Posted on 12/14/2017 7:43:06 AM PST by Salvation
Pope Francis recently made news by indicating a preference for translating the phrase “lead us not into temptation” as “do not let us fall into temptation.” He did not say that the English rendering should be changed, only that He was supportive of a recent similar change made to the French translation. I have written on that issue here, but in this post I would like to explore another difficult element in the Our Father.
Within the Lord’s prayer is a mysterious word about which scholars (Greek and biblical) disagree. They don’t seem to have a common understanding of its precise meaning. Most Christians who do not read Greek are unaware of the difficulties and debate surrounding the word; they simply accept the most common English translation of the Our Father as undisputed.
The mysterious word occurs as part of a phrase in the middle of the Lord’s prayer: τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον (ton arton hēmōn ton epiousion). This phrase is typically rendered “give us this day our daily bread.”
The problematic word is epiousion. The difficulty is that it seems to exist nowhere else in ancient Greek; no one really knows what it means. Even the Greek Fathers, whose mother tongue was Greek, were unaware of its exact meaning. It occurs nowhere else in the Bible (with the exception of the parallel passage in Luke’s version of the Our Father (Luke 11:3)). It appears nowhere in wider Greek literature, Christian or Pagan. The early Church writer Origen, a most learned and well-read man, thought that Matthew and Luke or the early Church had “made up” or coined the term.
So, frankly, we are at a loss as to the exact, original meaning of this word! It’s actually pretty embarrassing when you think about it. Right there in the most memorable text of Christendom is a word whose meaning seems quite uncertain.
To be sure, over the centuries there have been many hypotheses as to its meaning.
Having a Greek word that is used nowhere else and having no agreement from the Fathers as to its meaning, we are surely left at a loss. It seems clear that we have something of a mystery.
Reverencing the Mystery – Perhaps the Lord intended that we should ponder this text and see multiple meanings. Surely it is right that we should pray for our worldly food. Likewise, we should pray for all that is needed for subsistence, whether just for today or for tomorrow as well. And surely we should ask for the Bread of Life, the Holy Eucharist, which is the necessary Bread that draws us to eternal life, and which (Who) is over and above all earthly substances.
So there it is, the mysterious word in the middle of the Our Father. My own preference is to see that “epiousion” (supersubstantial) as a reference to the Eucharist. Jesus, who “super-abounds” in all we could ask or want, said this: “I am the Bread of life.” In his Eucharistic presence, He is surely our Bread which “super-abounds.”
Most modern translations have settled on the word “daily.” For the record, the Latin Liturgy also uses the word daily (quotidianum). No one word can fully capture what is said here. The Lord has left us a mystery to ponder. I know that many of you who read my posts are learned in Greek, Latin, the Fathers, and scripture scholarship; I am most interested in your thoughts. This article has not covered every possible facet of the argument. I leave that you, all who wish to comment.
Monsignor Pope Ping!
Was the Lord’s Prayer originally penned in Greek?
I thought the New Testament was authored in Aramaic...?
The Lord’s Prayer is a brief digest of the Hebrew Amidah, which presumably was delivered by Jesus in Aramaic.
I’d look for any translation there first.
Also note, it is not specifically Christian.
Have you ever considered the “Lords Prayer” is really the
Shema prayer? it is.
“Also note, it is not specifically Christian.”
Our Father. Christians most often use such a term. Some other religions almost never use it. The relationship with the Father through the Son is a distinguishing characteristic of Christianity: https://books.google.com/books?id=IcUTror8d20C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
I thought the New Testament was authored in Aramaic...?
Although our Lord spoke Aramaic, the New Testament itself was written in Greek. There is an argument that Matthew was originally written in Aramaic/Hebrew and latter translated into Greek but we do not have any copies of a possible Aramaic/Hebrew original. The Aramaic versions of the Gospels are actually back translations from the Greek.
I have always been leery of the phrase “who art” or “which art” in heaven.
It’s excessive and wordy. And what’s with “art?” Who says “art” any more?
I usually say “Our Father in heaven ...”
Bothers my wife a bit.
Please post the text of the two prayers, so that we may compare them.
“Have you ever considered the “Lords Prayer” is really the
Shema prayer? it is.”
In some ways it is - but the Our Father is directed to “Our Father”. That is a concept completely missing from the Shema. Also, the fact that it was the Son who was teaching it showed the idea that we would be brothers with the God-man. Such a concept is completely missing from the Shema.
They spoke Aramaic, the common street language of the area, but the Gospels were written in Greek, Luke and Mark’s native tongue, many years later...............
Of course, this false pope would make a big deal out it.
Covfefe.
Zot & Xzins,
I think both of you might be interested in Msgr’s column today on the phrase “lead us not into temptation” in the Lord’s Prayer is translated from the Greek. I think it very good and also food for thought.
Marantha,
Grey Friar
Greatly edifying.
Perhaps - but it was given to us by Christ - the basis of Christianity.....
Thanks for the ping. Yes, this is very good and also food for thought.
Likewise, “forgive us our debts” and “forgive us our trespasses.”
Maranatha,
zot
But I may be wrong. I often am.
Got a link?
Pater noster, qui es in caelis...
...qui es...who art...
“Our Father in heaven...” suggests that we are addressing one of our fathers—the one in heaven as opposed to some other father.
>>The Aramaic versions of the Gospels are actually back translations from the Greek.<<
Now THAT is interesting. All the time I spent on Aramaic (Ok, well not that much) just to get authenticity and I should have been studying Greek.
Thanks for that info!
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