5:20a

always giving thanks: The term giving thanks means “to be thankful for” or simply “to thank.”

Here are some other ways to translate always giving thanks :

give thanks every day (Revised English Bible)
-or-
giving thanks…at all times (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I thank…every time

to God the Father for everything: In some languages, it is more natural to say “God our Father” rather than God the Father.

for everything: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for everything means everything in general, “for all the things that happen.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

for all the things that happen
-or-
for whatever happens

5:20b

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: There is implied information here. The phrase in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ means “because of what Christ has done.” We are thanking God the Father because of what Christ our Lord has done. It is because of Jesus Christ that we can approach God the Father for all purposes, including giving thanks.

If it is not clear to your audience why Paul is telling the Ephesians to give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you may want to consider making this explicit. For example:

because of ⌊that which⌋ our Lord Jesus Christ ⌊has done⌋
-or-
in/by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ ⌊because of what he has done⌋

This verse is similar to Colossians 3:17.

General Comment on 5:20a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of 5:20a and 5:20b. For example:

20b In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 20a always give thanks for everything to God the Father. (Good News Translation)

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