Bible Dictionaries
Fervent, Fervently

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

denotes "strained, stretched" (ek, "out," teino, "to stretch"); hence, metaphorically, "fervent," 1 Peter 4:8 . Some mss. have it in Acts 12:5 , for the adverb (see B). Cp. ekteneia (with en), "intently, strenuously," in Acts 26:7 , AV, "instantly," RV, "earnestly." Cp. EARNEST.

"fervently" (akin to A), is said of love, in 1 Peter 1:22; of prayer, in some mss. Acts 12:5 (see under A); for the comparative degree in Luke 22:44 , see EARNESTLY.

"to be hot, to boil" (Eng. "zeal" is akin), is metaphorically used of "fervency" of spirit, Acts 18:25; Romans 12:11 .

Notes: (1) In Colossians 4:12 , the verb agonizomai, "to strive," is translated "laboring fervently," AV (RV, "striving"). (2) In 2 Corinthians 7:7 , the noun zelos, "zeal" (akin to C.), is translated "fervent mind," AV (RV, "zeal"). (3) In James 5:17 , "he prayed fervently" (AV, "earnestly") translates the noun proseuche, followed by the corresponding verb, lit., "he prayed with prayer." In James 5:16 deesis, "supplication," is so translated in the RV, for the AV, "effectual fervent prayer." There is nothing in the original corresponding to the word "effectual." The phrase, including the verb energeomai, "to work in," is, lit., "the inworking supplication," suggesting a supplication consistent with inward conformity to the mind of God. (4) For "fervent heat" see HEAT , B.