1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV)

Passage

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Nearby Context

1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice evermore.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "will of God", "rejoice", "evermore", "pray", "without", "ceasing", "give", and "thanks". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "will of God" and "rejoice", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "See that none render evil for evil..." into verse 19's "Quench not the Spirit...", so "will of God" and "rejoice" belong inside that flow. In 1 Thessalonians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "will of God" and "rejoice" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.