Six Kinds of Prayer

[Eph 1:16; 6:12,18; Heb 5:7; 7:25; Jn 15:7; 1Jn 5:14-15; Rom 8:26]

This brief study shows us the various types of prayer in the New Testament. It is interesting how the original language has various definitions, making for many possible translations with overlapping descriptions of types of prayer. God has given us many ways and examples on how to pray. There are many reasons and situations in life for prayer. He wants us to fellowship with Him on all occasions with all kinds of prayer.

Eph 6:18 (NIV) –And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The New Testament uses six Greek words for prayer. There are other words associated with prayer and worship, but for now I will stick to these six Greek words.

Each of these six forms (or kinds) of prayer differs from each other just as the Roman soldier’s lances differ for various applications.

The basic kinds of prayer in the New Testament are: Consecration, Petition, Authority, Thanksgiving, Supplication, and Intercession.

The Prayer of Consecration:

Decision and consecration – commitment. This comes from the most frequently used Greek word for prayer, proseuche, (pros-yoo-khay’). The first part of this compound word, “pros,” means face to face, indicating a close relationship. This word nearly always means an up-front, and personal – intimate contact with someone else. “Pros” is used four times in Ephesians 6:12 to paint a picture of us being face to face with our demonic enemy. We need to get face-to-face with the devil and demons in battle! PROS!

Eph 6:12 (KJV) –For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

The second part of the word proseuche is the word euchomai, (yoo’-khom-ahee) which describes a wish, desire, prayer, or vow. Originally, it was to make a vow to God, when expressing a need or desire. A person would vow to give something of great value to God in exchange for a pleasing answer to prayer.

The best example of this is found in 1 Samuel 1:11, 19-20. Where Hannah’s desire for a child developed into an exchange of her most precious possession. Hannah vowed to give Samuel to God. Often, people seeking an answered prayer would give a gift of thanksgiving in advance. It was a way of releasing their faith in the goodness of God and thanking Him for His favorable reply to prayer.

Most of Paul’s followers were Greek, so they understood how powerful this word proseuche was. We need to have an intimate, eye-to-eye, face-to-face relationship with God!

The idea of sacrifice is associated with proseuche, “prayer.” We should be willing to give everything we own in exchange for answered prayer.

Even though the Holy Spirit convicts our hearts of areas that need to be surrendered to His sanctifying power, He will never forcibly take these things from us. So this particular word for prayer points to a place of decision and consecration – an altar where we freely vow to give our lives to God in exchange for His life. We place our lives in His hands in an act of consecration.

Since the word proseuche has to do with surrender and sacrifice, this tells us that God wants to do more than simply bless us. He wants to change us! Therefore, when we know we offer a genuine prayer in faith, we should always include thanksgiving to God along with our prayer, knowing that He hears us.

The Prayer of Petition:

The Greek word, deesis (deh’-ay-sis) is the second most used word for prayer.

Eph 6:18 (KJV) –Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Translated “supplication,” deesis describes personal needs or wants. This is about the very basic needs for survival, not for a new house or a faster car. This word deesis has to to do with needs being met for a continued existence.

Deesis is a petition or cry for God’s help that exposes the person’s insufficiency to meet his own needs. Praying always, with all prayer and with all earnest, sincere, and heartfelt petition.

The Bible tells us, in Hebrews 5:7 that Jesus prayed this kind of prayer:

Heb 5:7 (NIV) –During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Jesus realized His need so much that He prayed deesis with strong crying and tears. He cried out to the Father, in the weakness of His humanity, to meet His basic needs of strength and power. “Father, hear my humble cry.”

This word deesis almost always is used as a cry for help. It is an appeal to God for a special need. It is a petition for strength to resist temptation or for help during a crisis, or for spiritual power to minister in a certain situation.

“Lord, I need some help down here,” is a good prayer.

Where proseuche, (pros-yoo-khay’) has to do with surrender and consecration, the word deesis (deh’-ay-sis) has to do with humility.

The Prayer of Authority:

The third most common word used for prayer in the New Testament is aiteo, (ahee-teh’-o) – to ask, demand, require.

