The Bible doesn't instruct to pray to Jesus

[Runningman]

What is an instruction? An instruction may be defined as a direction or an explanation to enable one to know what to do, or to do something. An instruction can be a command, a piece of advice, training, an explanation, or a procedure.

What is the only Biblical instruction on how to pray in the Bible?

Jesus instructed his disciples how to pray:

Matthew 6​

6But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.​

7And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.​

9So then, this is how you should pray:​

‘Our Father in heaven,​

hallowed be Your name.​

Aside from what is in Matthew 6:6,9 there are no other instructions on who to pray to in the Bible. The only instruction on prayer in the Bible is to the Father.

Can it be argued that Jesus was prayed to in the Bible? It's possible to argue that, but does it ever teach, instruct, or command Christians to pray to anyone other than the Father? No.

 

[Anchorite]

Aside from what is in Matthew 6:6,9 there are no other instructions on who to pray to in the Bible. The only instruction on prayer in the Bible is to the Father.

Can it be argued that Jesus was prayed to in the Bible? It's possible to argue that, but does it ever teach, instruct, or command Christians to pray to anyone other than the Father? No.

Acts 7:59

And they stoned Stephen as he called upon God and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”



Revelation 22:20

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

 

[Runningman]

Acts 7:59

And they stoned Stephen as he called upon God and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

If I may comment on this, the word "God" is missing from the Greek text of that verse. The version you provided is not accurate.

 

[marks]

If I may comment on this, the word "God" is missing from the Greek text of that verse. The version you provided is not accurate.

Why didn't you comment on the fact that Stephen was praying to Jesus?

Much love!

 

[Runningman]

Why didn't you comment on the fact that Stephen was praying to Jesus?

Much love!

There is not a word for prayer there. I believe we cannot collapse all forms of communication down into prayer and disregard the nuances. Even if this was a prayer, it still isn't an instruction, i.e., "This is how you should pray..."

 

[Anchorite]

There is not a word for prayer there. I believe we cannot collapse all forms of communication down into prayer and disregard the nuances. Even if this was a prayer, it still isn't an instruction, i.e., "This is how you should pray..."

Calling and calling upon is direct address and thus is prayer.

It is instruction in the form of example.

 

[Anchorite]

If I may comment on this, the word "God" is missing from the Greek text of that verse. The version you provided is not accurate.

Weymouth New Testament
So they stoned Stephen, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

New International Version
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

New Living Translation
As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

English Standard Version
And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Berean Standard Bible
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Berean Literal Bible
And as they were stoning Stephen, he was calling out and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

 

[Runningman]

Calling and calling upon is direct address and thus is prayer.

It is instruction in the form of example.

Directly addressing someone isn't how prayer is defined in the Bible though. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of instances in which others are called upon or directly addressed in the Bible so that doesn't really give the idea that Stephen "prayed" to Jesus. Where does the Bible ever instruct anyone to "Pray to Jesus?"

 

[marks]

There is not a word for prayer there. I believe we cannot collapse all forms of communication down into prayer and disregard the nuances. Even if this was a prayer, it still isn't an instruction, i.e., "This is how you should pray..."

No it wasn't an instruction, it was demonstration. Stephen prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. He addressed Jesus in heaven making petition of Him.

If that's not prayer . . . what is?

Much love!

 

[Anchorite]

Directly addressing someone isn't how prayer is defined in the Bible though. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of instances in which others are called upon or directly addressed in the Bible so that doesn't really give the idea that Stephen "prayed" to Jesus. Where does the Bible ever instruct anyone to "Pray to Jesus?"

You seem to think that praying is some formal ritualistic behavior, but actually prayer is simply talking to God.

Where in the Bible is prayer defined, as you understand it?

When the martyr Stephen called upon Jesus, if he wasn’t praying, what was he doing?

 

[marks]

You seem to think that praying is some formal ritualistic behavior, but actually prayer is simply talking to God.

Is Jesus God? I say yes.

Much love!

 

[Anchorite]

Directly addressing someone isn't how prayer is defined in the Bible though. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of instances in which others are called upon or directly addressed in the Bible so that doesn't really give the idea that Stephen "prayed" to Jesus. Where does the Bible ever instruct anyone to "Pray to Jesus?"

Jesus instructs us to come directly to Him.

John 14:13,14

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.



Paul also prayed to Jesus when he “besought the Lord” to remove his thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:8).

Why do we believe that the reference to “the Lord” here refers to Jesus instead of the Father?

In the Pauline epistles, the term “Lord” (kurios) usually signifies Jesus, while “God” usually denotes to the Father.

And look at the response of Paul when the Lord said to him, “[My] strength is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul tells us that he would glory in his weakness that the “power of Christ” (the Lord) would be revealed in him.

So the referent for “the Lord” is Jesus. Paul prayed to Jesus, and Jesus responded.

Notice that these were prayers of petition, not praise. These were not spontaneous petitions or petitions given in response to the voice of the Lord or a vision, but a prayer prayed three times, as Paul persisted in his request to Jesus.

