The usual translation of παραθώμεθα as “commend” is changed to “offer” to suggest the idea of sacrifice. We are to offer ourselves to God as sacrifice and encourage each other to do so.

The more ancient texts from which this exhortation is derived justifies the change in the translation. According to Mateos, there are two ancient sources: the First Apology of Justin (c. 150 CE) and the Apostolic Constitutions (2016: 258-259).

In the First Apology, it reads:

Through Jesus Christ we have disdained these [demons], and have dedicated [ανατιθέμεθα] ourselves to the unbegotten and passionless God.

[In the context of baptism] they have renounced the idols and dedicated themselves to the unbegotten God through Christ.

Just as we have dedicated ourselves to God when we were made new through Christ.

Mateos, 2016: 258-259.

In the Apostolic Constitution it reads:

Catechumens: “Commit [παρατίθεσθʼ] yourselves to the only unbegotten God through his Christ.”

Faithful: “Let us rise, praying fervently, let us commit ourselves and one another to the living God through his Christ.”

Before communion: “Raise us, O God, by your grace. Having risen, let us commit ourselves to God through his Christ.”

After communion: “Let us rise. By the grace of Christ let us commit ourselves to the only unbegotten God through his Christ.”

Faithful, matins: “Let us commit ourselves and one another to the living God through his only-begotten Son.”

Faithful, vespers: “Let us commit ourselves and one another to the living God through his Christ.”

Mateos, 2016: 259.

Ανατἰθεσθαι (as found in Justin) means: to dedicate (consecrate) oneself. Παρατἰθεσθαι (as found in Apostolic Constitutions) means: to commit oneself to… “[T]he phrasing [of the latter] is sometimes identical to [the former]” (Mateos, 2016: 259).

But both terms are associated with sacrifice. For ἀνατίθημι means: to set up as a votive gift, to dedicate; similar to παρατίθημι, which means, among others: set before, serve up, (of a mother) put to the breast, provide, lay before (one), give a person in charge to, command or commit (into another’s hands), command (by a letter of introduction). In Cambridge Greek Lexicon, it is defined: set out (food) beside (someone), serve (a meal, food, drink, etc.), serve up, offer, have (a meal) served to someone; offer, present; entrust, commit (one’s property or in NT one’s spirit into the hands of God); endanger, risk, lay on the line (one’s life). See Luke 23: 46: “Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend [παρατίθεμαι] my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.”

As can be seen from the above, the two words are closely associated with sacrifice. And if the original Hebrew sense of ‘sacrifice’ (קרבן (qorban) means ‘to bring forth near toward God,’ translating the two terms as ‘offer’ makes an eminent sense.

See ἀναφέρω, θυσία, ἱεραγέω, προσφέρω. Maintaining the Hebrew meaning for ‘sacrifice,’ these Greek words all have the sense of bringing something for sacrifice or to serve someone (a meal, etc.).

To sacrifice is to serve. To serve is to offer oneself to God and to others. If loving God means to love the neighbor (Matt 22.38; Mark 12.28), to offer ourselves to God is to do so for the neighbor. This is what we are commanded to do in the New Testament and in the Divine Liturgy (six times).

Adoration of the Magi, Ravenna, a 5th-6th century mosaic.