Changes

:Petitions to the governing authorities of a nation or people were usually introduced with the phrase, "''we pray you to'' [ do this or that ] ". [[Attorney]]s for the prosecution and the defense even today frequently address the court (the bar), in words spoken or written, with the word "pray": for example, "''Your Honor, the defense prays the court to ...''". Formal petitions by governors to the king or queen anciently addressed that sovereign lord or lady first with a preamble acknowledgement of their authority, followed by the words: "''The people pray Your Majesty'' [ to do this or that ''or'' to cause to cease this or that ] ''for the benefit of the realm''".  

:Petitions to the governing authorities of a nation or people were usually introduced with the phrase, "''we pray you to'' [ do this or that ] ". [[Attorney]]s for the prosecution and the defense even today frequently address the court (the bar), in words spoken or written, with the word "pray": for example, "''Your Honor, the defense prays the court to ...''". Formal petitions by governors to the king or queen anciently addressed that sovereign lord or lady first with a preamble acknowledgement of their authority, followed by the words: "''The people pray Your Majesty'' [ to do this or that ''or'' to cause to cease this or that ] ''for the benefit of the realm''".  

:In ordinary society individuals often begged other individuals for a favor or benefit by praying them to consider some factor in their favor or some distress that needs to be addressed; for example a mother praying her husband, the father of their daughter or son, to forgive what the son or daughter has done. Those who were not members of the court of the emperor or sovereign, nor members of the legislative body of the nation, but who wished to appeal for some relief or benefit for themselves or on behalf of another, normally petitioned a member of the court in favor with the ruler or governing council to favorably represent them and to personally present the petition or prayer on their behalf for due consideration, and request the sovereign or ruling body to render a favorable decision. This is the proper form. (See [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+4%3A6-8&version=RSVCE Esther 4:6-8]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+2%3A24-25&version=RSVCE Daniel 2:24-25]; [http://biblehub.com/multi/Romans/13-7.htm  Romans 13:7]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A17&version=RSVCE Hebrews 13:17]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A16-18&version=RSVCE James 5:16]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A13-17&version=RSVCE 1 Peter 2:13-17]; [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jude/1-8.htm Jude 8].) An individual with no official standing in the administration of the nation who entered and approached to represent himself or herself as having a legitimate petition would be held in contempt as [[Presumption|presumptuous and bold]], as having no respect for the authority of the court by going over their heads. In the military they would be guilty of circumventing the "appropriate chain of command". In none of these instances is divine worship meant by a prayer of petition to authority.  

:In ordinary society individuals often begged other individuals for a favor or benefit by praying them to consider some factor in their favor or some distress that needs to be addressed; for example a mother praying her husband, the father of their daughter or son, to forgive what the son or daughter has done. Those who were not members of the court of the emperor or sovereign, nor members of the legislative body of the nation, but who wished to appeal for some relief or benefit for themselves or on behalf of another, normally petitioned a member of the court in favor with the ruler or governing council to favorably represent them and to personally present the petition or prayer on their behalf for due consideration, and request the sovereign or ruling body to render a favorable decision. This is the proper form. (See [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther+4%3A6-8&version=RSVCE Esther 4:6-8]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+2%3A24-25&version=RSVCE Daniel 2:24-25]; [http://biblehub.com/multi/romans/13-7.htm  Romans 13:7]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A17&version=RSVCE Hebrews 13:17]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A16-18&version=RSVCE James 5:16]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A13-17&version=RSVCE 1 Peter 2:13-17]; [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jude/1-8.htm Jude 8].) An individual with no official standing in the administration of the nation who entered and approached to represent himself or herself as having a legitimate petition would be held in contempt as [[Presumption|presumptuous and bold]], as having no respect for the authority of the court by going over their heads. In the military they would be guilty of circumventing the "appropriate chain of command". In none of these instances is divine worship meant by a prayer of petition to authority.  

:When the word prayer is narrowly defined and understood to mean '''''only''''' speaking to God, then its fuller meaning has been stripped away and its language has been abused and violated. Most often this occurs unconsciously, because of how the word is normally used in [[American]] culture. Many are surprised to discover its broader legitimate meaning as found in authoritative dictionaries of the English language.  

:When the word prayer is narrowly defined and understood to mean '''''only''''' speaking to God, then its fuller meaning has been stripped away and its language has been abused and violated. Most often this occurs unconsciously, because of how the word is normally used in [[American]] culture. Many are surprised to discover its broader legitimate meaning as found in authoritative dictionaries of the English language.  

:See the [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_peter/1-15.htm Interlinear Bible link]. <br>Compare multiple versions of [http://biblehub.com/multi/2_peter/1-15.htm 2 Peter 1:15] and multiple [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_peter/1-15.htm commentaries].<br>The Greek grammar favors the first reading, which supports the interpretation that Peter's stated intention is to assist them from heaven even after he dies. This is also the Orthodox and Catholic doctrine. The words ΔῈ ΚΑΊ following on ΣΠΟΥΔΆΣΩ seem to imply that the author would do something else besides the ὙΠΟΜΙΜΝΉΣΚΕΙΝ, whereby his readers after his death would be put in a position to remember what he now writes to them and all he taught. (Compare Jesus' words in [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A25-26&version=RSVCE John 14:25-26].)<br>Other interpreters see some ambiguous evidence of possible grammatical latitude in the Greek structure of the sentence which allows the second reading. Such a reading by not referring to what Peter will do "''after my departure''" supports the Protestant doctrine that denies the traditional Catholic and Orthodox teaching about the intercession of the saints. The doctrine of the active intercessory ministry of the saints in heaven is dismissed by [[Evangelical Christianity|Evangelical]] theology as being a corrupt compromise with [[Superstition|superstitious]] [[Paganism|pagan]] [[polytheism]], and a [[blasphemy|blasphemous denial]] of the [[mediation]] of the One Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_timothy/2-5.htm 1 Timothy 2:5].  

:See the [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_peter/1-15.htm Interlinear Bible link]. <br>Compare multiple versions of [http://biblehub.com/multi/2_peter/1-15.htm 2 Peter 1:15] and multiple [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_peter/1-15.htm commentaries].<br>The Greek grammar favors the first reading, which supports the interpretation that Peter's stated intention is to assist them from heaven even after he dies. This is also the Orthodox and Catholic doctrine. The words ΔῈ ΚΑΊ following on ΣΠΟΥΔΆΣΩ seem to imply that the author would do something else besides the ὙΠΟΜΙΜΝΉΣΚΕΙΝ, whereby his readers after his death would be put in a position to remember what he now writes to them and all he taught. (Compare Jesus' words in [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A25-26&version=RSVCE John 14:25-26].)<br>Other interpreters see some ambiguous evidence of possible grammatical latitude in the Greek structure of the sentence which allows the second reading. Such a reading by not referring to what Peter will do "''after my departure''" supports the Protestant doctrine that denies the traditional Catholic and Orthodox teaching about the intercession of the saints. The doctrine of the active intercessory ministry of the saints in heaven is dismissed by [[Evangelical Christianity|Evangelical]] theology as being a corrupt compromise with [[Superstition|superstitious]] [[Paganism|pagan]] [[polytheism]], and a [[blasphemy|blasphemous denial]] of the [[mediation]] of the One Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_timothy/2-5.htm 1 Timothy 2:5].  

[[Category:Legal Terms]]

[[Category:Legal Terms]]