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Dictionary of the Bible

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PRAYER

times reaching a distinctively NT level; the thought in 2 Mao 12" as to prayer in relation to the dead is noteworthy (ct. below, 2 Es. and Bar.). As the books are little read, it may be well to take them in order, giving fairly full reference to relevant passages.

1 Esdras. Zerubbabel's thanksgiving (468-68). prayer for journey, with confession (8"-™).

2 Esdras. Confession and historical retrospect (3'-^), colloquy with Uriel (4-14, where note the allusion to various OT intercessors, all useless at judgment-day, 7102. 112 [not in AV]).

Tobit. Prevailing prayer of Tobit and Sarah (3'-"); Tobias urged to pray (4") prays in nuptial room (8'-^) ; thanksgiving of Raguel (8"-"), Tobit (11"- «• " 13).

Judith. Except where general supplication is made (49-13-16 618- " 72s), or where Judith's intercession is sought (8^'), prayer in this romance is of a very un-worthy kind: prayer for the success of a trick (ch. 9); prayer and the plans of Eolofernes (II"- "); prayer before slaying him (13'- ').

Ad. Esther. Prayers of Mordecai (IS'-'*) and Esther (14'-") in national peril.

Wisdom. Chs. 9-19 are in prayer-form. Note the picturesque illustration of manna and the morning prayer (16"- 28).

Sirach. In this book prayer reaches heights: value of prayer (21'), true prayer heard of God (36"-"), prayer in sickness (38°' ", cf. Ja 6"-"), for deliverance from sin (23'-'), prayer and alms (T'"), 'battology' (7", cf. Mt 6'), prayer and revenge (28'-*, cf. Mt 6" 1821. 22)_ national prayer against foe (36'-"), thanks-giving, led by Simon (SO^'-**), author's closing prayer (511-12).

Baruch. Jews of Babylon ask those of Jerusalem to pray for welfare of Nebuchadnezzar (1"; cf. Ezr 61°, Jer 29', 1 Ti 2'); prayer and confession of captive Israelites (li'-3', where note prayer by the dead, 3S but see RVm).

Song of the Three. Prayer and confession of Azarias before the Benedicite (vv.i-22; cf. Ezr 9, Dn 9).

Susanna. Her prevailing prayer (w.«-«).

Bel. Brief prayer by Habakkuk (v."), Daniel (v.'»), king of Babylon (v.*').

Prayer of Manasses. For pardon.

Maccabees. The two books are quite distinct, 1 Mac. being much the more reliable as history. Prayer is very prominent throughout the whole Maccabaean struggle, before, during, and after battles (1 Mac 3"-"

410. 24. 80-83. 40. GS 780-88. 41. 42 g4S 1X71 2 MaC 124-20 322 1016. 25. S8 118 1213. 28. 42 I3IO-I2. 14 I4I6. 84-36 1522-24

"■ 27). Note specially in 2 Mac. the allusion to the efficacy of prayer, etc., of the living for the dead (1244, 46. cf. baptism tor dead, 1 Co 152», and [?] 2 Ti 118), and prayer of the dead for the living (15i2-»; cf. angelic intercession. Zee li').

6. Prayer in the NT. I. Example and teachinq OF Jesus Christ. The special character of the Fourth Gospel should be remembered. Of the Synoptics, Lk. is specially instructive as to prayer (cf. Acts also). For Lord's Prayer, see separate article.

(i.) Christ's example. (a) Prays at great moments in His life: baptism (Lk 321), election of Apostles (Lk 612. IS), miracles (Lk Q"; cf. Jn 62», Mk 7" [implied] 926, Jn 96»-66 [implied] ll"- «), transfiguration (Lk 922); Gethsemane (Lk 226»-«6), crucifixion (Mt 27", Lk 23"); (6) intercedes for disciples (Jn 17), Peter (Lk 22»2), soldiers (Lk 23"); for His intercession in glory, see below, § IL (ii.) (1).

(ii.) Christ's TEAcmNa. The range of prayer is chiefly (ct. OT) for spiritual blessing (cf. Lord's Prayer, and esp. Mt 638), but not exclusively so ('daily bread' in Lord's Prayer and Mt 242«). The conditions and requisites of prayer are numerous. (a) Earnestness [cf. urgent supplication in OT, esp. Psalms] (Lk 11'-", where note juxtaposition with Lord's Prayer, I81-8); and His attitude to the Syrophoenician seems to teach

