Hebrews 13:18

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 13:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.
Hebrews 13:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Pray for us, etc..] Who are in the ministry; your guides and governors; since the work is of so much moment, and so arduous and awful, and you have such a concern in it; (see Gill on “<530301>2 Thessalonians 3:1”). for we trust we have a good conscience; there is a conscience in every man, but it is naturally evil: a good conscience is a conscience sanctified by the Spirit of God, and sprinkled by the blood of Jesus; here it chiefly respects the upright discharge of it in the ministerial work: this the apostle often asserts, and appeals to, and which he here expresses with modesty, and yet with confidence; and which he uses as an argument for prayer for them: in all things willing to live…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Pray for us--Paul usually requests the Church's intercessions for him in closing his Epistles, just as he begins with assuring them of his having them at heart in his prayers (but in this Epistle not till Heb 13:20-21), Rom 15:30. "Us," includes both himself and his companions; he passes to himself alone, Heb 13:19. we trust we have a good conscience--in spite of your former jealousies, and the charges of my Jewish enemies at Jerusalem, which have been the occasion of my imprisonment at Rome. In refutation of the Jews' aspersions, he asserts in the same language as here his own conscientiousness before God and man, Act 23:1-3; Act 24:16, Act 24:20-21 (wherein he virtually implies that his…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Pray for us - This is a request which the apostle often makes in his own behalf, and in behalf of his fellow laborers in the gospel; see 1 Thessalonians 5:25. notes, Ephesians 6:18-19. For we trust we have a good conscience ... - see the notes on Acts 24:16. The apostle here appeals to the uprightness of his Christian life as a reason why he might claim their sympathy. He was conscious of an aim to do good; he sought the welfare of the church; and having this aim he felt that he might appeal to the sympathy of all Christians in his behalf. It is only when we aim to do right, and to maintain a good conscience, that we can with propriety ask the prayers of others, or claim their sympathy. And…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“13:18-19 Pray for us: The author asks for prayer for himself using the “authorial plural” (see also 5:11; 6:9). • our conscience is clear: Cp. 2 Cor 1:11-12; 4:2.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Pray: Rom 15:30; Eph 6:19, Eph 6:20; Col 4:3; Th1 5:25; Th2 3:1 we have: Act 23:1, Act 24:16; Co2 1:12; Ti1 1:5; Pe1 3:16, Pe1 3:21 in all: Rom 12:17, Rom 13:13; Phi 4:8; Th1 4:12; Pe1 2:12 Hebrews 13:19”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification