Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

PROSEUCHOMAI* - Part 3 - 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 continue our study of the word προσεὺχομαι (Strong's #4336, pronounced proseuchomai), which means "to pray." It 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."

In past articles we have seen that εὔχομαι is used in the New Testament to express a wish; and that this is its basic, root meaning. Examples of its use are found in the writings of both Paul (Romans 9:3; 2 Corinthians 13:7; 13:9) and John (3 John 1:2). Last week we looked specifically at 1 John 5:14-15, in order to understand how εὔχομαι is used in prayer to God. We learned that God's answer to prayer is only guaranteed if the believer's wish and desire is for the Lord's will to be done. This week we continue our focus on this aspect of prayer (the believer's proper wish and desire). Our text is James 1:1-4.

James 4:1-4

1)

Where do wars and fightings come from among you? Are they not from here, from out of your pleasures warring in your members?

James begins this section by asking his readers to consider the source of their contentions. He points out that the source is pleasure-seeking desires emanating from the members of their physical bodies. The Greek word translated "pleasures" is ἡδονὴ (Strong's #2237, pronounced haydonay), from which the English word "hedonism" comes.
2) You desire, and you do not have; you kill and are jealous, and you are not able to obtain; you fight and you war and you have not because you do not ask;

James says that they desire and do not have; they kill (meaning that they assassinate the character of others) and are jealous, but are still unable to obtain what they want. Then he says that they do not have because they do not ask. James is pointing out the difference between striving to satisfy one's own hedonistic desires and asking God for something in prayer.

3)

you ask, and you do not receive, because you ask wrongfully, in order that you might spend it in your pleasures.

James continues, saying that they even ask in prayer and still do not receive. The reason he gives for this is that they are asking with the wrong motive and desire—to feed and satisfy their hedonistic desires.

4)

You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is hostile against God? Whoever therefore should decide to be a friend of the world is being established as an enemy of God.

James calls those who pray with hedonistic motives and desires "adulterers and adulteresses," because they are committing spiritual adultery against God—in that anyone deciding to be a friend of the world is actually establishing himself as an enemy of God. This teaching is in accord with what Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, "No one is able to serve two lords; for either he will hate the one, and will love the other; or he will cleave to one, and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and mammon." The Greek word translated "you are not able" is δὺναμαι (Strong's #1410, pronounced dunamy) and means, "capacity." Jesus is saying that God made us with the capacity to serve only one lord or master. Therefore, we cannot serve Christ while striving for personal gain or the things of this world.

A person's reason, purpose, and goal comprise that person's motive for prayer; and motive determines whether the person is striving to satisfy hedonistic desires or is surrendered to Christ for His service. James specifically teaches that the underlying motive (the wish and desire) of a person's prayer determines whether or not it will be answered. If a person prays for the purpose of satisfying fleshly desires, that person will not receive what he wants from God. James calls this "asking wrongly." His teaching makes it clear that the only prayer answered is that which comes from a desire for the Lord's will to be done.
Next week we will continue this study, focusing on the wish and desire of the double-minded man. Our text will be James 1:5-8.

*PROSEUCHOMAI is the English font spelling of the Greek word προσεὺχομαι.

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