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urgency of petition (Mk 72'). (6) HumUUy (Lk 189"; the juxtaposition with preceding parable is suggestive, and ct. OT assertion of righteousness; e.g. in Dt. and Neh. [see above, 3 (vi.)], Lk 171°); ambition rebuked (Mt 2026-28). (c) A forgiving spirit: as in Sir. (see above, § 4). (d) Privacy recommended; see above, § 2 (i.) end, and cf. Christ's own example of solitary prayer (Lk 6"). (e) With^mt 'battology'; see above, § 2 (ill.) (2), where the reff. show that the repetition discouraged is that of mere mechanical prayer (cf. heathen incantations) or of pretence (Mk 12"). (f) With faith. Mk 1128 contains just such hyperbole as would appeal to an Eastern mind and enforce the value of prayer; while the seeming paradox of v.2' must be taken along with this and understood in the light of Christ's general teaching. The need of faith is further illustrated by Christ's attitude to those seeking aid (e.g. Mt 818 928, Mk 686 923, Lk S"). (g) Agreement when two or three join in prayer (Mt ISi'- 20). (ft) In His name (Jn 14" 15i« 1628. 24. 26). This specially Johannine feature suggests frame of mind rather than form of speech (cf. Mt 18'- 20 1022 etc.; on the other hand, cf. Ac 36. "). For the Christology it supports, see below, § II. (ii.) 1.

II. Customs and ideas in Apostolic times. Evidence is afforded by Acts (where the prominence given to prayer is natural if Lk. wrote it, see above, § I.), and by Epp., whose writers had inherited the best traditions of Jewish piety and had also assimilated their Master's teaching (which, however, they may not in every point have grasped fully). A glimpse of prayer-triumphs would be afforded by such passages as Ac 316 481 9" IC 126. 12 1628 288. One or two detailed points have already come up for notice (see above § 2 (1. ii. ill. 1. 4), 5 (I. ii. (A)), but it may be well now to collect, from Acts to the Apocalypse, some passages showing the practice and teaching as to prayer in the Apostolic Church.

(i.) Prayer is found in connexion with: (1) Laying on of hands: (o) in healing (Ac 288, gf. 9" (see below (3)); (6) after baptism (Ac 8"-", cf. 196); (c) on appointment to ofiice (Ac 68 IS'), with which also prayerful lot-casting is associated (Ac 12«. 20, cf. Pr 1688). (2) Public worship (1 Ti 2). (o) Both sexes participate (cf. 1 Ti 5', 1 Co 11*. 6); (5) prayer and gift of tongues (1 Co 14"- i', where it is suggested that the head as well as the heart is concerned with prayer); (c) 'state-prayers' in the Apostolic Church (1 Ti 2i'. ; ct. § 4 ' Baruch'). (3) Sick-ness (Ja 5"-i6, where notice conjunction of prayer and outward means [for unction ct. Mk 6"] with con-fession; physical and spiritual healing are associated, and both with prayer; see above, § 4 'Sirach').

(ii.) (1) A distinctive idea in NT prayer is the work of the Holy Spirit. He aids us in prayer (Ro S"-", Eph 618, Jude2»), interceding for us (Ro 826). Christ also intercedes (Ro 88*, He 726; of. § 5 I. (i.) (6)). Ct. pre-sentation of prayer to God in Rev 5' 8'. By Christ we enjoy free access to God (Gal 4«-', Eph 2i8 312, He 4i'- " 1018-22; see above, §6 I. (ii.) (A)); prayer offered to Christ direct (Ac 7'»- 9" (?), 1 Co I2 (?)). (2) Prayer needs faith (Ja I'-s, 1 Ti 2* RVm, He IO22), must have right aims (Ja 4'), and be backed by conduct (1 Jn 322, cf. above, § 3 (vii.) ' Proverbs'). Such prayer succeeds (Ja 616-18, 1 Jn 322 5". 16). Prayer for temporal gifts is not very conspicuous in NT, but see Ro li°, 2 Co 128, Ph 46. (3) Exhortations to prayer (Ro 12", Col 42, 1 Th 616, 1 p 47, Jude2»). (4) Reminiscences of OT occur in prayer as colloquy (Ac 918-16 22"-2i; cf. § 3), as struggle (Ro 1586, Col 2i 4"; cf. Gn 3224), as cry for vengeance (Rev 68. i», ct. 1 Ti 2'). (5) Intercession, which in OT is specially characteristic of the prophetic office, is here a general duty, and is very prominent: Apostles for converts (Ro IQi 15', 2 Co 13', Eph li« 314, Ph 14. », Col 21, 1 Th 12, 2 Th 1". Philem', 3 Jn2); converts for Apostles (Ac 12', Ro IS'", 2 Co 1" 9", Col 4', 2 Th 31, Philem22); for one another (Ja S",