Zora

Where in the Bible does it tell Christians to pray everywhere? I have read the passage where Jesus tells Christians to pray "in a closet" and not be like the hipocrates praying on the streetcorners to be "seen of men." And, where does it say you can pray for everything (like finding your car keys) when the same passage tells Christians to pray using the Lord's prayer, since God already knows what you need.

I am planning a few letters to editors, and would like the Biblical reference for praying in public, if one exists, before I stick my foot in anything. I confess, I just can't wade through that book to find it on my own. Thanks.

andrewcriddle

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ' pray constantly'

Philippians 4:6 'Have no anxiety about anything but in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.'

Andrew Criddle

offa

That verse is about "reverse psycology". What Jesus is telling his followers is to go out and evangelize. The gospels are written in such a way that they confuse believers with a message to the insiders. Anybody that buys the story have been baited.

"my message is to Zora's original post and not to Criddle (who, apparently has been baited". no offense intended

Toto

Jesus is never portrayed as praying in public, unless you count the Lord's Prayer, which was actually instruction in how to pray. He always withdrew to a private place to pray.

Christians have no justification for public prayer that I know of.

Killer Mike

Thats just it! Christians have been praying against their own religion. Jesus himself even stated that one should pray in secret and not be like hypocrites praying in public so as to be seen by men. Every Sunday they offend their own god and jesus (if in fact they were real) with church prayers, prayers before football games, etc..

Hallandale

Compare these Scriptures.......
James 5:16
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Romans 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Hallandale

Chris Weimer

nice error, Hallandale. Have you thought about submitting it to ErrancyWiki?

anthony93

Well, James (called the Just, I believe)

12. The disciples said to Jesus, `We know that you are going to leave us. Who will be our leader?`
Jesus said to them, `No matter where you are you are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being.` (Gosp Thos.)

and Paul obviously had different perspectives. Or something.

My question is, who or what is Paul quoting here? I did a search and can't find any quote that matches or comes close to that. I have ASV and KJV on my computer and the verse from Romans is exactly as above in both.

andrewcriddle

Paul is quoting Psalm 14:1 in the Greek Septuagint form (13:1 in The Septuagint numbering of the Psalms) '.....there is none that does goodness there is not even so much as one.'

Andrew Criddle

darstec

Paul is not quoting Psalm 13:1. Why would he make something positive (as in positive assertion) that is a negative (as in this is not true) in that verse, after all it says "a fool in his heart has said..."? Paul contradicts not only that verse but approximately 40 other verses in scripture, Old Testament and New that say the exact opposite.

And it only appears to be a quote in English. In Psalms the Greek word used is "chrestotes" and in Romans "dikaios". In the Septuagint the word is related to dedicated, anointed to god things (as in Messiah). I don't think Paul's word is related. But he certainly isn't quoting that phrase.

Compare Paul's: οτι ουκ εστιν δικαιος ουδε εις
to Psalms: ουκ εστιν ποιων χÏ?ηστοτητα ουκ εστιν εως ενος
a paraphrase at best.

It is unwise to think everything that is supposed to be quoted is actually part of scripture. Those authors certainly used contemporary sources other than just scripture. I think the source of that quote lies in some other philosophical work. It might take time to track down, if that source has not been lost to us. Perhaps the direction might point to Gnostic literature?