Psalms 56:9

56:9 My enemies will turn back when I cry out to you for help; ¹ 

I know that God is on my side. ² 

Luke 18:1

Prayer and the Parable of the Persistent Widow

18:1 Then ³  Jesus ⁴  told them a parable to show them they should always ⁵  pray and not lose heart. ⁶ 

Luke 18:1

Prayer and the Parable of the Persistent Widow

18:1 Then ⁷  Jesus ⁸  told them a parable to show them they should always ⁹  pray and not lose heart. ¹⁰ 

Luke 2:8

The Shepherds’ Visit

2:8 Now ¹¹  there were shepherds ¹²  nearby ¹³  living out in the field, keeping guard ¹⁴  over their flock at night.

James 5:16

5:16 So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness. ¹⁵ 

¹ tn Heb “then my enemies will turn back in the day I cry out.” The Hebrew particle אָז (’az, “then”) is probably used here to draw attention to the following statement.

² tn Heb “this I know, that God is for me.”

³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Or “should pray at all times” (L&N 67.88).

⁶ sn This is one of the few parables that comes with an explanation at the start: …they should always pray and not lose heart. It is part of Luke’s goal in encouraging Theophilus (1:4).

⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

⁸ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁹ tn Or “should pray at all times” (L&N 67.88).

¹⁰ sn This is one of the few parables that comes with an explanation at the start: …they should always pray and not lose heart. It is part of Luke’s goal in encouraging Theophilus (1:4).

¹¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

¹² sn Some argue that shepherds were among the culturally despised, but the evidence for this view of shepherds is late, coming from 5th century Jewish materials. December 25 as the celebrated date of Jesus’ birth arose around the time of Constantine (ca. a.d. 306-337), though it is mentioned in material from Hippolytus (a.d. 165-235). Some think that the reason for celebration on this date was that it coincided with the pagan Roman festival of Saturnalia, and Christians could celebrate their own festival at this time without fear of persecution. On the basis of the statement that the shepherds were living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night it is often suggested that Jesus’ birth took place in early spring, since it was only at lambing time that shepherds stood guard over their flocks in the field. This is not absolutely certain, however.

¹³ tn Grk “in that region.”

¹⁴ tn Grk “living in the field (see BDAG 15 s.v. ἀγραυλέω) and guarding their flock.”

¹⁵ tn Or “the fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful”; Grk “is very powerful in its working.”