I (continually) THANK GOD: Charin echo (1SPAI) to theo: (See Torrey's Topic for excellent cross references on the healthy spiritual discipline of "THANKSGIVING").

I thank God - Paul lived in a state of continual attitude. And so in a style that so characterizes this great apostle, once again he breaks into a chorus of thanksgiving. What is the context? Where is Paul as he gives thanks to God? Incarcerated like a criminal (for preaching the gospel) and most likely in a dark, damp, dungeon (see description of ancient prisons in following paragraph) and yet still enabled (by the Spirit and amazing grace) to manifest a heart attitude of gratitude, counting it all joy (cp Acts 5:41) and rejoicing that the Lord had given him the privilege of knowing and discipling his beloved Timothy.

Thank - This is actually 2 words in Greek, and could be literally rendered "having" (echo) "grace" (charis). The present tense pictures Paul's continual attitude of thankfulness. Gratitude should not be an occasional incident but a continuous attitude for a saved sinner, for we are are objects of God's grace and it is only fitting to let Him be the object of our gratitude.

Even in the darkest of circumstances Paul was able to find things to thank God for. He practiced what he preached to commanding the saints at Thessalonica

in everything give thanks (present imperative = make this your habitual practice) for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  (see note 1Thessalonians 5:18).

Are you in dark, dreary "prison like" circumstance today? Have you tried giving thanks to God for His grace, mercy and peace in Christ Jesus? Remember that "God's giving deserves our thanksgiving."

When an attitude of gratitude is absent from our heart, joy will not be far behind in departing. On the other hand, joy thrives in the soul offering thanksgiving.

Let us pause to think of what God has done, and then we will find that we always have cause to thank Him.

In thanking God, we fasten upon His favours to us; in praising and adoring God, we fasten upon His perfections in Himself. - Matthew Henry

Thanksgiving is good but thanks-living is better. - Matthew Henry

It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

It ought to be as habitual to us to thank as to ask. - C. H. Spurgeon

How worthy it is to remember former benefits when we come to beg for new. - Stephen Charnock

Prayer without thanksgiving is like a bird without wings. - William Hendriksen

Thankfulness is a flower which will never bloom well excepting upon a root of deep humility. - J. C. Ryle

We are the objects of God's grace; let Him be the object of our gratitude.

Harper's Bible Dictionary gives us some insight into what Paul's physical circumstances may have been like....

"Prison Conditions: Despite various efforts to promote reforms, conditions in ancient prisons were often harsh. Most prisoners wore chains; their feet might be shackled, their hands manacled or even attached to their neck by another chain, and their movements further restricted by a chain fastened to a post. The existence of laws prohibiting chains that were too short or too restrictive indicates that jailers sometimes employed such practices. The very word ‘chains’ became a synonym for imprisonment. Some prisoners were also kept in wooden stocks, devices to restrain the feet, hands, or even the neck of an individual (see Acts 16:24). Prisons often were very dark (see Isaiah 42:7); the inner area of the prison mentioned in Acts 16:24 was probably without windows. Although solitary confinement was known, prisoners generally were kept grouped together, accused and condemned, men and women alike. Overcrowding was not infrequent (Isaiah 24:22). Prisons often had poor air circulation, a lack of hygienic facilities, rats and vermin, and food of poor quality. Unscrupulous guards might at times use the withholding of food or even outright torture to extort money from prisoners or their relatives. Although various rulers, especially in Roman Imperial times, struggled to prevent such abuses, the quality of prison life largely remained the responsibility of local officials, and conditions undoubtedly varied considerably from place to place." (Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. Harper's Bible dictionary.  San Francisco: Harper & Row)

And yet, despite such dismal, depressing conditions, Paul was filled with a spirit of thanksgiving to God! May his tribe increase!

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After one of the terrible battles of the Civil War, a dying Confederate soldier asked to see the chaplain. When the chaplain arrived, he supposed the young man would wish him to beseech God for his recovery; but it was very different. First the soldier asked him to cut off a lock of his hair for his mother, and then he asked him to kneel down and thank God. "What for?" asked the surprised chaplain. "For giving me such a mother. Thank God that I am a Christian. And thank God for giving me grace to die with. And thank God for the Home He has promised me over there." And so the chaplain knelt down by the dying man, and in his prayer he had not a single petition to offer, but only praise and gratitude.—Christian Herald

WHOM I (continually) SERVE: ho latreuo (1SPAI):

Serve  (3000) (latreuo from latris = one hired or latron = reward, wages) means to work for reward, for hire or for pay, to  be in servitude, render cultic service.  Latreuo was used literally for bodily service (e.g., workers on the land, or slaves), and figuratively for “to cherish.”

