The bolded scriptural citation will take you to additional translations. The entire chapter is included to provide context.
Information about the meaning the original Greek of what seem to be key words is provided in blue.
Excerpts collected in yellow at the end of this post tell us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him.
Excerpts collected in green at the end of this post tell us about something God wants us to do.
C.S. Lewis’ take on the principle addressed in this reading is itself worth reading. Check out chapter 11 of Letters To Malcolm: Chiefly On Prayer, accessible here.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
“I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
Amen = ἀμήν = amēn Blue Letter Bible verily, surely, truly, of a truth; most assuredly; so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled; It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues into the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed had offered up a solemn prayer to God, the others in attendance responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon verily, of a truth, so be it
say = λέγω = legō Blue Letter Bible to say, to ask; commanding, or bidding; to call, to call by name; pronouncing, telling or relating; to gather, reckon, account; to tell; affirm over, maintain; to exhort, advise, to command, direct; to call by name, to call, name; to "lay" forth; to asseverate, affirm, aver, maintain; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon to say, speak; declare; to tell one to do; to speak to the point or purpose; to speak (emphatically)
ask = αἰτέω= aiteō Blue Letter Bible to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require; to ask for oneself, request for oneself; suggests the attitude of a suppliant, the petition of one who is lesser in position than he to whom the petition is made; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon beg; demand; claim; Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament submissive and suppliant, indeed the constant word for the seeking of the inferior from the superior
name = ὄνομα = onoma Blue Letter Bible all that a "name" implies, of authority, character, rank, majesty, power, excellence, etc.; of everything that the "name" covers; the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.
receive = λαμβάνω = lambanō. Blue Letter Bible to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it; to take up a thing to be carried; to take upon one's self; to take to one's self, lay hold upon, take possession of, i.e. to appropriate to one's self; catch at, reach after, strive to obtain; to receive a person, give him access to one's self; have, hold, obtain, receive; to take with one for future use; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Take hold of, grasp, seize; take by violence, carry off as prize or booty; possess; catch, find out, detect; apprehend by the senses; apprehend with the mind, understand; determine, estimate; take in hand, undertake; have given one, get, receive; receive hospitably; receive as produce, profit; take hold of, lay hold on; seize and keep hold of, obtain possession of
joy = χαρά = chara Blue Letter Bible Delight, gladness; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon delight
complete = πληρόω = plēroō Blue Letter Bible to fulfill, to complete, carry out to the full; complete; to make full, to fill to the full; to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally; to render full, i.e. to complete; to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim; to consummate, to make complete in every particular, to render perfect; to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking); to carry into effect, bring to realization, realize; to perform, execute; to fulfill; to cram; to fill, diffuse throughout one's soul; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon full of; fill full, gorge, satiate, glut; consecrate; make full or complete; fulfill
loves, loved = φιλέω = phileō Blue Letter Bible tender affection; cherishing the object above all else, of manifesting an affection characterized by constancy, from the motive of the highest veneration; to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend; to show signs of love; to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)); delight in, long for; to do with pleasure; a love founded in admiration, veneration, esteem; to be kindly disposed to one, wish one well; have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; is to be distinguished from agapao in that phileo more nearly represents tender affection while agapao is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon regard with affection; treat affectionately or kindly, esp. welcome; regard with affection those for whom they have a passion; like, approve
came = ἐξέρχομαι = exerchomai Blue Letter Bible to come forth from physically; to go out of an assembly, i.e. forsake it; to go or come forth of; depart; escape; get out; leave a place of their own accord; expelled or cast out; of those who come forth, or are let go, from confinement in which they have been kept; to go forth from one's power, escape from it in safety; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon go or come out of; withdraw from
come = ἔρχομαι = erchomai Blue Letter Bible denoting either "to come, or to go," signifies the act, in contrast with heko, which stresses the arrival; to come from one place to another; to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence; to come to a thing; to go; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon start, set out; come or go; to go a journey; any kind of motion
What this reading tells us about God’s nature/our relationship to Him:
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you
ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
I will tell you clearly about the Father
the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God
I came from the Father and have come into the world
What this reading tells us to do:
ask the Father in my name
ask
ask in my name
believe that I came from God
No comments:
Post a Comment