Lexical Summary adialeiptós: Unceasing, continual Original Word: ἀδιάλειπτος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance without ceasing. Adverb from adialeiptos; uninterruptedly, i.e. Without omission (on an appropriate occasion) -- without ceasing. see GREEK adialeiptos HELPS Word-studies 89 adialeíptōs (an adverb, derived from 1 /A "not," 1223 /diá, "across" and 3007 /leípō, "to leave") – properly, nothing left between, i.e. without any unnecessary interval (time-gap). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originadverb from adialeiptos Definition incessantly NASB Translation constantly (2), unceasingly (1), without ceasing (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 89: ἀδιαλείπτωςἀδιαλείπτως, adverb, without intermission, incessantly, assiduously: Romans 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:2 (3); Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope of the Term This Pauline adverb expresses an activity that is marked by continual, uninterrupted regularity. It points to a pattern so steady and frequent that the breaks are negligible, conveying a life rhythm characterized by consistency rather than sporadic bursts. Occurrences in the New Testament Romans 1:9 – Paul testifies that his prayer for the Roman believers rises “constantly” as part of his priestly service in the gospel. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 – The same term anchors Paul’s thanksgiving, showing that recollection of the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope was woven into every season of his intercession. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – It qualifies the apostles’ gratitude for the Thessalonians’ reception of the word “not as the word of men but as the word of God.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – The exhortation, “pray without ceasing,” universalizes the habit he has just modeled. Theological Implications 1. Prayer as Permanent Fellowship: Romans 1:9 joins sacrificial language (“whom I serve in my spirit”) with incessant request, depicting prayer as priestly ministry that never clocks out. Relationship to Old Testament Patterns Old Covenant priests tended the altar “continually” (for example, Leviticus 6:13). David vowed, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips” (Psalm 34:1). Paul’s vocabulary captures that same liturgical continuity but relocates it to the heart enlivened by the Spirit, fulfilling the promise that God would write His law within (Jeremiah 31:33). Pauline Ministry Pattern • Frequency over Length: Paul’s letters reveal frequent, brief petitions offered throughout the day rather than a single protracted session. Historical Reception in the Church Early Christian writers—from Chrysostom to Augustine—cited these verses to encourage rhythmic prayer amid ordinary labor. Monastic traditions later translated the concept into fixed hours of prayer, while the Reformers emphasized the priesthood of all believers, urging tradesmen and mothers to pray “without ceasing” in the workshop and the home. Revival movements have repeatedly returned to these texts to call the church to sustained intercession for awakening. Spiritual Formation and Contemporary Application 1. Breath Prayers: Short, Scripture-based cries (“Lord Jesus, have mercy”) breathed through the day embody the text’s intent. Summary Across four strategic passages, Paul elevates unbroken communion with God from a private aspiration to a communal norm. Woven into thanksgiving, grounded in Scripture, and propelled by gospel mission, this practice equips the church to live, serve, and watch in the Spirit’s power until Christ appears. Forms and Transliterations αδιαλειπτως αδιαλείπτως ἀδιαλείπτως αδιάλυτον adialeiptos adialeiptōs adialeíptos adialeíptōsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 1:9 AdvGRK: αὐτοῦ ὡς ἀδιαλείπτως μνείαν ὑμῶν NAS: [as to] how unceasingly I make KJV: that without ceasing I make INT: of him how unceasingly mention of you 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Adv 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Adv 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Adv |