Lessons in Greek
By Elisabeth Duckworth
The Lord's Prayer IV
Our Father, which 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, the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.]
– Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4
Today we continue our series of articles on words and phrases from the “Lord's Prayer”. We'll go line by line for fresh insights into these familiar words.
Give us – dos emin (δος ημιν) – The word for “give” is a second-person singular imperative calling upon God to perform an action towards us: God! You give to us, offer to us, grant, confer, bestow, send, provide to us.
This day – semeron (σημερον) – a qualifier meaning “today”, this 24-hour period.
Our daily bread – ton arton emon ton epiousion (τον αρτον ημων τον επιουσιον) – literally our loaf of bread (or food, a meal), which is provided on a daily basis such as is required for sufficient daily sustenance. This provision of daily bread is like the daily manna God gave to the Israelites as they travelled in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4). The people were each given a generous ration of food day by day without fail for the 40 years they wandered in the desert.
Forgive us – aphes nmin (αφες ημιν) – Aphes is another one of those second-person singular imperative words that I know you're growing so fond of. It has an intriguing range of meanings depending on its context: God! You! send forth, hurl, throw, shoot; utter; cause something to go away, take away; release, free, vent, let out, shed; abandon, neglect; launch; dismiss, acquit, remit, cancel, drop, forgive.
Our trespasses – ta opheilemata emon (τα οφειληματα ημων) – our obligations owed for benefits already received; financial obligations; favours or services owing where there is a failure to pay, i.e. a debt; the offences or wrongs done to another person.
As we forgive those – os kai nmeis aphekamen (ως και ημεις αφηκαμεν) – as we have [past tense] dismissed, acquitted, or cancelled. This first-person plural aorist tense verb refers to a single, completed (not ongoing) action which has taken place in the past. It says that, as we have forgiven others in the past, so we ask God to do the same for us in the present and future.
Who trespass against us – tois opheiletais nmon (τοις οφειλεταις ημων) – God forgives our trespasses and debts. We, in turn, are told to forgive the people who are indebted to us. We cannot forgive sins; only God can do that. But we can be merciful to our fellow debtors and acquit them of their debts to us as we go together to seek God's merciful pardon. Jesus illustrates this principle in the parable of the ungrateful debtor who, despite having his debt of millions forgiven by his master, refuses to forgive the trifling amount of his fellow debtor. “So, my Heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not forgive your sister or brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:23-35)
~ Next time we'll look at Lead us not (μη εισενεγκες); Into temptation (εις πειρασμον); Deliver (αλλα ρυσαι ημας); From evil (από του πονηρου); Closing Doxology.
