Public Prayer

[TMA_1]

right on the money nema.

[Navaros]

But your reply does not make sense, when the verses are that unambiguous and to-the-point.

sure it does make sense

did you go to public school?

did they teach you a word named CONTEXT, and the concept of TAKING WORDS OUT OF CONTEXT?

that is what you are doing, as i've explained.

then again, you do not know anything about the Bible so it only makes sense that you do not understand the context of anything Jesus has said

but that does not give the right to go around warping & twisting the words of Jesus which you clearly do not understand. you're only parading your own ignorance by doing so

all that applies to Nema Fakei too, and ACElethal, and everyone else who doesn't actually read the Bible yet still pretends to understand the messages of Jesus

[Acriku]

Anytime anyone quotes the bible, it is out of context. But in this case, is the meaning lost when it is taken out? All you've done is rabble on about how I shouldn't quote the bible and how I don't understand the message of Jesus, blah blah, but you have never sufficiently explained how mine is wrong, and your's is right. The only explanation you gave makes no sense, and of course it was your opinion of the interpretation. I don't see how you being a christian inherently makes your interpretation any better, or more accurate.

[nemafakei]

"and everyone else who doesn't actually read the Bible yet still pretends to understand the messages of Jesus"

Do you really think I have a Greek NT because it looks nice? Hardly! It is because I can read it in its original laguage, and so I can more easily understand the inferences that must and must not be drawn. Warping and twisting, as you put it, occurs once in translation; I am reading a less warped version than you. Moreover, I am giving you the simplest interpretation of the verses, WITHOUT any spin put onto it, whereas you seem to be saying that "you shall not be like the hypocrites, for they like to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets" means "There's nothing wrong with praying in public places". I can also read as well as you, (better, if you count greek) and can see that contextually, Acrkiku's quotation is valid.

[sneezer3]

Just to be clear, i don't believe the people that help write the Bible made any errors, I believe they were inspired, and there were no human errors between. Aside from that maybe bad handwriteing, Which they would have tore of the paper and started all over again.

Nav, its not worth it, it almost never is.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou(reffering to one person) when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Its doing nothing more then telling the people of there day, not to do like the hypocrites of there day. (Mostly Pharisees) that pray Just for Attention.

[Acriku]

Why else would you pray outside in the public area sneezer - to be seen of men?

Also, could you explain the latter part of the quote that tells you to pray in a closet, silently, and be rewarded by doing it, in the context of your explanation of the former part of the quote?

[sneezer3]

But thou, when thou prayest

"Thou" reffers to one person. So its saying when you pray. Do it alone.

It just got finished telling you how that hypocrites pray. What do you think it will tell you next? Not to pray for attention.

verse seven says "use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."

What do you think it is telling you to do? I believe not to pray just to attract a crowd. or in other words for attention. Just look at the context of verse 6. Its got 2 verses right beside it. Both basicly telling you not to attract a crowd.

[Acriku]

Haven't answered my first question...

"Thou" reffers to one person. So its saying when you pray. Do it alone.

Thou refers to the reader, the intended believer. And the impression that I got from it was that you shouldn't pray in public to be seen praying by others, that you should instead pray in a private room silently. Am I wrong?

[sneezer3]

Thou refers to the reader, the intended believer. And the impression that I got from it was that you shouldn't pray in public to be seen praying by others, that you should instead pray in a private room silently. Am I wrong?

Your right. as long as the intent is attention. it would..err

Before i get tongue-typein-twisted. Yeah your right. :)

[Acriku]

Ok, glad we got that covered. But, now let's discuss any other intentions of praying outside, outloud, other than 'being seen of men'. Any thoughts?

[nemafakei]

"as long as the intent is attention"

If that's what it means, the greek used to do it was pretty clumsy. As I say, there are really four words saying that this may have been the purpose of the hypocrites, and none to say that this is what the author is opposed to. The sense of it as a whole suggests that praying silently is what is called for, and is not specifically an attack on the intent.

Why do I get the feeling that I'm tho only one trying to back up my viewpoint on the text.

[Acriku]

I'm not very fluent, nay not at all fluent in greek, so I wouldn't have an educated opinion on it.