Ephesians 6:18 kjv
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:18 nkjv
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints?
Ephesians 6:18 niv
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
Ephesians 6:18 esv
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Ephesians 6:18 nlt
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Ephesians 6 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eph 6:18 | praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, | Direct call to constant, varied prayer in the Spirit. |
| 1 Thess 5:17 | pray without ceasing, | Emphasizes the perpetual nature of prayer. |
| Col 4:2 | Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. | Reinforces diligence and attentiveness in prayer. |
| Rom 8:26 | Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. | Explains the Spirit's role in assisting our prayers. |
| Jude 1:20 | But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, | Connects praying in the Spirit with spiritual growth and building oneself up. |
| Luke 11:1 | It came about that as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." | Demonstrates Jesus modeling prayer for his followers. |
| Phil 4:6 | do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. | Highlights the scope of prayer: all concerns, with thankfulness. |
| Mark 11:24 | Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. | Connects faith with the effectiveness of prayer. |
| John 14:13-14 | Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. | Stresses praying in Jesus' name, which implies alignment with His will. |
| 1 Peter 4:7 | The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. | Urges sobriety and self-control as conducive to effective prayer. |
| Eph 3:16 | that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, | Connects Spirit-empowered prayer with inner strength. |
| Acts 1:8 | but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses | Prayer as a means to receive and exercise spiritual power. |
| Gal 5:5 | For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. | The Spirit's work is crucial for all aspects of our spiritual life, including prayer. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfect in the same mind and the same judgment. | Implies prayer is done in unity, aligned with God's will. |
| 1 Chron 16:11 | Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! | An Old Testament call to constant seeking of God's presence. |
| Ps 5:3 | My voice you hear in the morning; to you I direct my prayer, and I wait for you. | David’s practice of directed and expectant prayer. |
| Jer 29:12 | then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. | God’s promise to hear those who call on Him. |
| Zech 12:10 | And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. | The outpouring of the Spirit leads to penitent prayer. |
| Acts 2:42 | And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. | Early church prioritized prayer. |
| Romans 12:12 | Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. | Reiterates constancy in prayer. |
Ephesians 6 verses
Ephesians 6 18 Meaning
This verse is the culmination of the armor of God passage. It exhorts believers to engage in continuous, persistent, and varied prayer, bringing all their requests and concerns before God through the Spirit. This prayer is not merely a casual request but a strategic, spiritual action, offering all types of prayer. It emphasizes the ongoing nature and the power of praying with and through the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 6 18 Context
This verse is the conclusion to Paul's teaching on the "Armor of God" in Ephesians chapter 6. The preceding verses (6:10-17) detail the spiritual weapons a believer needs to stand firm against the "schemes of the devil" and the "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." This instruction about prayer is presented as the essential, enabling action that activates and empowers the use of all the other pieces of the armor. It is the direct, offensive aspect of spiritual warfare after the defensive preparations. The historical context is Paul writing to the church at Ephesus, a significant port city with a rich and diverse religious landscape, making the need for steadfast spiritual grounding and active spiritual engagement clear.
Ephesians 6 18 Word Analysis
- ἀεί (aei): "always," "ever." Implies not a sporadic or occasional action, but a continuous posture or disposition of the heart. It signifies persistence and consistency, without interruption.
- προσευχή (proseuchē): "prayer." A general term for prayer, conversation with God.
- πᾶσα (pasa): "all," "every kind." This indicates a comprehensive approach to prayer. It encompasses all types and occasions for prayer, leaving nothing out.
- δέησις (deēsis): "supplication," "plea," "request." Specifically denotes an earnest entreaty, a petition directed towards a superior. When paired with "prayer," it broadens the scope to include worship, thanksgiving, confession, and earnest petitioning.
- ἐν (en): "in." Indicates the sphere or sphere of operation for this prayer. It’s not just in response to something, but performed within a particular environment.
- Πνεύματι (Pneumati): "Spirit." The Holy Spirit. Praying "in the Spirit" signifies a prayer life that is guided, empowered, energized, and influenced by the Holy Spirit. It's not a mechanical act but a Spirit-led communion.
Word Group Analysis:
- "always with all prayer and supplication": This combination stresses the all-encompassing nature and the persistent engagement required in prayer. It's not selective or intermittent.
- "in the Spirit": This phrase defines the quality and source of effective prayer in the Christian life. It contrasts with a mere human effort or formulaic recitation, emphasizing divine enablement.
Ephesians 6 18 Bonus Section
The "armor of God" passage begins with a statement of our struggle being against spiritual forces (v. 12). The instruction to pray with all prayer in the Spirit is the crucial action that keeps the believer spiritually alert and connected to the divine power necessary to wield the armor effectively. Without this prayer, the armor is just a passive defense; with it, the believer can actively engage and stand. The plural "prayers" could also suggest a collective, unified prayer of the church body, amplifying its spiritual force. This also speaks to the nature of spiritual warfare being a battle fought on our knees, where ultimate power resides with God, accessed through dependent prayer.
Ephesians 6 18 Commentary
This verse is the command for active spiritual engagement that underpins the believer's ability to withstand evil. It calls for an unceasing, varied prayer life, deeply connected to and empowered by the Holy Spirit. "Always" means constantly, not necessarily every moment, but as a perpetual practice and attitude. "All prayer and supplication" means including every legitimate form of prayer: adoration, thanksgiving, confession, intercession, and petition. This prayer is not to be a purely intellectual or rote exercise but must be initiated and sustained "in the Spirit." This signifies praying in accordance with the Spirit's promptings, seeking His guidance in what to pray for, and allowing Him to infuse our prayers with power and effectiveness, aligning them with God’s will. It's prayer that is divinely inspired and energized, reflecting dependence on God for victory in spiritual battles.