If it were inappropriate for someone to offer supplication to Jesus, Paul would not have asked Jesus three times to answer a specific request. Jesus did not rebuke Paul for praying the prayer, but He did inform Paul that he was better off without the request being granted.

 

[David in NJ]

What is an instruction? An instruction may be defined as a direction or an explanation to enable one to know what to do, or to do something. An instruction can be a command, a piece of advice, training, an explanation, or a procedure.

What is the only Biblical instruction on how to pray in the Bible?

Jesus instructed his disciples how to pray:

Matthew 6​

6But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.​

7And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.​

9So then, this is how you should pray:​

‘Our Father in heaven,​

hallowed be Your name.​

Aside from what is in Matthew 6:6,9 there are no other instructions on who to pray to in the Bible. The only instruction on prayer in the Bible is to the Father.

Can it be argued that Jesus was prayed to in the Bible? It's possible to argue that, but does it ever teach, instruct, or command Christians to pray to anyone other than the Father? No.

That's right - never pray to jesus

Always pray to LORD Yeshua HaMashiach

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him The Name which is above every name,
that at the name of YESHUA every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.

 

[marks]

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

That Name is Jesus, from the Greek 'Iesous. Yeshua is what some men presume Jesus may have been called, but it's not Bible.

 

[David in NJ]

That Name is Jesus, from the Greek 'Iesous. Yeshua is what some men presume Jesus may have been called, but it's not Bible.

Jesus was Jewish
Mary & Joseph were Jewish
On the 8th day is when the male child is circumcised and his name given/revealed to the Jewish community at that time.

Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

Therefore at His circumcision His Name was given in Hebrew = Isaiah 12:2

Surely
הִנֵּ֨ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's Hebrew 2009: 1) behold, lo, see, if

God
אֵ֧ל (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 410: 1) god, god-like one, mighty one 1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes 1b) angels 1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations) 1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah 2) mighty things in nature 3) strength, power

is my salvation;
יְשׁוּעָתִ֛י (yə·šū·‘ā·ṯî) = Yeshua
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew 3444: 1) salvation, deliverance 1a) welfare, prosperity 1b) deliverance 1c) salvation (by God) 1d) victory

 

[marks]

Jesus was Jewish
Mary & Joseph were Jewish
On the 8th day is when the male child is circumcised and his name given/revealed to the Jewish community at that time.

Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

Therefore at His circumcision His Name was given in Hebrew = Isaiah 12:2

Surely
הִנֵּ֨ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's Hebrew 2009: 1) behold, lo, see, if

God
אֵ֧ל (’êl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 410: 1) god, god-like one, mighty one 1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes 1b) angels 1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations) 1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah 2) mighty things in nature 3) strength, power

is my salvation;
יְשׁוּעָתִ֛י (yə·šū·‘ā·ṯî) = Yeshua
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew 3444: 1) salvation, deliverance 1a) welfare, prosperity 1b) deliverance 1c) salvation (by God) 1d) victory

I know all the reasons people give to claim Jesus was named something different. Try to cope with the FACT that the Bible declares Jesus' Name, and Yeshua is NOT it.

Acts 4:10-12 KJV
10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

You talk about believing Scripture, do you refuse to believe this Scripture?

Much love!

 

[marks]

Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

You even quote the place . . . why do you rebel against this?

 

[LoveYeshua]

YESHUA Is His name

Matthew wrote in Greek, so he records the Greek form (Iēsous), but Joseph and Mary would not have spoken Greek to name their son. They were Jews living in Nazareth, so the name they actually used would have been the Hebrew/Aramaic form, Yeshua.

historians across a wide range of backgrounds, including Christian, Jewish, and secular scholars, overwhelmingly agree that Yeshua was the name by which Jesus was known during His earthly life.

I have researched This in the past and it is YESHUA most certainly

 

[Anchorite]

YESHUA Is His name

Matthew wrote in Greek, so he records the Greek form (Iēsous), but Joseph and Mary would not have spoken Greek to name their son. They were Jews living in Nazareth, so the name they actually used would have been the Hebrew/Aramaic form, Yeshua.

historians across a wide range of backgrounds, including Christian, Jewish, and secular scholars, overwhelmingly agree that Yeshua was the name by which Jesus was known during His earthly life.

I have researched This in the past and it is YESHUA most certainly

All true, but we speak English, and not Hebrew or Aramaic.

The name that is used in English speaking lands is Jesus. It feels awkward and contrived for me to say Yeshua.

But what matters is that we all refer to the one Lord of lords and King of kings, the only begotten Son of God, the Word become flesh, who died for our sins and rose from the dead.

 

[David in NJ]

I know all the reasons people give to claim Jesus was named something different. Try to cope with the FACT that the Bible declares Jesus' Name, and Yeshua is NOT it.

Acts 4:10-12 KJV
10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

You talk about believing Scripture, do you refuse to believe this Scripture?

Much love!

Do you believe that Joseph & Mary and the Jewish community only spoke Greek?