This Greek word may seem to be a strange word for prayer. It doesn’t refer to one asking in humility. This word aiteo describes someone who prays in authority, almost demanding something from God! This “asking” comes from a person who knows what he needs, and isn’t afraid to boldly ask to receive it!

The deesis has to do with spiritual needs and wants, but this word aiteo (ahee-teh’-o) is connected to more tangible needs, like food, shelter, money, etc.

How can you approach God with a commanding attitude, demanding needs to be met? Jesus gave us understanding of aiteo in John 15:7.

John 15:7 (NKJV) –“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

Ask is from the Greek word, aiteo, (ahee-teh’-o) – to ask, demand, require. This could be translated, “…ye shall demand what ye desire….”

When I first saw this, I was troubled by the notion of “demanding” something from God. However, in context with the whole verse, it is better understood. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you….” Notice the word “abide” is used twice in this verse. “Abide” means to stay, dwell, lodge, remain, to remain in constant union with, or to take up permanent residency. Years ago we would say, “set up house keepin’.”

This could be rendered, “If you permanently and habitually dwell in Me, you will be able to strongly ask for whatever you wish and it will be done for you.” Jesus knew that if His words had permanent residency in our hearts and minds, we would never ask for something outside His will. He knew that our minds would be renewed to His will.

When you know you are praying in line with God’s will (His Word) you don’t have to beg for stuff. You can boldly speak in faith and expect God to deliver your requests (See Hebrews 4:16).

We can see the aiteo, (ahee-teh’-o) in First John 5:14-15.

1John 5:14-15 (NKJV) –Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. [15] And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

“Confidence” is from a Greek word that means to be blunt, with boldness, to be courageous. Along with confidence is “ask,” aiteo, (ahee-teh’-o) used three times in First John 5:14-15.

John could have said, “We are bold, courageous and outspoken when we pray because, if we ask anything according to His will (His desires for our lives), He hears us. And whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” Note that “asking” is connected with knowing the will of God. If you don’t know what the Bible says, you will lack confidence in your asking.

Don’t mistake arrogance for confidence. If you don’t live there, don’t go poking around in the pantry! If it’s not your dwelling place – stay out of the refrigerator!

If the Word of God dwells in you – if the Word is living in your heart and mind, and if His Word is your residency, your prayers will be accurate, and He appreciates your blunt requests. Store in your heart a strong foundation of absolute truth, and you will be able to take hold of the promises of God for you life!

When God’s Word is allowed to take authority in your heart, you allow that Word to transform your thinking. The more your mind is renewed to God’s Word, the more your prayers will be inline with His will for your life. You will be more confident and more powerful for His kingdom.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving:

The Greek word, eucharisteo, (yoo-khar-is-teh’-o) describes; being grateful, an expression of gratitude, saying grace at a meal, or giving thanks.

Paul was so blessed when he heard about the “faith in the Lord Jesus” and “love for all the saints” in the church at Ephesus, he wrote:

“[I] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:” (Eph 1:16)

“I can’t help but thank God for you in my prayers” (see Col 1:3; 2Thes 1:3).

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1Thes 5:18).

When you pray for someone, give thanks – every time. To be thankful is powerful in spiritual battle, and it is God’s will.

There are many other scriptures on the prayer of thanksgiving. (See the outlines page on the website.)

The Prayer of Supplication:

G1783 enteuxis (ent’-yook-sis) n. 1. an interview. 2. (specially) supplication. [from G1793] KJV: intercession, prayer.

G1793 entugchano (en-toong-khan’-o) v. 1. to chance upon. 2. (by implication) confer with. 3. (by extension) to entreat (in favor or against). [from G1722 and G5177] KJV: deal with, make intercession.

Enteuxis (ent’-yook-sis) (Used 2 times: “intercession” at 1 Tim. 2:1, and “prayer” at 1 Tim. 4:5, according to God’s will). A noun from entynchano (en-toong-khan’-o) , used 5 times, is translated “dealt” at Acts 25:24, and “intercession” at Romans 8:27, 34; 11:2, and Hebrews 7:25.).3 To chance upon, to entreat. A falling in with, meeting with, coming together, intercession, prayer, address to God for oneself or others. The verb entynchano (en-toong-khan’-o) means to interpolate with familiarity and freedom of access, to interrupt another in speaking, to come to God with boldness. To meet and talk with, in the sense of to intercede, make intercession for or against someone.

