Paul's Prison Epistles: Paul's ImprisonmentSample

Themes in Paul’s Letters—Prayer: Ephesians 1:16-18

Paul was in constant prayer for the churches. According to Paul’s letters, his ministry extended beyond proclaiming the gospel to unbelievers. It also included constant prayers for various churches and believers around the world. 

Practically speaking, it is very likely that Paul’s imprisonment actually increased the time he was able to spend in prayer. During his missionary journeys, he was generally busy traveling, or even working to support himself. But in prison he had no job to do, no places to travel, and few distractions. This allowed him a great deal of time to pray. And from the testimony his letters provide, it would appear that Paul considered himself both obligated and honored to spend much of that time praying for others.

Consider Paul’s testimony regarding his prayers for other believers in Ephesians 1:16-18:

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ … may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation … I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened (Ephesians 1:16-18).

Paul regularly and consistently prayed for the Ephesians. He believed that prayer was powerful, and he hoped that God would honor his prayers by blessing the Ephesians. Paul’s efforts in prayer constituted a vibrant and valuable ministry to those who were not near. 

In much the same way, in Philippians 1:3-9 he explained that he regularly prayed for the church in Philippi:

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy … And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (Philippians 1:3-9).

And in Colossians 1:9 we read of his commitment to the church in Colosse:

We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9).

He also prayed for specific individuals such as Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus in the Colossian church. For example, in Philemon 6 he wrote:

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ (Philemon 1:6).

In all these passages we see that Paul committed himself to praying for his fellow believers, seeking many blessings from God on their behalf.