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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Ephesians 6:18 - 6:18
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18. διὰ πάσης προσευχῆς καὶ δεήσεως. These words are best taken with δέξασθε as describing the special condition under which we can receive these last two elements in our equipment. For διὰ ‘in a state of,’ ‘to the accompaniment of,’ cf. Rom 2:27; Rom 4:11; 2Co 2:4; 2Co 9:12 etc. No doubt the prayers themselves are ῥήματα θεοῦ inspired by God as the next clause will show (so Robinson and Hort). But they can hardly cover the whole ground of our need, Luk 21:15. See Eph 6:19.
προσευχόμενοι ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἐν πνεύματι. The call to constant persevering prayer recurs in 1Th 5:17; Rom 12:12; Php 4:6 besides the parallel in Col 4:2. It recalls Luk 18:1, and in connexion with the injunction to watchfulness Luk 22:40 and the parallels. See esp. Luk 21:36.
ἐν πνεύματι. See on Eph 2:22; cf. Eph 2:18. ‘In the power of the Spirit.’ True prayer is an inspiration; cf. Joh 4:24; Jud 1:20.
καὶ εἰς αὐτὸ ἀγρυπνοῦντες. Mar 13:33; Luk 21:36; cf. 1Pe 4:7.
προσκαρτερήσει. Cf. Act 1:14; Act 2:46. The substantive has now been found in two Jewish Manumissions from C. A.D. 81. See Deissm. Light from Ancient East, p. 100.
περὶ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων. Cf. on Eph 3:18. Even the solitary warrior must realize in prayer the common concerns of the whole army of which he is a unit. περὶ and ὑπὲρ are practically indistinguishable.