[Greek] εὐχαριστέω (eucharisteō), [Latin] agere gratiam, [Latin] participare cum gratiam: to give thanks, to express gratitude, to return thanks, to give thanks before meals, to express thanks, 41 scriptural references
The people give thanks (eucharisteo) to the emperor.
Background information:
Greco-Roman culture: When a favor was given, an obligation of thanks was expected. This practice of giving thanks is found both in a secular and religious sense.
Public sphere: Secular and religious thanksgiving, bestowing of honors to public leaders and servants, public worship of the Emperor and other gods, giving thanks for healings, sacrifices, and other petitions for gods
Private sphere: praising the recipient in a letter (literary device), giving thanks to the gods in the introduction in the letter
Herodotus’ The Histories 1.32.9: “For the god promises fortune to many people to many people and utterly ruins them.
Xenophon Cyropaedia 8.3.49: “And when any one does them a favor, they try to do him one in return.”
Polybius’ Histories 16.25: “The Athenian people sent envoys to King Attalus, both to thank him for the past, and to urge him to come to Athens.
Old Testament/Judaism: In Judaism, there is no Hebrew equivalent to the Greek word eucharisteo. Religious thanks are expressed in a Toda (thanks offering) and a song of thanksgiving. Food and drink are objects of thanksgiving. This corresponds to the Jewish rule that a blessing should be pronounced on each food. But thanksgiving will never cease.
Old Testament foreshadowing of the Mass (celebration of the Eucharist): The book of Malachi is the final book of the Old Testament. The prophet, who lived 400 years before Christ, speaks of a future time when God will be worshipped by Gentiles worldwide again and again throughout the world in every place (and time zone). This sacrifice will be a perfect offering (sacrifice), not marked by blemishes like those offered by the Old Testament priests in Jerusalem.
“From the rising of the sun to its setting, My name is great among nations (Gentiles); incense offerings are made to My name and a pure offering. For My name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.” Mal.1:11
New Testament: This term means to give thanks and to be thankful. Examples include: Jesus giving thanks, the leper giving thanks, the Pharisees giving ‘thanks’, Paul giving thanks, and idolaters not giving thanks. Paul also uses an introductory literary device thanking God at the beginning of his letters. After the greeting, Paul gives thanks to God. This serves to usher in the main theme of the letter. This literary practice follows a Hellenistic tradition of thanking a god for one’s safety.
Scriptures:
Mt.15:36: He took the 7 loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, who gave them to the crowd.
Mt.26:27: He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you’.
Lk.17:16: The Samarian leper fell at Jesus’ feet and thank Him for healing him.
Lk.18:11: The proud Pharisees thanked God that he was not like the rest of humanity: greedy, dishonest, adulterous, or like tax collectors.
1Cor.11:24: He had given thanks, broke the bread, and said, ‘This is My Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me’.
Rom.1:21: Idolaters have no excuse. Although they knew God, they do not honor or give thanks to God. They become vain in their reasoning.
Catholic Mass: Through the process of transubstantiation, the priest, standing the person of Christ, calls upon the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine into the Eucharist. Interestingly, this term Eucharist is not found in the gospels. Eucharist was later coined as the original first-century term for the Communion service. Some time before 100 A.D., the ritual of the Lord’s Supper came to be known as the Eucharist. Ever since, the Eucharist is offered again and again at each Mass. The Eucharist is a remembrance (calling back to mind) of Jesus sacrifice on the cross.
Number meanings in scripture:
- 1000: everyone
- 4000: everyone in all four corners of the world
- 5000: everyone under the Mosaic law
- 7: perfection
Etymology: The Latin verb agere means to conduct, to act, or to deliver something or someone. The Greek verb eucharisto means to thank (-charizomai) well (eu-). The related Greek noun eucharistia means thanksgiving. The Greek ana- means again. The Greek mnesis means memory. The Greek amnesis means forgetfulness. The Greek anamnesis means “a knowing again” (remembrance).
Conclusion:
Eucharist, eucharistic, agent, agency, participate, grace, gracious
In the public sphere, the people would often honor or give thanks to the gods and public officials. In a great public spectacle, the people would cheer the emperor. It is interesting to note that the emperor was also seen as a divine being. Other gods (deities) often received the praise from the people. A greeting of thanksgiving was part of a standard Hellenistic letter.
In the Old Testament, the Todah was the Hebrew thanks offering. The Todah is somewhat similar to the Greek notion of giving thanks.
Jesus calls that this action be REPEATED AGAIN AND AGAIN. The Eucharist is repeatedly celebrated at every Mass.
Lk.17:16: Samaritans were seen as enemies (second-class citizens) by the Jews. This is an secular example of this term.
Lk.18:11: A Pharisee smugly and falsely thanks God for how great he is and not like others.
Rom.1:21: There is a close relationship between evil, idolatry, and immorality. Idolaters claiming to be wise, become fools. They exchange the glory of God for the likeness of the image of man. Man’s desires are now being “worshipped or idolized”.
1Cor.11:24: This is the earliest written record of the institution of the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament (53-56 AD).
President George Washington declared that Thursday November 26, 1789 as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. Thanksgiving is a day set aside to give thanks for one’s blessings. So Thanksgiving has become both a religious and secular form giving thanks.
Update: Pope Francis and his inner circle are seeking to exchange the glory of God (in Jesus’ Church) for the glory of man’s desires (IDOLIZE) in a worldly synodal Church ( in the image of man)!
Pope Francis’ synodal Church seeks to welcome and accept worldly values, sin, and the refusal to acknowledge sin. Welcoming these values into Jesus’ Church is EVIL!
Pope Francis arrogantly believes that the Church must change! Does Pope Francis think he knows better than Jesus??? How FOOLISH!
Happy Thanksgiving!