{"id":1713,"date":"2012-12-07T00:12:15","date_gmt":"2012-12-06T18:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=1713"},"modified":"2024-11-28T11:05:59","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T17:05:59","slug":"romans-part-33","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=1713","title":{"rendered":"Romans, Part 33"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the same way<\/em>, Paul continued, the Spirit helps us in our weakness<\/a>, for we do not know how we should pray<\/a>, but<\/a> the Spirit himself intercedes for us<\/a> with inexpressible groaning<\/em> (\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03bc\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2<\/a>, a form of \u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>).1<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I think in the same way<\/em> above referred back to 1) the groaning of creation, the whole creation groans<\/em> (\u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u1f71\u03b6\u03b5\u03b9<\/a>, a form of \u03c3\u03c5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u03ac\u03b6\u03c9<\/a>) and suffers together until now<\/em>;2<\/sup><\/a> and 2) we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan<\/em> (\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u1f71\u03b6\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd<\/a>, a form of \u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u03ac\u03b6\u03c9<\/a>) inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies<\/em>.3<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 In the same way<\/em>\u2026the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groaning<\/em> (\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03bc\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2<\/a>, a form of\u00a0\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>).\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray<\/em>.<\/p>\n

To the Holy Spirit\u2019s intercession with inexpressible groaning<\/em> I can only say amen and thank you.\u00a0 But I want to linger awhile over the insight we do not know how we should pray<\/em>.<\/p>\n

If I think of people at all when I think of church<\/em>, I think of a small clique relative to all who believe, or have believed, or will believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.\u00a0 If I\u2019m honest the word church<\/em> conjures up the by-laws and functions of a property owning not-for-profit corporation where we strive to keep the doors open, lights on, heat and air conditioning functioning so we can attract more people to help keep the doors open, lights on, heat and air conditioning functioning so we can attract more people\u2026<\/p>\n

In 1 Corinthians Paul effectively equated church<\/em> with the body of Christ<\/em>:\u00a0 Now you are Christ\u2019s body<\/em> (\u03c3\u1ff6\u03bc\u03b1<\/a> \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6<\/a>), and each of you is a member of it. \u00a0And God has placed in the church<\/em> (\u1f10\u03ba\u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c3\u1f77\u1fb3<\/a>) first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts<\/a> of healing, helps<\/a>, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues<\/em> [Table<\/a>].4<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 And again to the Ephesians Paul wrote, It was<\/em> [Jesus] who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ<\/em> (\u03c3\u1f7d\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a> \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6<\/a> \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6<\/a>), until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God \u2013 a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ\u2019s full stature<\/em>.5<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

The body of Christ<\/em>, as opposed to church<\/em>, gives me a whole new vision of my ignorance regarding how I should pray. \u00a0Here is my analogy:\u00a0 I have decided that the body of Dan will extend its right arm parallel to the floor.\u00a0 If I could imbue each muscle cell in that arm with sight and speech and reason, it is not too hard to imagine what some might say.\u00a0 As they tired, as they began to think about why they were so tired, they would realize that the muscle cells across from them were pulling against them, in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop, you\u2019re pulling the wrong way!\u201d they would say.<\/p>\n

The muscle cells on the other side of my arm would say, \u201cYou stop, we are pulling the way the spirit of Dan\u2019s nervous system is telling us to pull.\u201d<\/p>\n

The others would counter, \u201cNo, you stop, we are pulling the way the spirit of Dan\u2019s nervous system is telling us to pull.\u00a0 You must be mistaken.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know what the Spirit of Dan\u2019s nervous system is telling us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s impossible!\u00a0 We know Dan.\u00a0 He is very rational.\u00a0 You are asserting that he would act irrationally.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know the spirit of Dan\u2019s nervous system.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must be deceived by some form of evil masquerading as the spirit of Dan\u2019s nervous system.\u201d<\/p>\n

On and on they argue from their limited perspectives.\u00a0 How could they pray intelligently?\u00a0 And if I decided that the body of Dan would wave its arm back and forth, first one side would receive the signal to relax as the other side continued pulling.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, you see the light,\u201d the pulling side would exclaim.\u00a0 And they would encourage each other with words like, \u201cWe\u2019re winning!\u00a0 The truth prevails!\u201d<\/p>\n

Then as the direction changed and that side was given the signal to relax and the other side to pull, the relaxed muscle cells would lament, \u201cOh, no!\u00a0 Evil rules!\u201d<\/p>\n

Obviously, If I had imbued my muscle cells with any kind of self-will they would fight me to satisfy their own egos, if I imbued them with egos, that is.<\/p>\n

It is easy now to see why the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groaning<\/em>, but what about those times I pray with my mind?\u00a0 I still meditate on Scripture, and I still ramble on and on about my confusions, frustrations and concerns, but when I ask for things in prayer I have become very dependent on the Lord\u2019s Prayer, not as a model prayer, but word for word from Matthew 6:9-14 (NET):<\/p>\n

Our Father in heaven<\/em>\u2026\u00a0 I am particularly mindful then that I pray for all who call on our Father, or have called, or will call, on Him.\u00a0 My prayer is no longer limited geographically or temporally.\u00a0 It is as expansive and all-encompassing as Almighty Eternal God chooses to hear it.<\/p>\n

\u2026may your name be honored<\/em>\u2026\u00a0 Here is the raison d’etre<\/a><\/em> for all who call on our Father.<\/p>\n

\u2026may your kingdom come<\/em>\u2026\u00a0 Here is the mission amplified by the next line, may your will be done<\/em> (or, become<\/em>) on earth<\/a> as it is in heaven<\/em> [Table<\/a>].\u00a0 I have no idea how God\u2019s will is done in heaven, but I assume it is not by police forces but by something more akin to being led by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

Give us today our daily bread<\/em>\u2026\u00a0 Like Jesus\u2019 disciples6<\/sup><\/a> before me I thought He was talking about bread, food.\u00a0 After I studied life<\/a> (\u03b6\u03c9\u03ae<\/a>) I realized He meant bread of life<\/em>.7<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 I pray for that daily infusion of Christ Himself, his love<\/em>, his joy<\/em>, his peace<\/em>, his patience<\/em>, his kindness<\/em>, his goodness<\/em>, his faithfulness<\/em>, his gentleness<\/em><\/a>, and<\/em> his self-control<\/em> (\u1f10\u03b3\u03ba\u03c1\u03ac\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1<\/a>) [Table<\/a>].8<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 And I pray this not for myself alone but for all who call on our Father, or have called, or will call, on Him.<\/p>\n

\u2026and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven<\/a> our debtors<\/em> [Table<\/a>]. \u00a0Oh, how I used to labor here, wondering, doubting, could it be enough?\u00a0 The Lord knows my weakness, my need for penance.\u00a0 What could be better than to preoccupy myself and my mind with forgiving others?\u00a0 But again, I pray not for myself alone but for all who call on our Father, or have called, or will call, on Him.<\/p>\n

And do not lead us into temptation<\/em>\u00a0(\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03bc\u1f79\u03bd<\/a>), but deliver us from the evil one<\/a><\/em> [Table<\/a>].\u00a0 Though James9<\/sup><\/a> had a singularly macho attitude toward temptation (\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03bc\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2<\/a> and\u00a0\u00a0\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03bc\u1f79\u03bd<\/a> are forms of \u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03b1\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2<\/a>), I am more than content to side with Jesus here, and pray not for myself alone but for all who call on our Father, or have called, or will call, on Him.<\/p>\n

And he who searches<\/em>10<\/sup><\/a> our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit<\/em>, Paul continued in Romans, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God\u2019s will. \u00a0And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. \u00a0And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified<\/em>.11<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

He is worthy of our trust.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Addendum<\/b>: November 28, 2024<\/span>
\nA table comparing Romans 8:27<\/a> in the NET and KJV follows.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>Romans 8:27 (NET)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Romans 8:27 (KJV)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God\u2019s will.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\nAnd he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Romans 8:27 (NET Parallel Greek)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Romans 8:27 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Romans 8:27 (Byzantine Majority Text)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u1f41 \u03b4\u1f72 \u1f10\u03c1\u03b1\u03c5\u03bd\u1ff6\u03bd<\/a><\/b> \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03b4\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f36\u03b4\u03b5\u03bd \u03c4\u1f77 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03c6\u03c1\u1f79\u03bd\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u1f7b\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03b8\u03b5\u1f78\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd\u03c4\u03c5\u03b3\u03c7\u1f71\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u1f51\u03c0\u1f72\u03c1 \u1f01\u03b3\u1f77\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u03bf \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd<\/a> \u03c4\u03b1\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c2 \u03bf\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03bd \u03c4\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03c6\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03bd \u03b5\u03bd\u03c4\u03c5\u03b3\u03c7\u03b1\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c5\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1 \u03b1\u03b3\u03b9\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u03bf \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u03b1\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c2 \u03bf\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03bd \u03c4\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03c6\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03bd \u03b5\u03bd\u03c4\u03c5\u03b3\u03c7\u03b1\u03bd\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c5\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1 \u03b1\u03b3\u03b9\u03c9\u03bd<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n
Romans, Part 34\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Justice, Vengeance and Punishment<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 5<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 40<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Antichrist, Part 5<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n

1<\/sup><\/a> Romans 8:26 (NET) Table<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2<\/sup><\/a> Romans 8:22 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3<\/sup><\/a> Romans 8:23 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

4<\/sup><\/a> 1 Corinthians 12:27, 28 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

5<\/sup><\/a> Ephesians 4:11-13 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

6<\/sup><\/a> Matthew 16:5-12 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

7<\/sup><\/a> John 6:35<\/a>, 48 (NET)<\/a> \u1f41<\/a> \u1f04\u03c1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2<\/a> \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2<\/a> \u03b6\u03c9\u1fc6\u03c2<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

8<\/sup><\/a> Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

9<\/sup><\/a> James 1:2<\/a>, 12 (NET)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

10<\/sup><\/a> The NET parallel Greek<\/a> text and NA28<\/sup><\/a> had \u1f10\u03c1\u03b1\u03c5\u03bd\u1ff6\u03bd<\/a> here, a participle of the verb \u1f10\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03bd\u03ac\u03c9<\/a>, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a> and Byzantine Majority Text<\/a> had \u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd<\/a> (KJV: he that searcheth<\/em>). These appear to be different spellings of the same part of speech.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

11<\/sup><\/a> Romans 8:27-30 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the same way, Paul continued, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groaning (\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03bc\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2, a form of \u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2).1\u00a0 I think in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[901,20,6],"tags":[1219,1220,415,1221,1217,1218,1216,1222],"class_list":["post-1713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-8","category-romans","category-section-two","tag-1-corinthians-1227-28","tag-ephesians-411-13","tag-galatians-522-23","tag-matthew-69-14","tag-romans-822","tag-romans-823","tag-romans-826","tag-romans-827-30"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1713"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25565,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1713\/revisions\/25565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}