--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We pray for our enemies; we seek to…" description: "\"We pray for our enemies; we seek to persuade those who hate us without cause to live conformably to the goodly precepts of Christ, that they may become..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/justin-martyr-22055_blessing_we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persu_2473086.jpg" --- # We pray for our enemies; we seek to persuade those who… ![“We pray for our enemies; we seek to persuade those who hate us without cause to live conformably to the goodly precepts of Christ, that they may become partakers with us of the joyful hope of blessings from God, the Lord of all.” quote by Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/justin-martyr-22055_blessing_we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persu_2473086.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/justin-martyr-22055_blessing_we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persu_2473086.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/justin-martyr-22055_blessing_we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persu_2473086.jpg) > “We pray for our enemies; we seek to persuade those who hate us without cause to live conformably to the goodly precepts of Christ, that they may become partakers with us of the joyful hope of blessings from God, the Lord of all.” [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The prayer asks for enemies to be transformed by Christ’s teachings, so they can share in divine hope and blessings. **In simple terms:** Pray for enemies to become good and share blessings. Key Takeaway Seek compassion and conversion for adversaries. Themes faith compassion redemption hope Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - interfaith dialogue - personal prayer - community building Key Concepts Christian theology spiritual transformation evangelism Questions to Reflect On - How can you embody Christ’s love toward those who oppose you? - What practical steps foster genuine change in hostile relationships? A Different Perspective Assumes enemies are receptive to persuasion, which may not hold. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Blessings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessings/) [Blessings From God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessings-from-god/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christ Partakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-partakers-780839/) [Enemies Seek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-seek-780838/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-blessing/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hope Blessings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-blessings-780837/) [Joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joyful/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Persuade Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuade-hate-330200/) [Pray Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-enemies-300940/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) ## Related quotes > [Now bring what we have into common stock, and communicate to everyone in need; we who hated and destroyed one another, and on account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/now-bring-what-we-have-into-common-stock-and-communicate-to-everyone/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [Enemies may seek our destruction, but they also keep us on our toes and often help us figure out who we are and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/enemies-may-seek-our-destruction-but-they-also-keep-us-on-our-toes/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [What protectionism teaches us, is to do to ourselves in time of peace what enemies seek to do to us in time of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george/what-protectionism-teaches-us-is-to-do-to-ourselves-in-time-of-peace/) [Henry George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-george/) > [We who formerly hated and murdered one another now live together and share the same table. We pray for our enemies and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/we-who-formerly-hated-and-murdered-one-another-now-live-together-and/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/we-used-to-hate-and-destroy-one-another-and-refused-to-associate-with/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [I don't believe in "original sin." I don't believe in "guilt." I don't believe in villains or heroes - only right or wrong ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-don-t-believe-in-original-sin-i-don-t-believe-in-guilt-i-don-t/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Q.Why don't you write about nice people? Haven't you ever known any nice people in your life? A.My theory about nice people is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/q-why-don-t-you-write-about-nice-people-haven-t-you-ever-known-any/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I truly believe that the individual who learns to practice thanksgiving activates within himself and around himself continuous victories and blessings from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/i-truly-believe-that-the-individual-who-learns-to-practice/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Being able to love someone truly, madly, deeply, crazily and being loved in return is one of the most beautiful gifts and blessings from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/being-able-to-love-someone-truly-madly-deeply-crazily-and-being-loved/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Focus not on what is missing from our lives, Be grateful for the abundance that's present--love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bccm/focus-not-on-what-is-missing-from-our-lives-be-grateful-for-the/) [Bccm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bccm/) > [“Here we are, getting blessings from God day after day; yet how little praise and thanksgiving there is in the Church”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/here-we-are-getting-blessings-from-god-day-after-day-yet-how-little/) [D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/) > [I have said time and again that the republican order, and secularism, when executed perfectly, are blessings from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fethullah-gulen/i-have-said-time-and-again-that-the-republican-order-and-secularism/) [Fethullah Gulen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fethullah-gulen/) > [Do you know why I never need to ask for any blessings from God? That's because He has given me friends like you! Happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-know-why-i-never-need-to-ask-for-any-blessings-from-god-that-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All these people, all these things came into my life, and theyre all blessings from God. And now that I look back, I realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/all-these-people-all-these-things-came-into-my-life-and-theyre-all/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I do believe that children are all blessings from god. And I feel it's all positive, it's positive experience. You know, I don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadya-suleman/i-do-believe-that-children-are-all-blessings-from-god-and-i-feel-it-s/) [Nadya Suleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadya-suleman/) ## More by Justin Martyr > [... it is better