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To: annalex; HarleyD; kosta50; Forest Keeper; jo kus; Dr. Eckleburg

"Additionally, if you look at the actual Matthew 6:11, it differs from the traditional wording of the prayer as the bread is described as "supersubstantial", -- "epiousion", another (with "kecharitomene") unique word formation that refers to the transsubstantiated bread of the Eucharist rather than the gastronomical bread."

Interestingly, St. John Chrysostom -- whose Greek is better than mine -- interprets this unique word (found only in the Gospels) as meaning "that for one day." His subsequent commentary stresses that the body needs "necessary food," and that we are being taught not to "take thought for the morrow." He says that we should not "wear ourselves out with the care of the following day."

St. Theophylact says also that Christ means "what is sufficient for our existence, our essence, and our sustenance. Thus He teaches us not to worry about tomorrow." In his commentary on St. Luke, he says only that Christ is teaching us to ask only for "that bread which is required for our being and for the sustenance of our life, and not to ask for more than we need.

St. Theophylact does add in his commentary on the St. Matthew passage, as a *secondary* meaning, that 'bread for our essence' "is also the Body of Christ, of Which we pray that we may partake without condemnation."

Reflected here are two different speculated etymologies for this unique word of "epiousios." It would seem to me that this is probably an intentionally double meaning, with a primary meaning of "needful" or "daily" applying to our daily physical needs and existence, and a deeper spiritual meaning speaking of the Body of Christ.

Origen apparently felt that the word had been specifically coined by Christ or the Apostles, since it appears nowhere else -- and again, his Greek was better than mine.


8,242 posted on 06/08/2006 5:43:07 PM PDT by Agrarian
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To: Agrarian; HarleyD; kosta50; Forest Keeper; jo kus; Dr. Eckleburg

I agree, of course, that "sufficient" is a possible translation next to "emeran", "daily", but with St. Theophylact, I believe that th eucharistic meaning cannot be ignored. Where does St. Chrysostom teach about that, in the Homilies on Matthew? I'll re-read that tomorrow.


8,255 posted on 06/08/2006 7:36:21 PM PDT by annalex
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