During last week there was a news item referring to a move to rephrase the Lords Prayer in reference to temptation, the part that says lead us not into temptation and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. A caller on the radio pointed out that God would not lead us into temptation any way. So here is an indication that what we have in the present form probably came about due to the nuanced difference from the original through its translation.
On Sunday night I was extremely tired so decided to retire early but felt to pray the Prayer which Jesus gave to James Padgett. I particularly like this prayer. It is more to do with being heart felt than intellectual and people who knew me before would know that I was never a ‘holy Joe’ in this area and as such would always try to avoid representative prayer because it was never my strong point, and also I never felt that they worked anyway, even though I understood spiritual things. However there is a deep and emotional connection to this Prayer.
The note that accompanies it explains:
”The only prayer that is necessary is the prayer for the inflowing of this love ; all other forms, or real aspirations, of prayer are secondary, and of themselves, will not tend to produce this love in the souls of men…..
”This is the only prayer that men need to offer to the Father. It is the only one that appeals to the love of the Father, and with the answer which will surely come, will come all the blessings that men may need, and which the Father sees is for the good of His Creatures….
”So, my brothers, continue to pray and have faith, and in the end will come a bestowal of the love like unto that which came to the apostles at Pentecost.
”In leaving you, I will leave my love and blessings and the assurance that I pray to the Father for your happiness and Love.
Your brother and friend,
JESUS”
So in the new prayer given to Padgett by Jesus, which is titled simply THE PRAYER could also be called The Lords Prayer since it was given by Jesus Himself and within it there are some references to the original Lords prayer buried within, which I perceived last night, though through a different expression which may be closer to what was meant in the original language.
In reference to the original Lords Prayer, the part which says ”Lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from evil” is encapsulated it the sixth paragraph of the new prayer by saying the following:
”Keep us in the shadow of Thy Love every moment of our lives, and help us to overcome all temptations of the flesh, and the influence of the powers of the evil ones, which so constantly surround us and endeavour to turn our thoughts away from Thee to the pleasures and allurements of this world.”
And secondly in context to the words in the original Lords prayer which refers to the words: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; the new prayer says the following in the seventh paragraph:
”We thank Thee for Thy love and the privilege of receiving it, and we believe that Thou art our Father who smiles upon us in our weakness, and is always ready to help us and take us to Thy arms of love.”
Just as the original Lords prayer indicates the reciprocation of forgiveness towards those who trespass against us then likewise it would be reasonable that the same attitude of reciprocation should be present as that of the Father who smiles upon us in our weakness.
Our Father Who Art In Heaven (The Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.]
Amen.
[Quote]
Pope Francis has approved a change to the wording of the Lord’s Prayer after what was described as a ‘flawed translation’ from the original Greek wording.
It comes two years after the Pontiff expressed his dislike of the phrase “Lead us not into temptation” in the Our Father prayer. (The Lords Prayer)
The Pope said that the version we currently know implies that God, not Satan, leads people into temptation.
He has now approved an alteration to the line ‘lead us not into temptation’ to ‘do not let us fall into temptation’.
The Italian version of the prayer has been updated but it’s not known when the English version will be changed. [unquote]
In the second Lord’s Prayer given to James Padgett it says: ”Help us to overcome all temptations….”, implying that we have our own responsibility in this area which is very different from either ‘Lead us not into temptation’ or ‘do not let us fall into temptation’. Both of which is a form of abrogating personal responsibility.
Dr Leslie R Stone says words to the effect that Spiritual progression can only be obtained by ‘earnest prayer to the Heavenly Father for His Love. This knowledge of Divine love and the possession of it, constitutes the reason for our (Foundation) Church of the New Birth’.
So The Foundation Church of the New Birth is not a physical Church as are other Churches and has been referred to as a Church without walls, and elsewhere in the writings Jesus says that it is desirable to attend our own church than not because of any good spiritual elements that may be benefited from.