Ephesians 5:20

20 giving thanks at all times for all things to him [who is] God and [the] Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 5:20 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 5:20

Giving thanks always for all things
For things temporal, for our beings, and the preservation of them, and for all the mercies of life; for things spiritual, for Christ, and for all spiritual blessings in him; for electing, redeeming, sanctifying, adopting, pardoning, and justifying grace; for a meetness for heaven, and for eternal life itself; for the Gospel, promises, truths, ordinances, and ministry; and this is to be done always, at all times, in times of adversity, desertion, temptation, affliction, and persecution, as well as in prosperity:

unto God, and the Father;
to God who is, and as he is the Father of mercies, and of all creatures; and as he is the Father of Christ, and of all the elect in him:

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
for all the mercies of God's people, both temporal and spiritual, come through him, and for his sake; and thanksgivings for them are only acceptable to God as they are offered up by him; nor is there any other way of bringing them to God, but through him: this duty, as it stands connected with the former, shows that praise and thanksgiving are the principal subject matter of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, to be sung; and that the manner of singing is with thanksgiving; and that the end of it is to give thanks to God.

Ephesians 5:20 In-Context

18 And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting with your heart to the Lord;
20 giving thanks at all times for all things to him [who is] God and [the] Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting yourselves to one another in [the] fear of Christ.
22 Wives, [submit yourselves] to your own husbands, as to the Lord,

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. 'To him who is.' This alone gives the sense. 'God, even the Father,' might be taken as meaning that the Father only is God, and it is far from exact as a translation.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.