In the NT the idea is to render service to God, to worship, to perform sacred services or to minister to God in a spirit of worship (in fact in the NT uses below, note several passages clearly associate worship with serving.)

Serve in this verse is present tense which emphasizes the unbroken habit of Paul's existence was that of ministering and serving God in a spirit of worship.

Latreuo is found 21 times in the NT (see uses below) and is translated: offer service (1), serve (15), served (1), serving (1), worship (1), worshiper (1),worshipers (1).

In the non-apocryphal Septuagint latreuo describes the service of the priests. The service/worship as in the NT uses in some contexts refers to worship of idols rather than God.  There are over 100 uses of latreuo in the Septuagint (LXX) (Ex 3:12; 4:23; 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3, 7f, 11, 24, 26; 12:31; 20:5; 23:24f; Lev 18:21; Num 16:9; Deut 4:19, 28; 5:9; 6:13; 7:4, 16; 8:19; 10:12, 20; 11:13, 16, 28; 12:2; 13:2, 6, 13; 17:3; 28:14, 36, 47f; 29:18, 26; 30:17; 31:20; Josh 22:5, 27; 23:7, 16; 24:2, 14-15, 18-22, 24, 31; Jdg 2:11, 13, 19; 3:6f; 2 Sam 15:8; 2 Ki 17:12, 16, 33, 35; 21:21; 2 Chr 7:19; Ezek 20:32; Dan 3:12, 14, 17f, 28; 4:1; 6:16, 20, 26; 7:14)

In secular Greek latreuo meant to work for wages, then to serve without wages. It originally referred predominantly to physical work then later was used more generally.

Vine adds that latreuo, and its corresponding noun latreia, originally signified the work of a hired servant, as distinguished from the compulsory service of the slave, but in the course of time it largely lost that significance, and in its usage in Scripture the thought of adoration was added to that of free obedience. 

John MacArthur explains that latreuo

might best be translated “to render respectful spiritual service.” True worship goes beyond praising God, singing hymns, or participating in a worship service. The essence of worship is living a life of obedient service to God. “Do not neglect doing good and sharing,” exhorts the writer of Hebrews, “for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Heb 13:16  see note). True worship involves every aspect of life. (MacArthur, J. Philippians. Chicago: Moody Press)

Latreuo can therefore convey either the idea of "worship" or "service" and frequently appears to mean both which suggests that "service" cannot be separated from "worship."

Many Christians desire to "worship" the Lord on Sunday but are too busy to "serve" Him at other times. The New Testament knows nothing of this dichotomy. On the other hand notice that the order in Scripture is first “worship” and then “serve”. Acknowledgment of God Himself must have precedence over activity in His service. Service to God derives its effectiveness from engagement of the heart with God. Any true worshipper of God is also a servant, ready to do his Master's bidding, discharging his or her priestly duties.

Anna the prophetess exemplifies latreuo in action for even though she was

a widow ... age of eighty-four...she never left the temple, serving (latreuo) night and day with fastings and prayers. (Lu 2:37)

How did she "serve"? "Fastings and prayers"! From Anna's example, one can see how the serving aspect of latreuo readily overlaps with the idea of worship.

Paul's introduction to the Romans conveys a similar nuance:

For God, Whom I serve in my spirit ("with my whole spirit" Amp) in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you. (See note Romans 1:9)

God pleasing and God honoring service calls for total, unreserved commitment on the part of the worshiper. Paul served God with everything he had, beginning with his spirit, for God is to be worshiped in spirit and in truth.

MacDonald comments on Paul's latreuo that

It was not that of a religious drudge (to do hard, menial, monotonous work), going through endless rituals and reciting prayers and liturgies by rote. It was service bathed in fervent, believing prayers. It was willing, devoted, tireless service, fired by a spirit that loved the Lord Jesus supremely. It was a flaming passion to make known the good news about God’s Son." (MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Nashville: Thomas Nelson)

Writing to the Philippians Paul warned them to beware of the false circumcision (probably Judaizers who wanted to add works to faith) declaring

we are the true circumcision (Romans 2:28; 2:29 see notes Ro 2:28; 2:29), who worship (latreuo - rendering sacred service and obedience) in the Spirit of God (true worship is supernatural, in the power of the Holy Spirit and not through prescribed physical rituals, cf Isaiah 29:13) and glory (kauchaomai = boast with exultant joy about what one is most proud of - 35/37 uses of this word are by Paul) in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (sarx = man’s fallen, unredeemed humanness which pictures human ability apart from God). (Philippians 3:3 see note)

Here we see worship (latreuo) is supernatural (prompted by the Spirit), not prompted by culture, fear, tradition, desire for popularity, etc. and goes beyond praising God, singing hymns or participating in a worship service. The essence of worship associated with latreuo is living a life of obedient service to God.