Heb 7:25 (NKJV) –Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Make intercession, entynchano (en-toong-khan’-o); Strong’s #1793: To fall in with, meet with in order to converse. From this description of a casual encounter, the word progresses to the idea of pleading with a person on behalf of another, although at times the petition may be against another (Acts 25:24; Rom. 11:2).

This is to fall into a situation or to happen into a circumstance with someone. This is usually translated as “intercession” but is not what most people think of as intercession. It is not the best rendering, as the definitions do not align with the context. So in the KJV, you will find “intersession” where “supplication” would have been a better translation.

Rick Renner says in, Dressed To Kill:

This word enteuxis and its various forms (such as entynchano) are usually translated as the word “intercession” in the New Testament. However, enteuxis does not necessarily refer to intercession as most people think of intercession (i.e., prayer for other people). The word enteuxis rather carries the idea of one who comes to God in simple, childlike faith, to freely enjoy fellowship in the presence of the Lord. One expositor has said that this is prayer in its most individual and simple form.

It literally means to fall into or happen upon. The idea is to fall into the presence of the Lord or to come into wonderful relationship in prayer. In some places, it has been translated as the word “supplication.”

Indeed, this is the idea reflected iin this word enteuxis – to supplicate with the Lord. This word was used in some classical writings to depict a love relationship between two lovers – two individuals who happened upon each other – who had found or discovered each other – and were now sharing their lives together.

The prayer and supplication refers those special times in prayer when God by His Spirit showers us in love and fills us with the knowledge of His life-transforming acceptance.

The Prayer of Intercession:

G5241 huperentugchano (hoop-er-en-toong-khan’-o) v. to intercede in behalf of. [from G5228 and G1793] KJV: make intercession for.

G5228 huper (hoop-er’) prep. 1. over. 2. (with the genitive case, of place) above. 3. (also) beyond. 4. (with the accusative case) superior to, above and beyond, more than. 5. (causal) on behalf (of).

G1793 entugchano (en-toong-khan’-o) v. 1. to chance upon. 2. (by implication) confer with. 3. (by extension) to entreat (in favor or against). [from G1722 and G5177] KJV: deal with, make intercession. (This is the word, “entugchano” translated “intercession” in Hebrews 5:25 speaking of our permanent high priest, Jesus.)

The sixth Greek word for a type of prayer used in the New Testament is; huperentugchano (hoop-er-en-toong-khan’-o) to intercede in behalf of, or to make intercession for. Found only in Romans 8:26, and does not refer to believers doing anything; but rather the Holy Spirit only.

Rom 8:26 (NKJV) –Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Intercession, “huperentugchano” is the Holy Spirit’s job! It is only used by the Holy Spirit – not believers. We have had, for the most part, a misunderstanding of intercessory prayer.

Enteuxis (ent’-yook-sis) an interview, i.e. (special) supplication :- intercession, prayer. Used 2 times: intercession 1, and prayer 1

From the root word entynchano (en-toong-khan’-o) used 5 times. It means to chance upon, or confer with; to entreat (in favor or against), deal with, make intercession.

This happens for us when we do not know how to pray. The Holy Spirit has to bypass our intellect in order to do His ministry through us. So, even when you are praying in the Spirit for someone, He is the one who makes intercession.

When the Holy Spirit makes intercession, it is an action that happens when He prays through us. Our job is actually supplication, entynchano (en-toong-khan’-o) where we meet with the Spirit and He meets huperentugchano (hoop-er-en-toong-khan’-o) with whom or what we are praying for, on our behalf.

Dutch Sheets explains it well in Intercessory Prayer.

Intercession is not primarily a prayer a person prays, but something a person does that can be done through prayer. Although the word intercession” has come to mean “prayer” in our minds, its Hebrew word does not necessarily mean “prayer” at all. It has many shades of meaning, all of which can be done through prayer. Intercession creates a meeting, Intercessors meet with God; they also meet the powers of darkness. “Prayer meetings” are aptly named!

So we have different words for the six kinds of prayer and some are not translated as well as possible. Some overlapping terminology can be confusing, but God wants us the know these things. So we study His Word to know him better, in Jesus’ name.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond