the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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King James Version
Colossians 4:2
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayEncyclopedias:
- InternationalDevotionals:
- DailyParallel Translations
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving;
Be diligent in prayer, thankfulness, and focus.
Give yourselves to prayer at all times, keeping watch with praise;
Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving;
Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;
Continue in prayer, and watch therein with thanksgiving:
Be earnest and unwearied in prayer, being on the alert in it and in your giving of thanks.
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thankesgiuing:
Steadfastly continue in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving,
Contynue in prayer, and watch in the same with thankesgeuynge,
Persevere and be vigilant in prayer and in thanksgiving:
Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don't forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I'm locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I'll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.
Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.
Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving;
Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thankes
Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
In the prayer continue ye, watching in it in thanksgiving;
Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God.
Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful.
Keep persisting in prayer, staying alert in it and being thankful.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Continue in prayer, and watch in the fame with thankesgiuing,
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;
Devote yourselves to prayer. Be alert when you prayBe alert in it">[fn] with thanksgiving.Luke 18:1; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 2:7; 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18;">[xr]
In prayer be constant, and be watchful in it, and (in) giving thanks;
Persevere in prayer; and be watchful in it, and in giving thanks.
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
You must keep praying. Keep watching! Be thankful always.
Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.
Unto prayer, be devoting yourselves, watching therein with thanksgiving:
Be instant in prayer: watching in it with thanksgiving.
Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving,
Continue in prayer, and watche in the same with thankes geuyng:
Never stop praying. Be ready for anything by praying and being thankful.
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.
Be ye bisi in preier, and wake in it, in doynge of thankyngis;
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Continue: Colossians 4:12, Colossians 1:9, 1 Samuel 12:23, Job 15:4, Job 27:8-10, Psalms 55:16, Psalms 55:17, Psalms 109:4, Luke 18:1, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18
watch: Matthew 26:41, Mark 13:33, Luke 21:36, 1 Peter 4:7
thanksgiving: Colossians 2:7, Colossians 3:15, Colossians 3:17
Reciprocal: Exodus 17:12 - Moses' hands 1 Samuel 1:12 - continued praying Psalms 116:2 - therefore Daniel 6:20 - servest Matthew 6:5 - when Matthew 20:31 - but they cried Luke 6:12 - continued Acts 2:42 - and in prayers Acts 10:2 - and prayed 1 Corinthians 16:13 - Watch 1 Thessalonians 5:6 - watch
Cross-References
Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord .
And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord : and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Continue in prayer,.... This is not said particularly to masters, as in the foregoing verse, but to all the members of the church in general; for the apostle having taken notice of some special duties relating to persons in different stations of life, returns to such as were common to them all; as this of prayer to God is, for such prayer is intended; for though the object is not expressed here, he is in the following verse, and the Mediator Christ is supposed, and also the Holy Spirit, whose assistance is necessary to it. The things exhorted to, and required in prayer, are, first, as in this clause, continuance in it, which does not mean that men should be always formally praying to God; nor can it be thought that saints are always in praying frames of soul, though such are always desirable; but it intends frequency and constancy in prayer, in opposition to an entire restraint and omission of it, and to a performance of it but now and then, or very rarely; for though Christians are not, as the Jews were, bound to certain stated hours of prayer, so many times in a day, yet a day should not pass without prayer to God; for their daily cases call for it; their lives, their health, their daily bread, and all their temporal enjoyments, which depend on his daily goodness, providence, and power; their spiritual affairs, the renewing of the inward man day by day, fresh supplies of grace for new service; their daily trials and afflictions, their continued enemies, sin, Satan, and the world, all fully show the necessity of daily prayer: besides, God does not always immediately answer the prayers of his people, he will be sought unto time after time, even for a blessing he intends to give; and therefore the saints should not be discouraged, but continue in prayer till they receive the mercy, and their importunity is a means of enjoying it, as in the case of the poor widow; and which is an encouraging reason why men should pray always, and not faint. Add to this, that constant prayer is a means of keeping up a spiritual acquaintance, intercourse, and familiarity with God, and of the soul alive in the vigorous exercise of the graces of the Spirit, and of preserving the saints from temptations and sin; for, generally speaking, restraining prayer before God, and casting off his fear, go together. The next things requisite in prayer are watchfulness and thankfulness:
and watch in the same with thanksgiving. There is not only a watchfulness unto it, previous to a man's entrance on it, as in Ephesians 6:18 but a watchfulness in it, which is opposed both to sleepiness of body, and to coldness and indifference of mind, to all careless airs and negligent manner of performing it; and designs an intenseness of mind, an application of thought, and fervency of devotion, and affection in it. It lies in a concern, that the heart be lift up, with the hands to God; in a care, that what is asked is according to the will of God, and that the whole be performed in sincerity, faith, and fear. This is what the Jews call עיון תפלה, "the attention of prayer" f, and כונת הלב, "the intention of the heart"; and which, they say g, is the root of prayer, the main and principal thing in it; and that every prayer which is not with intention, is no prayer h; and which, they observe, lies in this, that a man turns his heart from all (other) thoughts, and seems to himself as if he stood before the divine Majesty. To this
thanksgiving must be added; see Philippians 4:6 for this is well pleasing to God; and the contrary, an ungrateful spirit, is highly resented by him. Besides, a believer has always mercies to bless God for, as well as favours to ask at his hands; nor is he ever in such a situation, either in temporals or spirituals, but he has something to bless God for. Moreover, how should it be expected that a person should succeed in a present request, who is not thankful for a former kindness?
f T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 164. 2. & Sabbat, fol. 127. 1. g R. Aben Ezra in Psal. lxxviii. 37. h Maimon. Hilch. Tephilla, c. 4. sect. 15, 16.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Continue in prayer - That is, do not neglect it; observe it at all stated times; maintain the spirit of prayer, and embrace all proper occasions to engage in it; compare the Luke 18:1 note; Ephesians 6:18 note; 1 Thessalonians 4:17 note.
And watch in the same with thanksgiving - Watch for favorable opportunities; watch that your mind may be in a right frame when you pray: and watch, that when your mind is in a right frame you may not neglect to pray; see the Ephesians 6:18 note; Philippians 4:6.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Colossians 4:2. Continue in prayer — This was the apostle's general advice to all; without this, neither wives, husbands, children, parents, servants, nor masters, could fulfil the duties which God, in their respective stations, required of them.
All might, power, and life come from God; his creatures are continually dependent upon him for all these: to earnest, persevering prayer, he has promised every supply; but he who prays not has no promise. How few wives feel it their duty to pray to God to give them grace to behave as wives! How few husbands pray for the grace suited to their situation, that they may be able to fulfill its duties! The like may be said of children, parents, servants, and masters. As every situation in life has its peculiar duties, trials, c. so to every situation there is peculiar grace appointed. No man can fulfil the duties of any station without the grace suited to that station. The grace suited to him, as a member of society in general, will not be sufficient for him as a husband, father, or master. Many proper marriages become unhappy in the end, because the parties have not earnestly besought God for the grace necessary for them as husbands and wives. This is the origin of family broils in general; and a proper attention to the apostle's advice would prevent them all.
Watch in the same — Be always on your guard; and when you have got the requisite grace by praying, take care of it, and bring it into its proper action by watchfulness; by which you will know when, and where, and how to apply it.
With thanksgiving — Being always grateful to God, who has called you into such a state of salvation, and affords you such abundant means and opportunities to glorify him.
