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NASB | Romans 1:8 ¶ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:8 ¶ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith [your trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] is being proclaimed in all the world. |
Bible Question:
This question is probably very basic, I am just confused. In Romans 1:8, Paul thanks "God through Jesus Christ" for the Roman believers. What does "through" Jesus Christ mean? That Paul prays his thanksgiving to Jesus, using Jesus as the mediator between himself and God (as in 1 Tim 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus...")? But then I read John 16:26-27, "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. " which makes it clear that Jesus is saying that we petition directly to God. So my question is --- do we pray to God or to Jesus or does it not matter because of John 10:38, "but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father." As you can see, I am confused. Thanks for your help, reilly |
Bible Answer: Hi!.. this is a great question. I'll give it a shot. Firstly let's just clear up a few points regarding the character of "God". God refers to a Divine Nature. Jesus refers to a divine person belonging to the divine nature. Nature and Personhood are two entirely different things. God has one nature and three persons. You and I are humans.We share what is referred to as human nature. Humanity has one nature with trillions of persons. All these persons are individuals and distinct yet are one in nature. The Father, Jesus and The Holy Ghost are three persons whom share the divine nature. They are distinct and individual without robbing the divinity of the others. In the words of Athanasius : "But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost." and " But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity." And Turtullian stated this :"Whatever, therefore, was the substance of the Word that I designate a Person, I claim for it the name of Son; and while I recognize the Son, I assert His distinction as second to the Father." [Tertullian, Against Praxeas 7 So now that we understand who we are praying to let us examine scripture to discover the true order of prayer: We are to pray directly to THE FATHER When a disciple asked for instruction regarding prayer, Jesus did not refuse to give it to him. According to Luke 11:2-4, he replied: "When you pray, say: FATHER, hallowed be thy name. We are to pray in JESUS NAME John 14:13-14 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (KJV) Well I hope this helps |