Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: kosta50; Kolokotronis; irishtenor; blue-duncan; Mad Dawg; HarleyD; stfassisi; Dr. Eckleburg
The Bible does say that he prayed to the Father, but how much of that is a fact? For instance, on the night of His betrayal, He is quoted as asking the Father if He could take away the bitter cup...but it also says that all the Apostles were asleep and that Jesus was by Himself. So, how do they know what He did? Who witnessed it?

God witnessed it and caused the authors of the Bible to write down what actually happened. But you are right that if the Bible was simply written by men doing the best they could, then many many things would have to be thrown out. Since I don't throw anything out in the Bible, I can't believe it happened that way. "God-breathed" actually means something important.

Being fully human, it only makes sense that He would pray to the triune God and not only to the Father.

Just as BD said, we pray as the Bible tells us to pray in form. Are we wrong for following the scriptures? Do you all pray to individual members of the Trinity separately? As in, "Jesus, this is just for you but not for the Spirit"? If so, why? When I pray "Dear Heavenly Father" I am really addressing the full Trinity, the one true God. How is this explained? They are all ONE.

5,653 posted on 05/18/2008 8:11:23 PM PDT by Forest Keeper (It is a joy to me to know that God had my number, before He created numbers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5585 | View Replies ]


To: Forest Keeper; Kolokotronis; irishtenor; blue-duncan; Mad Dawg; HarleyD; stfassisi; ...
"God-breathed" actually means something important.

Yes, "animated by God," brought to life by God.

Do you all pray to individual members of the Trinity separately?

Sometimes. For instance the very important hesychastic Jesus Prayer (not practiced in the West) says "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner."

Another would be this liturgical prayer

or this one

Usually it's a prayer to God and the Three Hypostases, such as

Or, more commonly

As in, "Jesus, this is just for you but not for the Spirit"?

No, it shouldn't really matter because a prayer to one is a prayer to the same God. But in some instances, in the context of the economy of our salvation, it is proper to address one Hypostasis in particular (such as the Holy Spirit who accomplishes the sacraments).

5,655 posted on 05/18/2008 9:48:16 PM PDT by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5653 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson