Thursday, May 14, 2015

So how would you translate it, then?

So what did Jesus intend his disciples to be asking for or saying when they recited the prayer he gave them? To answer this, I resort to paraphrase:
(Father)
We recognize that you alone are sovereign, and we pledge our loyalty to you even if this becomes costly for us.
(May your name be hallowed)
Protect us from dishonoring you through disobedience to your ways; enable us to remain true υἱοὶ θεοῦ [sons/children of God] even at the cost of our lives.
(May your kingdom come/May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us)
Shape us and maintain us as your people. Enable us to do your will.
(Do give/go on giving us our ἐπιούσιον bread)
Do not allow us to become like the wilderness generation, who grew dissatisfied with your ways and doubted your will to protect them and bring them to their destiny.
(Forgive us our sins [or debts] as we have forgiven those who have sinned against especially to out enemies)
We are intent to show the mercy you require υἱοὶ θεοῦ to show to those who have wronged us; and you may reject us if we do not.
(And do not lead us into πειρασμός)
And do not allow us to do what the wilderness generation did at Meribah and Massah and put you to the test, especially by denying that the way of the peacemaker, the εἰρηνηποιός, is truly your way of achieving your goals for the word.—The Disciples’ Prayer, pages 162–63

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