the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Language Studies
Greek Thoughts
PROSEUCHOMAI* - Part 1 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
To pray
Please note that all Biblical quotes, in this and all other lessons posted to Greek Thoughts, are from The Literal English Translation of the Bible produced by BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America.
This week we begin a study of the word προσεὺχομαι (Strong's #4336, pronounced proseuchomai), which means, "to pray." Προσεὺχομαι is a word compounded from the preposition πρὸς (Strong's #4314, pronounced pros) meaning "to" or "toward," and the word εὔχομαι (Strong's #2172, pronounced euchomai) meaning "to wish, to desire, and to pray." Εὔχομαι is used in the New Testament to express a wish, which is its basic, root meaning. Paul said, concerning his fellow Israelites, "I myself was wishing (εὔχομαι) to be cursed from Christ on behalf of my brothers, my fellow countrymen according to flesh" (Romans 9:3). Here Paul is expressing his continual wish: that he would be cursed (separated) from Christ (if possible), so that his countrymen according to flesh would be saved. In 2 Corinthians 13:7, he says, to the brotherhood in Corinth, "But I wish (εὔχομαι) to God that you would doF1 not any evil. Not in order that we might appear approved, but in order that you might do the good, and we might be as reprobates." He goes on to say, in verse 9, "For we rejoice whenever we might be weak and you might be powerful. But we wish (εὔξομαι) for this also, your mending."
In one of the more familiar, and often misunderstood, biblical passages dealing with prayer, John expresses his desire that Gaius might prosper in all that he does (3 John 1:2): "Beloved, concerning all things I wish (εὔχομαι) that you would prosperF2 and would be in healthF3 according as your soul is prospering." This prayer request of John's is not presented as a promise, but is rather a prayer expressing John's wish or desire as seen through the use of εὔχομαι. John wishes that Gaius, "would prosper and would be in health." The word for prosper" is εὐοδὸω (Strong's #2137, pronounced euodoo) meaning "to have a good journey." This Greek word does not represent wishing for material or financial prosperity. It is used here to express the wish that the physical circumstances of Gaius might go well.
The second part of John's expressed desire is that Gaius be in good health. As is indicated in this letter, Gaius is a beloved brother, who is a blessing to many visiting, itinerant preachers. He houses them, gives them provisions, and then sends each one of them on to their next destination. So John wishes that Gaius might have not only good traveling circumstances, but good health as well; presumably so that his ministry is unhindered.
The end of John's wish, "according as your soul is prospering," has been taken by many in the Church today to mean that a believer's wealth and health are based on the prosperity of their soul. This particular teaching holds that prosperity, whether of wealth and/or health, is a barometer indicating the condition of a person's soul. In other words, a person's suffering, whether from financial and/or health problems, is an indicator of the poor condition of that person's soul. The teaching, however, expresses the opposite of what this Bible verse is actually saying; something easily understood when one realizes that the verse is made up of an inversion. Notice that the end of the verse literally says, "according as your soul is prospering." Gaius' soul is already prospering; so John is praying his wish for Gaius' circumstances and health to also prosper, so that he (Gaius) can continue to be a blessing to others.
When the preposition πρὸς (to or toward), is placed in front of εὔχομαι (to wish, to desire), it's meaning becomes "to pray." The preposition πρὸς indicates that a person's wish or desire is expressed to or toward someone, and in the New Testament that someone is God. Therefore, the fundamental essence of prayer, when a believer prays, is that he/she is expressing his/her wish or desire to God.
In the next few lessons, we will study how answered prayer is guaranteeddepending on what a person's expressed wish or desire is.
*PROSEUCHOMAI is the English font spelling of the Greek word προσεὺχομαι.
F1: The infinitive of result ποιῆσαι, "to do," is translated νὰ͂ποιῆτε, "that you should do."
F2: The infinitive of result εὐοδοῦσθαι, "to prosper," is translated νὰ͂εὐοδοῦσθαι, "that you should prosper."
F3: The infinitive of result ὑγιαὶνειν, "to be in health," is translated νὰ͂ὑγιαὶνης, "that you should be in health."
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.
