KJV - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer
NLT - Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Continuing Instant in Prayer
This is one of those times when I don't really care for the King Jimmy translation. The wording seems weird to me. Continuing instant? What in the world does that even mean? Well, let's dig a little and find out.
Aha! The Greek word is one we've seen before:
προσκαρτερέω
proskartereō, is a command to "give constant attention to a thing." It is derived from root words meaning "steadfast" and "strength."
I think we have to understand the context of the chapter to understand the verse. Paul is telling us exactly how to apply Truth to our everyday lives. As followers of Christ, expect to have great joys in this life, but much trouble in this world; however, we are to remain steadfast in prayer so as to have strength to point others to Him.
David Brown wrote a helpful commentary:
"Here it is more lively to retain the order and the verbs of the original: "In hope, rejoicing; in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, persevering." Each of these exercises helps the other. If our "hope" of glory is so assured that it is a rejoicing hope, we shall find the spirit of "endurance in tribulation" natural and easy; but since it is "prayer" which strengthens the faith that begets hope and lifts it up into an assured and joyful expectancy, and since our patience in tribulation is fed by this, it will be seen that all depends on our "perseverance in prayer."
What does this verse speak to you?