to believe even what is impossible to our own nature and to men, than to be unbelieving like the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/it-is-better-to-believe-even-what-is-impossible-to-our-own-nature-and/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [Now bring what we have into common stock, and communicate to everyone in need; we who hated and destroyed one another, and on account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/now-bring-what-we-have-into-common-stock-and-communicate-to-everyone/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [When we say that Jesus Christ was produced without sexual union, was crucified and died, and rose again, and ascended to heaven, we propound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/when-we-say-that-jesus-christ-was-produced-without-sexual-union-was/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [By examining the tongue of the patient, physicians find out the diseases of the body, and philosophers the diseases of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/by-examining-the-tongue-of-the-patient-physicians-find-out-the/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [And if we even affirm that He was born of a virgin, accept this in common with what you accept of Perseus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/and-if-we-even-affirm-that-he-was-born-of-a-virgin-accept-this-in/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [The world suffers nothing from Christians but hates them because they reject its pleasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/the-world-suffers-nothing-from-christians-but-hates-them-because-they/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [“And when we say also that the Word, who is the first-birth of God, was produced without sexual union, and that He, Jesus Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/and-when-we-say-also-that-the-word-who-is-the-first-birth-of-god-was/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [If you are eagerly looking for salvation, and if you believe in God, you may ... become acquainted with the Christ of God, and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/if-you-are-eagerly-looking-for-salvation-and-if-you-believe-in-god/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [“Plain singing is not childish, but only the singing with lifeless organs, with dancing, and cymbals, &c. Whence the use of such instruments, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/plain-singing-is-not-childish-but-only-the-singing-with-lifeless/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [We ourselves were well conversant with war, murder and everything evil, but all of us throughout the whole wide earth have traded in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/we-ourselves-were-well-conversant-with-war-murder-and-everything-evil/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/we-used-to-hate-and-destroy-one-another-and-refused-to-associate-with/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [God called Abraham and commanded him to go out from the country where he was living. With this call God has roused us all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/god-called-abraham-and-commanded-him-to-go-out-from-the-country-where/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [No one who is rightly minded turns from true belief to false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/no-one-who-is-rightly-minded-turns-from-true-belief-to-false/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [But I and others, who are right-minded Christians on all points, are assured that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/but-i-and-others-who-are-right-minded-christians-on-all-points-are/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [Let it be understood that those who are not found living as He taught are not Christian- even though they profess with the lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/let-it-be-understood-that-those-who-are-not-found-living-as-he-taught/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) [Explore all 28 Justin Martyr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) ## More Blessing quotes > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [God loves to glorify himself by suspending his gifts and blessings on our asking him for them. We should never presume to receive from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-loves-to-glorify-himself-by-suspending-his-gifts-and-blessings-on/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [“When Jesus finished teaching in a synagogue one day, a woman called out from the audience, 'God bless your mother—the womb from which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/when-jesus-finished-teaching-in-a-synagogue-one-day-a-woman-called/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [“I've never felt a pain that didn't bear a blessing. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-knudsen-hoffman/i-ve-never-felt-a-pain-that-didn-t-bear-a-blessing/) [Gene Knudsen Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-knudsen-hoffman/) > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/) [Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/) > [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/) [Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/) > [Life is such a very troublesome matter, when all is said and done, that it's as well even to take its blessings quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-braddon/life-is-such-a-very-troublesome-matter-when-all-is-said-and-done-that/) [Mary Elizabeth Braddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-braddon/) > [Down where I grew up, able-bodied people do that which we believe God created them to do. Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/) [Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/) [Browse all 4,617 Blessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We pray for our enemies; we seek to persuade those who hate us without cause to live conformably to the goodly precepts of Christ, that they may become partakers with us of the joyful hope of blessings from God, the Lord of all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Justin Martyr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persuade-those-who-hate-us-without/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blessing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persuade-those-who-hate-us-without/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/justin-martyr-22055_blessing_we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persu_2473086.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/justin-martyr-22055_blessing_we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persu_2473086.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/justin-martyr-22055_blessing_we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persu_2473086.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We pray for our enemies; we seek to persuade those who hate us without cause to live conformably to the…” — Justin Martyr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Justin Martyr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We pray for our enemies; we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persuade-those-who-hate-us-without/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/we-pray-for-our-enemies-we-seek-to-persuade-those-who-hate-us-without/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```