Note 4 at Col. 1:3: All of Paul's epistles with the exception of Galatians and Titus begin with thanksgiving to God (Rom. 1:8; 1 Cor. 1:4; 2 Cor. 1:3; Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:3; Col. 1:3; 1 Th. 1:2; 2 Th. 1:3; 1 Tim. 1:12; 2 Tim. 1:3; Phile. 4). Thanksgiving to God was characteristic of Paul's letters and prayers (Eph. 1:16; Col. 1:3).

Thanksgiving in the early church was expressed regularly to God and was a natural part of Christian worship (1 Cor. 14:16-17; Phil. 4:6; Col. 2:7; 4:2). Thanksgiving was expressed to God for such things as: deliverance from enemies (Ps. 44:7), God's goodness and mercy (Ps. 100:4-5), His grace and acceptance of us through Christ (Eph. 1:6), forgiveness of our sins and healing for our bodies (Ps. 103:2-4; Lk. 17:15-16), Christ's deliverance of the believer from the principle of sin (Rom. 6:17-18), the unspeakable gift of grace in Christ (2 Cor. 9:15), and the like precious faith of all Christians (Rom. 1:8).

Thanksgiving is expressed through His saints (Ps. 145:10), men's lips (Heb. 13:15), the righteous (Ps. 140:13), and prayer (Col. 4:2).