Ephesians 6:18 (DRB)

Passage

By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit: and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints:

Nearby Context

Ephesians 6:16 In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.

Ephesians 6:17 And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God).

Ephesians 6:18 By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit: and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints:

Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Ephesians 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in a chain: so that therein I may be bold to speak according as I ought.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "prayer", "supplication", "praying", "times", "same", "watching", and "instance". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "prayer", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "And take unto you the helmet of..." into verse 19's "And for me that speech may be...", so "Spirit" and "prayer" belong inside that flow. In Ephesians context, the local focus is grace, union with Christ, the church, and new creation.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "Spirit" and "prayer" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.