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:4, Philippians 4:6, “Rejoice in the Lord ... by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving”; Romans 14:17, “in the Holy Ghost”; Romans 12:12, “in hope”; Acts 5:41, “in being counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ’s name”; James 1:2, in fallinginto divers temptations.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

_ _ Here we have divers short exhortations, that will not burden our memories, but will be of great use to direct the motions of our hearts and lives; for the duties are of great importance, and we may observe how they are connected together, and have a dependence upon one another. 1. Rejoice evermore, 1 Thessalonians 5:16. This must be understood of spiritual joy; for we must rejoice in our creature-comforts as if we rejoiced not, and must not expect to live many years, and rejoice in them all; but, if we do rejoice in God, we may do that evermore. In him our joy will be full; and it is our fault if we have not a continual feast. If we are sorrowful upon any worldly account, yet still we may always rejoice, 2 Corinthians 6:10. Note, A religious life is a pleasant life, it is a life of constant joy. 2. Pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Note, The way to rejoice evermore is to pray without ceasing. We should rejoice more if we prayed more. We should keep up stated times for prayer, and continue instant in prayer. We should pray always, and not faint: pray without weariness, and continue in prayer, till we come to that world where prayer shall be swallowed up in praise. The meaning is not that men should do nothing but pray, but that nothing else we do should hinder prayer in its proper season. Prayer will help forward and not hinder all other lawful business, and every good work. 3. In every thing give thanks, 1 Thessalonians 5:18. If we pray without ceasing, we shall not want matter for thanksgiving in every thing. As we must in every thing make our requests known to God by supplications, so we must not omit thanksgiving, Philippians 4:6. We should be thankful in every condition, even in adversity as well as prosperity. It is never so bad with us but it might be worse. If we have ever so much occasion to make our humble complaints to God, we never can have any reason to complain of God, and have always much reason to praise and give thanks: the apostle says, This is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us, that we give thanks, seeing God is reconciled to us in Christ Jesus; in him, through him, and for his sake, he allows us to rejoice evermore, and appoints us in every thing to give thanks. It is pleasing to God. 4. Quench not the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19), for it is this Spirit of grace and supplication that helpeth our infirmities, that assisteth us in our prayers and thanksgivings. Christians are said to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. He worketh as fire, by enlightening, enlivening, and purifying the souls of men. We must be careful not to quench this holy fire. As fire is put out by withdrawing fuel, so we quench the Spirit if we do not stir up our spirits, and all that is within us, to comply with the motions of the good Spirit; and as fire is quenched by pouring water, or putting a great quantity of dirt upon it, so we must be careful not to quench the Holy Spirit by indulging carnal lusts and affections, or minding only earthly things. 5. Despise not prophesyings (1 Thessalonians 5:20); for, if we neglect the means of grace, we forfeit the Spirit of grace. By prophesyings here we are to understand the preaching of the word, the interpreting and applying of the scriptures; and this we must not despise, but should prize and value, because it is the ordinance of God, appointed of him for our furtherance and increase in knowledge and grace, in holiness and comfort. We must not despise preaching, though it be plain, and not with enticing words of men's wisdom, and though we be told no more than what we knew before. It is useful, and many times needful, to have our minds stirred up, our affections and resolutions excited, to those things that we knew before to be our interest and our duty. 6. Prove all things, but hold fast that which is good, 1 Thessalonians 5:21. This is a needful caution, to prove all things; for, though we must put a value on preaching, we must not take things upon trust from the preacher, but try them by the law and the testimony. We must search the scriptures, whether what they say be true or not. We must not believe every spirit, but must try the spirits. But we must not be always trying, always unsettled; no, at length we must be settled, and hold fast that which is good. When we are satisfied that any thing is right, and true, and good, we must hold it fast, and not let it go, whatever opposition or whatever persecution we meet with for the sake thereof. Note, The doctrines of human infallibility, implicit faith, and blind obedience, are not the doctrines of the Bible. Every Christian has and ought to have, the judgment of discretion, and should have his senses exercised in discerning between good and evil, truth and falsehood, Hebrews 5:13, Hebrews 5:14. And proving all things must be in order to holding fast that which is good. We must not always be seekers, or fluctuating in our minds, like children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. 7. Abstain from all appearance of evil, 1 Thessalonians 5:22. This is a good means to prevent our being deceived with false doctrines, or unsettled in our faith; for our Saviour has told us (John 7:17), If a man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God. Corrupt affections indulged in the heart, and evil practices allowed of in the life, will greatly tend to promote fatal errors in the mind; whereas purity of heart, and integrity of life, will dispose men to receive the truth in the love of it. We should therefore abstain from evil, and all appearances of evil, from sin, and that which looks like sin, leads to it, and borders upon it. He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the occasions of sin, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to sin, will not long abstain from the actual commission of sin.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice evermore — In uninterrupted happiness in God. Pray without ceasing — Which is the fruit of always rejoicing in the Lord. In everything give thanks — Which is the fruit of both the former. This is Christian perfection. Farther than this we cannot go; and we need not stop short of it. Our Lord has purchased joy, as well as righteousness, for us. It is the very design of the gospel that, being saved from guilt, we should be happy in the love of Christ. Prayer may be said to be the breath of our spiritual life. He that lives cannot possibly cease breathing. So much as we really enjoy of the presence of God, so much prayer and praise do we offer up without ceasing; else our rejoicing is but delusion. Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer: it is almost essentially connected with it. He that always prays is ever giving praise, whether in ease or pain, both for prosperity and for the greatest adversity. He blesses God for all things, looks on them as coming from him, and receives them only for his sake; not choosing nor refusing, liking nor disliking, anything, but only as it is agreeable or disagreeable to his perfect will.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

1 Thessalonians 5:16

(11) Rejoice evermore.

(11) A quiet and appeased mind is nourished with continual prayers, giving regard to the will of God.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
Rejoice:

2 Corinthians 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and [yet] possessing all things.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Mt 5:12. Lk 10:20. Ro 12:12. 2Co 6:10. Php 4:4.

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