What is a prayer of supplication?

Supplication is more earnest than prayer. Paul goes from the most earnest crying down below, right up to the giving of thanks.

we should pay special attention. Not only are we exhorted to prayer. It is noteworthy that very insistent forms of prayer are indicated—supplications and intercessions. Prayer may be described as making requests to God; supplications, as earnest and agonised entreaty; intercessions, as caring for others, and praying on the behalf of such, as Abraham prayed for the wicked people of Sodom in his day.

"Supplication implies earnestness in pressing the suit of need; prayer is more general, and puts forward wants and wishes; intercession means the exercise of free and confiding intercourse, whether for ourselves or for others; and thanksgiving ['giving of thanks'] tells out the heart's sense of favour bestowed or counted on."

For the sake of some who may not have at hand the usual works of reference, we may add that the first (deesis) occurs nineteen times in the New Testament, and is rendered once by "request" (Phil. 1:4); six times by "supplication" (Acts 1:14; Eph. 6:18 bis; Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1; 1 Tim. 5:5); and twelve times by "prayer" (Luke 1:13; Luke 2:37; Luke 5:33; Rom. 10:1; 2 Cor. 1:11; 2 Cor. 9:14; Phil. 1:4, 19; 2 Tim. 1:3; Heb. 5:7; James 5:16; 1 Peter 3:12).

The reader will notice the abundance and variety in expression of the saints' prayers. "Supplication" implies earnestness in pressing the suit of need; "prayer" is more general and puts forward wants and wishes; "intercession" means the exercise of free and confiding intercourse, whether for ourselves or for others; and "thanksgiving" tells out the heart's sense of favour bestowed or counted on. Of all interpretations perhaps the most singular is in Augustine's Epistle to Paulinus (149, Migne), where the four words are assigned to the several parts of the communion service! Witsius, on the Lord's prayer, is nearer the mark than any other I have noticed. From first to last the terms bespeak the overflowing charity of the saints who know in God a love superior to evil, and withal never indifferent to it nor making light of it (which is Satan's substitute) — a Father Who makes His sun rise on evil and good, and sends rain on just and unjust. It is of all moment that the children keep up the family character, and that love should be in constant exercise to His praise. What can men think, feel, or do, about such as love their enemies and pray for those that use them despitefully? Paroxysms of persecution pass quickly, and the saints are let live peacefully in all godliness and gravity; for nothing makes up for failure in piety before God and in a practically grave deportment before men.

We are to make (1) “supplications, (2) prayers, (3) intercessions, and (4) thanksgivings” (1 Tim. 2:1).

The first is an earnest entreaty in the sense of need or indigence; it is once used of the Lord. (See Heb. 5:7.)

"Supplication" involves earnest entreaty, certainly no mere "saying of prayers," but the desire earnestly expressed. "Prayer" is making request in a dependent spirit. "Intercessions" refers to having an audience with God on behalf of others. But "giving of thanks" is most salutary here. We may little think of this in regard to "all men," but it is the Word of God. All are His own creatures, and whatever their character or conduct, we are told to give thanks for them, as well as to pray for them. Let us never forget it. This will serve to help us to maintain a proper attitude toward them.

We are not to be anxious about "one thing," as it is literally, but in "every thing" we are to let our requests be made known unto God: and you do this "by your prayer and by your supplication with thanksgiving." True, God knows all before we make them known: but He loves to have us come and tell Him. Actually it does not say "your prayer and your supplication," but "the prayer and the supplication". You may remember we have suggested that the Greek word "the" is like a finger pointing: and here we have two fingers, pointing to two different words. It is as though the Apostle was thinking: "by the prayer and by the supplication, which of course you will make". You recall how sometimes only one article (the) is used with two words, to link them closely together. Here we see just the opposite, twice the article is used, where we cannot use it at all, to point out the two separate acts when we come to God with our anxious, harassing cares. So we have substituted your for the "the" that we cannot use. And let us remember "every thing" means just what the word says: every single thing: the little things, as well as the big things: the things we are ashamed to bring to our Lord: in not one of these we are to be anxious: for every one is to be spread out before Him.

There are, I think, in the Greek New Testament (if we count "thanksgiving") seven different words for prayer: and we have four of them in our present verse. The first, translated "prayer", tells us of prayer in general, — of any address to God. The second, "supplication" tells of prayer for particular needs or benefits. The first is only used of prayer to God: the second may also be used towards our fellow-men. These two words are found together again in Eph. 6:18 and 1 Tim. 2:1; 5:5. The first may include worship, as we come to God in prayer; whereas the second is definitely what we want from God. And, let us not forget, for Paul never forgot, that all is to be with "thanksgiving". "Regarded as one manner of prayer, it (thanksgiving) expresses what ought never to be absent from any of our devotions (Phil. 4:6; Eph. 5:20; 1 Thess. 5:18; 1 Tim. 2:1); namely, the grateful acknowledgement of past mercies, as distinguished from the earnest seeking of future. As such it may, and will, subsist in heaven (Rev. 4:9; 7:12); will indeed be larger, deeper, fuller there than here: for only there will the redeemed know how much they owe to their Lord; and this it will do, while all other forms of prayer, in the very nature of things, will have ceased in the entire possession and present fruition of the things prayed for." (Trench: Synonyms, No. 51). And let us not forget, the Word commands: "In every thing give thanks." (1 Thess. 5:18).

Prayer is asking for things, you come to God and you voice your request; but supplication is a continual appealing to God. There are two words which are translated supplication, but it is the constant appeal to God that we have in this verse, and coupled with that a note of thanksgiving to God.

(V. 1). The house of God is characterised as the place of prayer. The petitions that ascend to God from His house are to be marked by “supplications”, or earnest pleadings, for special needs arising in particular circumstances; by “prayers”, which express general desires appropriate for all times; by “intercessions”, implying that believers are in that nearness to God that can plead on behalf of others; and, lastly, by “thanksgiving”, which speaks of a heart conscious of the goodness of God that delights to answer the prayers of His people.

Both αἰτέω and ἐρωτάω are translated 'to ask,' and in many passages rightly; but some lose much of their force by the translation not preserving a very real distinction between them. αἰτέω is supplicatory, as of an inferior to a superior — of a beggar seeking alms, Acts 3:2 (Acts 3:3, where ἐρωτάω is used, would perhaps indicate a change in tone from the accustomed begging to the more peremptory demand); of a child asking from his parents, Matt. 7:9; and the disciples from God and the Father. 1 John 3:22; James 1:5-6. John uses the word αἰτέω for 'prayer,' and never the ordinary word προσεύχομαι, nor προσευχή, 'prayer,' save in Rev. 5:8; Rev. 8:3-4.