What does the Bible say about intercession of saints?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible calls believers to pray for one another while directing all prayer to God through Jesus Christ, our only mediator and perfect intercessor. James 5:16 and Ephesians 6:18 urge mutual prayer among Christians, and 1 Timothy 2:1 commends intercessions for all people. Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-4 portray the prayers of God’s people as precious before him, but they do not command Christians to address prayers to departed saints. Hebrews 7:25 and Romans 8:34 assure us that the risen Christ continually intercedes for his people. Hebrews 12:1 encourages perseverance in view of faithful witnesses, yet Scripture grounds our confidence in Christ’s access to the Father.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Revelation 8:3-4 7 votes
[3] Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. [4] The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.
- James 5:16 6 votes
Confess your offenses to one another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effective, earnest prayer of a righteous man is powerfully effective.
- 1 Timothy 2:5 5 votes
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
- Ephesians 6:18 4 votes
with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:
- Revelation 5:8 4 votes
Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
- Hebrews 7:25 4 votes
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
- Revelation 8:4 3 votes
The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.
- 1 Timothy 2:1 3 votes
I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men:
- Hebrews 12:1 3 votes
Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- Romans 8:34 3 votes
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
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