Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

PROSEUCHOMAI* - Part 17 - 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.

Today we conclude our study of the word προσεὺχομαι (Strong's #4336, pronounced prō'sūk-ō-mī**), which means "to pray." It is a word compounded from the preposition πρὸς (Strong's #4314, pronounced prōs**) meaning "to" or "toward," and the word εὔχομαι (Strong's #2172, pronounced ū' kō-mī**) meaning "to wish, to desire."

From the beginning of this study, we have seen that the simple combination of these two Greek words does not give a complete understanding of prayer; and it has been necessary to biblically define the kind of desires and heart-condition required of believers as they address God. To this end, we first looked at teachings from the disciples and then focused on the foundational teachings of Jesus, as found in Matthew 6:5-14. We are now in the process of studying seven principles of prayer, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13.

We found that the first three principles involve how we are to approach the Father; with an appreciation for who He is, asking for His name to be honored, desiring for His kingdom to come and for His will to be done "as in heaven also upon the earth."

The next three are distinguished from the previous group because they have to do with asking for our needs. These include; the need of daily bread, the forgiveness of our debts against God, and asking that God not permit us to be carried away by temptation when it comes.

In this final lesson on prayer, we are going to study the seventh prayer principle, as found in Matthew 6:13.

Matthew 6:9-13: The Principles of Prayer

9)

In this way therefore you pray (προσεὺχομαι); Our Father, the One in the heavens, sanctify Your name;

10)

Your kingdom come; Your will happen, as in heaven also upon the earth.

11)

Give to us today our daily bread;

12)

and forgive us our debts as we also are forgiving our debtors.

13)

And do not allow us to be led into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Because Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.^F1 Amen.

The seventh and last principal of prayer is embodied in the doxology, the acknowledgment that the believer is praying to the One who has the capability of answering prayer. In this, the petitioner is acknowledging three things: First, that this prayer (the one prayed according to the principles presented within this model) will be honored, because God's kingdom is in operation and everything is being done by God for His kingdom purposes. Second, that God has power. The Greek word used here is δὺναμις (Strong's #1411, pronounced dö' nä mǐs), from which the English word dynamite is derived. However, the Greek word denotes something that is more than just powerful; it comprehends ability and capacity as well. Therefore, the believer's prayer acknowledges that God has the ability to rule the purposes of His kingdom here on earth and the capacity to provide the necessities requested. Third, that the glory belongs to God, both now and forever. The Greek word translated "glory" is δὸξα (Strong's #1391, pronounced dō' xsä) and, like its Hebrew counterpart, denotes something of substance or quality, therefore defining someone or something honorable. The believer is to acknowledge that in everything God alone receives honor and glory. To ask for God's glory is to ask that the very substance and honor of God be revealed and magnified, not only in His response to prayer, but for all of eternity.

In Matthew 6:7-9, the Lord tells the disciples not to pray repetitiously, as non-believing religious people do; instead, they are to pray according to the principles He models for them. This provides the understanding that the prayer model given here in Matthew 6:9-13 is not given for verbatim repetition, as if it could be used to initiate some kind of spiritual magic, but is instead given as an expression of the principles of prayer—the means through which one can express submission to the Lord's kingdom and will, while trusting Him to provide the necessities for each day.

The doxology at the end of this prayer request acknowledges the Lord's kingdom, expresses the understanding that He has both the capability and power to provide for His people, and recognizes that everything is being done for His glory, both now and forever.

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

**English pronunciation guide for Greek words: āle, ăm, ärm; ēve, ĕnd; īce, ǐll; ōld, ǒdd, whö; ūse, ŭp

F1: This doxology is not found in many of the ancient manuscripts, but is in present in the Textus Receptus. It appears to have been brought over from the prayer of David found in 1 Chronicles 29:11. It is included in Jewish prayer, and is used by Protestants who pray this prayer. For these reasons, we have included it here and are studying it as an expression of a principle vital for the believer's life.

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