The writer of Hebrews asks

(If the ashes of a heifer had such power to cleanse from one of the most serious forms of outward defilement) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself (voluntary, self-offering) without blemish (spotless - perfectly righteous, sinless , perfectly and voluntarily obedient to the Father’s will) to God, cleanse  your conscience (the superior nature of Messiah’s sacrifice is seen in its deeper effect. While the Levitical ritual accomplished only formal ritual expiation, and left the inner man untouched, the sacrifice of Messiah reaches the very center of the moral and spiritual being of the individual thus doing its work where only an eternal spirit can do it) from dead works (the character of the works done by the individual is changed in that before salvation, the sinner did so-called "good works" in the strength of his own sinful nature. They were dead works. After salvation has wrought its mighty transformation within the individual, the good works are motivated, empowered, and produced by the Holy Spirit and are, therefore, living works produced by one who serves the living God) to serve (latreuo) the living God?" (see note Hebrews 9:14)

The blood of Christ frees men from lifeless works (see discussion of Good Deeds) -- Before salvation, the sinner did so-called good works in the strength of his or her own sinful nature. But they were dead works. After salvation has wrought its mighty transformation within the individual, the good works are motivated, empowered, and produced by the Holy Spirit, by the one who has the "Word of Christ richly" dwell within them (Colossians 3:16 see note). They are, therefore, living works, most appropriate for serving (latreuo) the living God.

"Therefore, since we receive (literally "are receiving" = a continuous process) a kingdom which cannot be shaken (asaleutos = immovable thus firm, unchangeable and enduring), let us show gratitude (literally "let us be having grace") (this great truth  that we will never be taken from this kingdom and it will never be taken from us should inspire fervent worship and adoration), by which we may offer to (latreuo) God an acceptable (euarestos = to be well pleasing = that which God wills and recognizes) service (latreuo) with reverence (eulabeia = caution, circumspection, discretion = internal attitude of reverence toward) and awe (deos = timid apprehension of danger; while another word for fear,  phobos, is the terror which seizes one when the danger appears.  In a primitive forest an undefined sense of possible danger possesses one and makes his heart beat quickly at every rustle of a leaf. This is deos. When a wild beast is distinctly heard close at hand, the deos becomes phobos - thus deos has to do with the apprehension felt due to being in God’s presence) for our God is a consuming (katanlisko = consume wholly - God's anger burns against those who reject the privileges offered in the New Covenant) fire." (see notes Hebrews 12:28; 29)

Notice that our motive for latreuo is gratitude...worshipful, reverential, awe filled service should spring from a heart overflowing with thankfulness. Dearly beloved, how would you describe your "latreuo" before the living God -- living or dead works of worship?

Hodges reminds us of this loyalty and allegiance of Paul to fulfill his sacred duties:

Shut up in prison, cut off in a final way from active ministry, he nonetheless finds the joy of the priestly ministry of prayer both in praise (the sacrifice of praise) and in intercession.

One of our primary tasks and privileges as believer-priests is that of going to God on behalf of men, i.e., intercession. Paul took this priestly service seriously.

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Here are the 21 uses of latreuo in the NT. Observe several associations with worship. Note the frequency in Hebrews. Note that serving has a "negative" aspect (idols) but more often the positive aspect of orientation toward God.

Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve (latreuo) Him only.'"

Luke 1:74 To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve (latreuo) Him without fear,

Luke 2:37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. And she never left the temple, serving (latreuo) night and day with fastings and prayers. (Observe: 1 - Frequency 2 - How she served)

Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve (latreuo) Him only.'"

Acts 7:7 "'And whatever nation to which they shall be in bondage I Myself will judge,' said God, 'and after that they will come out and serve Me in this place.'

Acts 7:42 "But God turned away and delivered them up to serve (cp Romans 1:9 below) the host of heaven (idolatry); as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'It was not to Me that you offered victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, was it, O house of Israel? (Observe: Wrong worship. God is jealous. He Alone is worthy and deserving of worship.)

