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Pondering the Mysterious Word in the Lord’s Prayer No One Can Agree how to Translate
Archdiocese of Washington ^ | June 20, 2013 | Msgr. Charles Pope

Posted on 06/21/2013 2:44:12 PM PDT by NYer

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To: DManA; katana
We visited Sweden in the seventies and he was able to converse fairly well but all the Swedes just broke up listening to him because he was speaking, to their ears, an antique version of their langage.

Language evolves over the course of time, with the exception of "dead" languages. For example, the Lebanese speak "lebanese" at home but learn Arabic which is the official language of their country. It's quite fascinating. When two individuals converse in "lebanese" they interject English or French words for the ones, like "ticket" or "computer" that do not exist. I encountered a similar situation while working for Air France. All correspondence exchanged with HQ had to be written in French. As automation evolved rapidly in the US, with no word for "tape drive", etc. we would insert the English word. It did not take long before the government agency that controls language, issued a document with the new French translations. "Tape drive" became "bande magnetique". One of my French coworkers visited Canada and explained that the "french" spoken at home, is what was spoken in France in the 16th century.

Latin, Koine Greek, Aramaic and many other languages are defunct. There are still a few villages in the Middle East where Aramaic is still spoken but ... other words must be substituted for those that are missing.

41 posted on 06/21/2013 6:05:29 PM PDT by NYer ( "Run from places of sin as from the plague."--St John Climacus)
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To: dangus
Aramaic is not the dead language people suppose. It persists today, among Syrian and Lebanese Christians

See my post #41.

42 posted on 06/21/2013 6:07:01 PM PDT by NYer ( "Run from places of sin as from the plague."--St John Climacus)
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To: vladimir998
4) Jerusalem was in the South. Aramaic might have been more common in the North where Jesus and the Apostles were from.

So if I understand you correctly, you are saying that Jesus spoke with a Drawl. So He actually said "Give us this day our daily bread Y'all."

43 posted on 06/21/2013 6:13:49 PM PDT by verga (A nation divided by Zero!)
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To: Stingray

Look at this in the context of the manna in the wilderness. The Hebrews were commanded to collect only enough for that day, except, prior to the Sabbath, they were to collect two days worth. Exodus 16:1-30


44 posted on 06/21/2013 6:17:13 PM PDT by BwanaNdege ("To learn who rules over you simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize"- Voltaire)
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To: NYer

More than a few villages... about 2.5 million people.


45 posted on 06/21/2013 6:55:57 PM PDT by dangus (Poverty cannot be eradicated as long as the poor remain dependent on the state - Pope Francis)
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To: verga

“So if I understand you correctly, you are saying that Jesus spoke with a Drawl. So He actually said “Give us this day our daily bread Y’all.””

I don’t know if He had a drawl, but He and the Apostles had a recognizable accent: Matthew 26:73


46 posted on 06/21/2013 7:00:43 PM PDT by vladimir998
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To: NYer
Here's an extended quote from Origen:

Seeing that some suppose that it is meant that we should pray for material bread, their erroneous opinion deserves to be done away with and the truth about the needful bread set forth, in the following manner. We may put the question to them—how can it be that He, who says that heavenly and great things ought to be asked for as if, on their view, He has forgotten His teaching now enjoins the offering of intercession to the Father for an earthly and little thing, since neither is the bread which is assimilated into our flesh a heavenly thing nor is it asking a great thing to request it?

For my part I shall follow the Teacher's own teaching as to the bread and cite the passages in detail. To men who have come to Capernaum to seek Him He says, in the Gospel according to John, Verily, verily, I tell you you seek me not because you saw signs but because you ate of the loaves of bread and were filled . . . for he that has eaten and been filled with the loaves of bread which have been blessed by Jesus seeks the more to grasp the Son of God more closely and hastens toward Him.

Wherefore He will enjoin: Work not for the food that perishes but for the food that abides unto life eternal which the Son of Man shall give you. And when, upon that, they who had heard inquired and said: What are we to do that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered and said to them: This is the work of God that you believe on him whom He has sent. As it is written in Psalms, God sent His Word and healed them, that is the diseased, and believers in that Word work the works of God which are food that abides unto life eternal.

