1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
KJV
ἀδιαλείπτως προσεύχεσθε,
Greek NT
Sine intermissione orate.
Vulgate
pray without ceasing;
ASV
Pray without ceasing.
Douay-Rheims
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In the original Greek
2 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
προσεύχομαι
proseuchomai
verb · 85×
ἀδιαλείπτως
adialeiptos
adverb · 4×
Themes
Historic Christian voices
13 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
Catechism of the Catholic Church · 3 passages
§1174The mystery of Christ, his Incarnation and Passover, which we celebrate in the Eucharist especially at the Sunday assembly, permeates and transfigures the time of each day, through the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, "the divine office."46 This celebration, faithful to the apostolic exhortations to "pray constantly," is "so devised that the whole course of the day and …
§2633When we share in God's saving love, we understand that every need can become the object of petition. Christ, who assumed all things in order to redeem all things, is glorified by what we ask the Father in his name.110 It is with this confidence that St. James and St. Paul exhort us to pray at all times.111
§2742"Pray constantly . . . always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father."33 St. Paul adds, "Pray 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."34 For "we have not been commanded to work, to keep watch and to fast constantly, but it h…
Having obtained good proof that thy mind is fixed in God as upon an immovable rock, I loudly glorify His name that I have been thought worthy to behold thy blameless face, which may I ever enjoy in God! I entreat thee, by the grace with which thou art clothed, to press forward in thy course, and to exhort all that they may be saved. Maintain thy position with all care, both in …
1. The Power of Harmony in Relation to Prayer. Again I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them. Matthew 18:19 The word symphony is strictly applied to the harmonies of sounds in music. And there are indeed among musical sounds some accordant and others discordant. But the Evangelic Scripture is fam…
Is prayer an act of the appetitive or of the cognitive power? Is it fitting to pray to God? Is prayer an act of religion? Should we pray to God alone? Should we ask for something definite when we pray? Should we ask for temporal things when we pray? Should we pray for others? Should we pray for our enemies? The seven petitions of the Lord's Prayer Is prayer proper to the ration…
Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Apophthegmata Patrum) · 3 passages
When the holy Abba Antony lived in the desert he was beset by accidie, and attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, "Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction? How can I be saved?" A short while afterwards, when he got up to go out, Antony saw a man like himself sitting at his work, getting up from his work to p…
Abba Poemen said, "These three things are the most helpful of all: to fear the Lord, to pray, and to do good to your neighbor."
Having withdrawn to the solitary life he made the same prayer again and he heard a voice saying to him, "Arsenius, flee, be silent, pray always, for these are the source of sinlessness."
The true Christian lives in unceasing communion with God — every act is prayer, every word is praise. Clement teaches that prayer is not confined to set times and places but is the orientation of the entire life toward God. The Gnostic (the mature believer) prays without ceasing, doing everything — eating, drinking, working — for the glory of God.
Cross-references
- 1Pet 4:7 — But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
- 1Sam 1:12 — And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
- 2Thess 3:1 — Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
- Acts 12:5 — Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
- Col 1:9 — For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
- Col 4:2 — Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
- Col 4:2 — Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
- Dan 6:10 — Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave
- Dan 6:20 — And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able t
- Eph 1:16 — Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
- Eph 6:18 — Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
- Eph 6:18 — Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
- Isa 62:6 — I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
- Jas 5:16 — Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
- Luke 18:1 — And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
- Luke 18:1 — And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
- Luke 21:36 — Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
- Luke 21:36 — Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
- Matt 6:5 — And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you,
- Phil 4:6 — Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
- Ps 55:17 — Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
- Rom 1:9 — For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
- Rom 12:12 — Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
- Rom 13:13 — Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.