Acts 24:14 "But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the Prophets;

Acts 26:7 the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. (Observe: Frequency - cp Luke 2:37. Clearly this speaks of his lifestyle as was true of Anna in the Luke passage.)

Acts 27:23 "For this very night an angel of the God to Whom I belong and Whom I serve stood before me,

Romans 1:9 (note) For God, Whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, (Observe: How serving manifests itself)

Romans 1:25 (note) For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served (cp Acts 7:42 above) the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Philippians 3:3 (note) for we are the true circumcision, who worship (latreuo) in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, (Observe: Worship in Spirit and truth - cp John 4:23, 24)

2 Timothy 1:3 (note) I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day (Observe: What makes serving/worship acceptable? Note again the phrase "night and day"? What is he saying about one's lifestyle?)

Hebrews 8:5 (note) who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "See," He says, "that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain."

Hebrews 9:9 (note) which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper (verb is used as a noun - note again the present tense speaks of one's lifestyle) perfect in conscience,

Hebrews 9:14 (note) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Observe: Condition of real worship, in spirit and truth - a clean conscience. What is the implication for us before we begin to "worship" on Sunday mornings? Do we not need to confess and seek clean hands and pure heart? cp Ps 24:3-4. Is this a common practice in churches today?)

Hebrews 10:2 (note) Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?

Hebrews 12:28 (note) Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; (Observe: A lofty motive to stimulate genuine worship. We are "practicing" for eternity future!)

Hebrews 13:10 (note) We have an altar, from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Revelation 7:15 (note) "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them. (Observe: Even in eternity, our "lifestyle" is to be one of continual worship/service!)

Revelation 22:3 (note) And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him; (Observe: And some say heaven will be boring! They either have not read or do not understand this verse!)

WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE: en kathara suneidesei: (Acts 23:1; 24:16; Ro 1:9 - see note; Ro 9:1 - see note; 2 Co 1:12; 1Ti 1:5;19; Heb 13:18)

With is really the Greek word "en" usually translated with English "in" and here it conveys the idea that the spiritual sphere IN which his worshipful service was offered was in the "atmosphere" of a completely cleansed conscience.

Clear (2513) (katharos) describes that which is clean, pure, clear, in a natural sense unsoiled, unalloyed and free of adulterating matter and then that which is free from moral guilt. So a "katharos" conscience is one that is free from sin and guilt, from every admixture of what is false with the result that it is sincere, blameless and unstained.

Conscience (4893) (suneidesis is derived from sun/syn = with + eido = know) literally means a "knowing with", a co-knowledge with oneself or a being of one's own witness in the sense that one's own conscience "takes the stand" as the chief witness, testifying either to one's innocence or guilt. It describes the witness borne to one's conduct by that faculty by which we apprehend the will of God.

Suneidesis is used 30 times in the NT (2x Acts;3x Ro;7x 1Co;3x 2Co;4x 1Ti;1x 2 Ti;1x Titus;5x Heb;3x 1Pe) (See Torrey's Topic "Conscience")  (Click here for more notes on on this website on "conscience")

Webster defines "conscience" as the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good.

The Greek noun Suneidesis is the exact counterpart of the Latin con-science, “a knowing with,” a shared or joint knowledge. It is our awareness of ourselves in all the relationships of life, especially ethical relationships. We have ideas of right and wrong; and when we perceive their truth and claims on us, and will not obey, our souls are at war with themselves and with the law of God

Suneidesis is that process of thought which distinguishes what it considers morally good or bad, commending the good, condemning the bad, and so prompting to do the former and avoid the latter.

To have a "clear conscience" does not mean that we have never sinned or do not commit acts of sin. Rather, it means that the underlying direction and motive of life is to obey and please God, so that acts of sin are habitually recognized as such and faced before God (1Jn 1:9)

A "clear conscience" consists in being able to say that there is no one (God or man) whom I have knowingly offended and not tried to make it right (either by asking forgiveness or restoration or both). Paul wanted Timothy to have no doubt that he endured his present physical afflictions, as he had countless others, because of his unswerving faithfulness to the Lord, not as a consequence of unfaithful, ungodly living. So as Paul neared his death, he could testify that his conscience did not accuse or condemn him. His guilt was forgiven, and his devotion was undivided. To continually reject God’s truth causes the conscience to become progressively less sensitive to sin, as if covered with layers of unspiritual scar tissue. Paul’s conscience was clear, sensitive, & responsive to its convicting voice. Click on the books below to study the NT picture of conscience.

Kenneth Osbeck writes that...