And my Father, He says, gives you the true bread from heaven, for the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. It is true bread that nourishes the true man who is made in God's image, and he that has been nourished by it also becomes in the Creator's likeness. What is more nourishing to the soul than Word, or what more precious to the mind of him that is capable of receiving it than the Wisdom of God? What is more congenial to the rational nature than Truth? Should it be urged in objection to this view that He would not in that case teach men to ask for needful bread as if something other than Himself, it is to be noted that He also discourses in the Gospel according to John sometimes as if it were other than Himself but at other times as if He is Himself the Bread. The former in the sense of the words: Moses hath given you the bread from heaven yet not the true bread, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. In the latter sense, to those who had said to Him Ever give us this bread, He says: I am the bread of life: he that comes unto me shall not hunger, and he that believes on me shall not thirst; and shortly after: I am the living bread that is come down from heaven: if anyone eat of this bread he shall live unto eternity: yea and the bread which I shall give is my flesh which I shall give for the sake of the life of the world.

Now since all manner of nourishment is spoken of as bread according to Scripture as is clear from the fact that it is recorded of Moses that he ate not bread and drank not water forty days, and since the nourishing Word is manifold and various, not all being capable of nourishment by the solidity and strength of the divine teachings, He is therefore pleased to offer strenuous nourishment befitting men more perfect, where He says:

The bread which I shall give is my flesh which I shall give for the sake of the life of the world: and shortly after: Except you eat the flesh of the son of Man and drinks His blood, you have not life in yourselves. He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood hath life eternal, and I will raise him up in the last day. for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him.As the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so also he that eats me—he too shall live because of me. This is the true food, Christ's flesh, which being Word has become flesh, as it is said And the Word became flesh. When we eat and drink the Word He tabernacles in us.

(Origen, On Prayer)


47 posted on 06/21/2013 7:09:58 PM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: NYer

Get n answer?


48 posted on 06/21/2013 10:14:40 PM PDT by RobbyS
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To: BwanaNdege

Look at this in the context of the manna in the wilderness. The Hebrews were commanded to collect only enough for that day, except, prior to the Sabbath, they were to collect two days worth. Exodus 16:1-30


Interestingly enough the word ‘manna’ in Hebrew means “what is it.” Perhaps there is a connection.


49 posted on 06/21/2013 10:19:53 PM PDT by Idaho_Cowboy (Ride for the Brand. Joshua 24:15)
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To: All
Pondering the Mysterious Word in the Lord’s Prayer No One Can Agree how to Translate
Pope at Mass: How to pray the Our Father
Catholic Word of the Day: PATER NOSTER, 09-20-12
Following the Truth: Don’t Take The Our Father So Personally! [Catholic and Open]
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Introduction to the Perfect Prayer (Our Father...) [Catholic Caucus]
The Hidden and Mysterious Word in the Lord’s Prayer
The Our Father: More than Words, it is a Structure for the Spiritual life

Why the Our Father is a Pro-Life Prayer, Part 3
Why the Our Father is a Pro-life Prayer, Part 2
Why the Our Father is a Pro-life Prayer, Part 1
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith. Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray, The Lord’s Prayer
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray, The Invocation: Our Father, Who Art in Heaven”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray; First Petition: “Hallowed Be Thy Name”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four: Lord,Teach Us To Pray, Second Petition: “Thy Kingdom Come”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray, Third Petition: “Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven"
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray, Fourth Petition: “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four:Lord, Teach Us To Pray, Fifth Petition: “Forgive Us Our Trespasses As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us”

The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray, Sixth Petition: “Lead Us Not into Temptation"
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray, Seventh Petition: “Deliver Us from Evil. Amen”
Our Father and Hail Mary, sung in Syriac-Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ
Our Father
Lord, Teach Us To Pray: The Lord’s Prayer [Ecumenical]
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The deity that won't stay dead
THY WILL BE DONE(Catholic/Orthodox Caucus meditaion St Peter Julian Eymard)
My Will v. Thy Will Be Done
The Our Father in the Catechesis of Teens

The Lord's Prayer
Lead Us Not into Temptation . . .
Our Father - In Heaven (Dr. Scott Hahn)
Praying in Jesus' Own Language
The Mass Explained
The 'Our Father': Appropriate gestures for prayer
The “Our Father” of “La Civiltà Cattolica” - (comparison to Muslim version)
Our Father
HOLDING HANDS AT THE OUR FATHER?
Our Father ... in Heaven

50 posted on 06/21/2013 10:22:24 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: NYer
Can a non-Catholic offer an opinion? ... Here goes:

we humans have something no other life on earth ahs, a spirit. For that spirit to be alive we must have spirit life in our human spirit. But God has shown us that oonly by the cleansing of the Mercy Seat can our human spirit have THE Life in our human spirit. That Life is 'epiousion' dependent, and only through The Bread Of Life, Jesus, can we have that supersubstrantial life influx, by faithing in our daily walk, relying upon His life in us, the hope of Glory. [Like an Andy Rooney aside, I like using 'faith' as an action word, 'to faithe'. Now, if we can just get it straighten what the 'being born of water and of the Spirit' means ...]

