390 EPHESIANS,

has no resources of strength in himself, and can suc- ceed only as aided from above, the apostle urges the duty of prayer. The believer is—1. To avail himself of all kinds of prayer. 2. He is to pray on every suit- able occasion. 38. He is to pray in the Spirit. 4. He is to be alert and persevering in the discharge of this duty. 5. He is to pray for all the saints; and the Ephesians were urged by the apostle to pray for him. The connection of this verse is with στῆτε οὖν of ver. 14. “Stand, therefore, with all prayer and sup- plication, praying on every occasion, in the Spirit.” Διὰ πάσης προςευχῆς καὶ δεήσεως, may be connected with the following participle προςευχόμενοι, as has been done by our translators, who render the passage, “ praying with all prayer and supplication.” But this renders the passage tautological. Others take this clause by itself, and understand διά as expressing the condition or circumstances. ‘Stand, therefore, with all prayer, praying at all times,’ &c. As to the difference between mposevy7 and δέησις, prayer and supplication, some say that the former has for its object the attain- ing of good; the latter, the avoidance of evil or deliver- ance from it. The usage of the words does not sustain that view. The more common opinion is that the dis- tinction is twofold; first, that προςευχή is addressed only to God, whereas δέησις may be addressed to men; and secondly, that the former includes all address to God, while the latter is limited to petition. The ex- pression all prayer, means all kinds of prayer, oral and mental, ejaculatory and formal. The prayers which