It’s Biblical to Ask Saints to Pray for Us

(This was originally shared here on AnsweringProtestants.com, as part of a longer post.)

There is nothing wrong with asking the heavenly saints to pray for us.

Many Protestants argue that asking the saints to pray for us is “unbiblical,” while throwing around verses like 1 Timothy 2:5. But they are incorrect.

1 Timothy 2:5 — the infamous “one mediator between God and men” verse — refers to salvation, not prayer. The verse reminds us that it is only because of the graces found through Christ (God Himself) that we are able to have any real relationship with God and reach Heaven. It does not, however, absolutely negate relations with angels or heavenly saints. After all, it was an angel (Gabriel) that spoke to Mary before Christ was conceived in her body, not God Himself.

I was raised in several Protestant denominations. They all placed a major emphasis on Christians praying for each other — which is encouraged in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 and other passages. I would contend that a saint, one who is holy and in Heaven with God, would have a lot more sway with God than a rebellious sinner on earth would.

To put that another way, if someone asked you to do something for them, would you not be more likely to help them if they were your best friend, as opposed to a complete stranger? Of course, you may very well be willing to do something for a complete stranger, but you would probably be more willing to do something for your best friend.

And there is evidence in the Bible of the saints praying to God.

“Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.” – Revelation 8:3-4

The word for “saints” in that passage comes from the Greek word hagios. Thayer’s New Testament Greek-English Lexicon says that the best definition of hagios is “most holy thing, a saint”. This would seem to undermine the Protestant assertion that “saints” in this context can only refer to people on earth.

Now, what would the saints be praying for? Themselves? Doubtful. They are in Heaven, so they do not need anything, as eternal life with God is perfect. That really only leaves one option: they are praying for us. And because they are praying for us anyway, how could it be wrong to ask them to pray for us about something specific? It is like interacting with a DJ at an event. He’s playing music anyway, so what is the harm in asking him to play your favorite song?

Here’s my Scripture-based defense of the practice that should answer most Protestant objections:

Matthew 17:3-4 & Luke 9:28-31.
Moses and Elijah (who are clearly heavenly saints, not “saints” in the way Paul would sometimes use the word) are with Christ during the Transfiguration.

Revelation 6:9-11.
The martyrs can talk to God.

From those three passages, we can gather that the saints in Heaven interact with God.

Luke 15:10.
The angels and saints (who, in Luke 20:35-36, Christ says are equal to the angels) are aware of earthly events.

1 Timothy 2:1 & James 5:16.
It is good for Christians to pray for one another.

Now, if the saints interact with God and are aware of earthly events (and can therefore hear us), why wouldn’t they pray for us, considering that it is good for Christians (which the angels and saints definitely are) to pray for one another?

Revelation 21:27.
Nothing imperfect will enter into Heaven.

Psalm 66:18 & James 5:16.
God ignores the prayers of the wicked, and the prayers of the righteous are effective.

Because the saints have reached perfection (they are in Heaven), their prayers are more effective than the prayers of those that are less righteous, so that’s why one might ask them to pray instead of asking another Christian on earth or simply doing it themselves.

How about this?:

I didn't make my main point very well in that last post.

What I was trying to say is that no verse in Scripture can be used to demonstrate the following doctrine, that "only doctrines found in Scripture can be valid."

The reason is that each book of the Bible (Biblia in greek; literally, "Books") was written separately. The collection of the Sacred Books, i.e., the canon of Scripture, or the Bible itself, was not determined until after the authors had set pen to vellum.

So no author of Sacred Scripture could have been referring to the collection of books, which we call the Bible, when they were writing, since the books of the Bible were not collected and defined until long after the authors' writings.

Regarding your specific points...

How about this?:

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. - Deu 4:2

This passage refers to the statutes and commandments given to Moses. If we were to take this in the sense that you mean, then we would have to reject any books of the Bible written after Deuteronomy.

Or this?

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. - Mark 7:7

We should reject "traditions of men." But two kinds of tradition are referred to in Scripture, traditions of men, and Apostolic Tradition. We must distinguish between the two.

"stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." (2 Thes 2:15)

"I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you" (1 Cor. 11:2)

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures. . . . Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed" (1 Cor. 15:3,11)

"He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me" (Luke 10:16)

"So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ" (Rom. 10:17) Ironically, the idea that Christian doctrines, not explicitly referred to in Scripture, cannot be valid, is a tradition of men. It is not found in Scripture.

Scripture and Tradition

But two kinds of tradition are referred to in Scripture, traditions of men, and Apostolic Tradition. We must distinguish between the two.

Now I will ask you the perennially unanswered by Catholics questions concerning *sacred tradition* or *Apostolic Tradition* or whatever you want to call it.

Maybe you know the answers....

Just what are those traditions Paul was referring to that he handed down that we are to keep that were not included in Scripture?

How do you know?

How do you know they’re from the apostles, Paul in particular?

How do you know they’ve been passed down faithfully?

What is your source for verifying all of the above?

Please provide the sources for verification purposes.

Thank you for sharing your insights and the link, dear brother in Christ!

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. - Deu 4:2

This passage refers to the statutes and commandments given to Moses. If we were to take this in the sense that you mean, then we would have to reject any books of the Bible written after Deuteronomy.

To the contrary, Jesus Christ IS the Lord our God and therefore His words while enfleshed, before becoming enfleshed and after His resurrection are all covered by the same command. Indeed, He authenticated the existing Scriptures (Torah, Prophets and Writings) repeatedly by saying "it is written" or quoting His own, which is to say God inspired, words:

He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? - Matt 22:43-44

The operative phrase for own discussion here is "in spirit" (which is translated in the NIV and Young's Literal as Spirit.

God spoke to us through the Prophets and Writings, Gospels and Epistles as well.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; - Hebrews 1:1-2

And again,

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: - 2 Ti 3:16

Paul underscores the important difference between the words of men and the words of God in certifying that the Gospel he preached was from Jesus Christ, not mere mortals:

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. – Galatians 1:11-19

Truly, it is not about books or manuscripts. It is about the words of God, which His own sheep hear and follow. We know the difference. That's a promise.

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. – John 10:4-5

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: - John 10:27

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. - I Cor 2:15

And again,

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. - I John 2:27

And again,

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. - Matt 22:29

If this were not so, mere mortal men could thwart the will of God by misrepresenting their own words as His words. And such people may fool many, but God's own children cannot be deceived.

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. - Matt 24:24

Truly, no one can thwart the will of God.

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. - Matt 3:9

To God be the glory, not man, never man.

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