51 posted on 06/21/2013 10:29:11 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Being deceived can be cured.)
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To: knarf
Drink Your Ovaltine

That's gold, knarf. Gold! Can I use that?

52 posted on 06/21/2013 10:33:12 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: NYer; a fool in paradise

53 posted on 06/21/2013 10:35:28 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: yarddog

I thought so too for 46 years until now because it never made sense in context because all other parts of the prayer are spiritual. So, I would think that being the first prayer request after praising God for who He is, and acknowledging or submitting to His will (I tend to read literally)...

“Now epi means over, above, beyond, in addition to, or some similar superlative. Ousious refers to the substance of something. Hence, to put these words together we have something amounting to supersubstantial, or super-essential.”

How about, as the things of God are higher than ours, and we should pray continuously, meditate on Him throughout the day, instead of physical life essentials, we ask for our spiritual life essentials. We can’t ask for things from God, according to James, unless conditions are met first, so we then ask for forgiveness, and the following parts of the prayer.

I finally feel at peace with this. I always felt uneasy or conflicted or just, the hair stood up on the back of my neck, when saying the prayer and asking for bread when I know He promises to take care of our needs if we follow His will.


54 posted on 06/21/2013 11:24:33 PM PDT by huldah1776
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To: NYer
I'm obliged to accept the Catechism's umbrella approach, but intuitively I want to go with St. John Chrysostom. To my ear, the emphasis on, "this day," and "daily bread," registers as both a literal and metaphoric supplication to be blessed with what we need, no more, no less.

I've often observed that when people are overwhelmed with pain and suffering, they find it very easy to fall to their knees and beg God not to give them any more than they can handle. Yet, during fat, happy and prosperous times, precious few people turn to God with the same prayer, even though, unbridled wealth and success are potentially greater dangers to the soul.

If one thinks of food as fuel, it also takes on the character of a commitment on the part of the supplicant. If I plan on expending a lot of physical, emotional and spiritual energy, (i.e. doing good works) I will need additional sustenance and nourishment; if I plan on sitting idle, I will need far less. Again, we ask for what is needed for us to accomplish what we must; no more, no less.

55 posted on 06/21/2013 11:54:25 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
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To: NYer
I think Saint Jerome was correct.

ἐπιούσιον = supersubstantial = Holy Eucharist

56 posted on 06/22/2013 1:38:38 AM PDT by Dajjal (Justice Robert Jackson was wrong -- the Constitution IS a suicide pact.)
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To: bunkerhill7
The Souter`s 1916 translates it as: "from ἡ ἐπιούσἄ [ἡμἐρἄ], 'belonging to the morrow' Webster 1887: "morrow [ME, morwe,morwen, fr. AS, morgen] 1. Archaic. Morning " ERGO, belonging to the morning [?] breakfast? morning mass? dunno

hen He was among us, it was still part of the Old testament - maybe a reference to how God took care of those wandering the desert by sending manna each morning to take care of them? With references to how birds don't save up food, but God provides even for them, it may merely be a way to tell us to be grounded in today and keep focused on Him.

57 posted on 06/22/2013 3:43:59 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: RobbyS

Tomorrow ... I’ll pin him down after mass.


58 posted on 06/22/2013 4:11:56 AM PDT by NYer ( "Run from places of sin as from the plague."--St John Climacus)
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To: NYer

Insight....Wisdom ?


59 posted on 06/22/2013 4:52:33 AM PDT by kanawa (FB...Save George Zimmerman from racial onslaught)
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To: MHGinTN

Jesus is the bread of Life.

And while I don’t agree that it means eucharist as a non-Cathoic, I do think that it can easily mean to give us this day our daily infilling of Christ and give us our spiritual strength for the day.

Or it could be to give us our daily insight into God’s word, that God would reveal something new about Himself through His word every day. Give us this day a new revelation of Christ.


60 posted on 06/22/2013 5:20:32 AM PDT by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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