The conscience has been described as the “rudder of the soul” or the believer’s “principle within.” One of the prime responsibilities of Christian living is to keep the conscience clear as to the things of God so that we might live worthy lives before our fellowmen. But the conscience must be continually enlightened and developed by an exposure to God’s Word if it is to serve as a reliable guide for our lives. A conscience that is allowed to become hardened and insensitive to sin will ultimately lead to spiritual and moral disaster. We must allow God to develop our consciences and then our consciences are able to develop us.  (Osbeck, K. W. Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Kregel Publications)

I Want a Principle Within
by Charles Wesley (Play hymn)

I want a principle within of watchful, Godly fear,
A sensibility of sin, a pain to feel it near.
Help me the first approach to feel of pride or wrong desire,
To catch the wand’ring of my will and quench the Spirit’s fire.

From Thee that I no more may stray, no more Thy goodness grieve,
Grant me the filial awe, I pray, the tender conscience give.
Quick as the apple of an eye, O God, my conscience make!
Awake my soul when sin is nigh and keep it still awake.

Almighty God of truth and love, to me Thy pow’r impart;
The burden from my soul remove, the hardness from my heart.
O may the least omission pain my reawakened soul,
And drive me to that grace again which makes the wounded whole.

Conscience is the judgment which we pronounce on our own conduct by putting ourselves in the place of a bystander. (Adam Smith)

John MacArthur writes that...

In 1984 an Avianca Airlines jet crashed in Spain. Investigators studying the accident made an eerie discovery. The "black box" cockpit recorders revealed that several minutes before impact a shrill, computer-synthesized voice from the plane's automatic warning system told the crew repeatedly in English, "Pull up! Pull up!"

The pilot, evidently thinking the system was malfunctioning, snapped, "Shut up, Gringo!" and switched the system off. Minutes later the plane plowed into the side of a mountain. Everyone on board died.

When I saw that tragic story on the news shortly after it happened, it struck me as a perfect parable of the way modern people treat guilt--the warning messages of their consciences.

The wisdom of our age says guilt feelings are nearly always erroneous or hurtful; therefore we should switch them off. But is that good advice? What, after all, is the conscience--this sense of guilt we all seem to feel?

The conscience is generally seen by the modern world as a defect that robs people of their self-esteem. Far from being a defect or a disorder, however, your ability to sense your own guilt is a tremendous gift from God. He designed the conscience into the very framework of the human soul. It is the automatic warning system that cries, "Pull up! Pull up!" before you crash and burn.

The conscience, Puritan Richard Sibbes wrote in the seventeenth century, is the soul reflecting upon itself. Conscience is at the heart of what distinguishes the human creature. People, unlike animals, can contemplate their own actions and make moral self-evaluations. That is the very function of conscience. (See John MacArthur's full article "The Conscience Revisited")

Conscience is a dainty, delicate creature, a rare piece of workmanship of the Maker. Keep it whole without a crack, for if there be but one hole so that it break, it will with difficulty mend again. (S. Rutherford)

The Christian can never find a “more faithful adviser, a more active accuser, a severer witness, a more impartial judge, a sweeter comforter, or a more inexorable enemy.” (Bp. Sanderson.)

Conscience in everything: — Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience in everything. (Sterne)

Conscience makes cowards of us; but conscience makes saints and heroes too. (J. Lightfoot)

Conscience is a marvelous gift from God, the window that lets in the light of His truth. If we sin against Him deliberately, that window becomes dirty, and not as much truth can filter through. Eventually, the window becomes so dirty that it no longer lets in the light. The Bible calls this a defiled, seared conscience...Do you keep a clean conscience? It is a part of your inner being that responds to God's truth. When you sin, the window of your conscience becomes dirty and filters out truth. Avoid sin in your life and live with a clean conscience. Every day feed yourself truth from the Word of God. (Wiersbe, W: Prayer, Praise and Promises: Ps 51:3-6)

Hurt not your conscience with any known sin. - S. Rutherford

Conscience is that faculty in me which attaches itself to the highest that I know, and tells me what the highest I know demands that I do.

When there is any debate, quit. There is no debate possible when conscience speaks.

Once we assuage our conscience by calling something a “necessary evil,” it begins to look more and more necessary and less and less evil. - Sidney J. Harris

Conscience is God’s spy and man’s overseer. -John Trapp

A good conscience and a good confidence go together. -- Thomas Brooks

Conscience is a small, still voice that makes minority reports. -- Franklin P. Jones

Conscience is also what makes a boy tell his mother before his sister does.