[B-Greek] Difference between Request and supplication

Harold R. Holmyard III hholmyard at ont.com
Tue Aug 23 16:04:46 EDT 2005


Dear David,

>Philip. 4:6 (KJV) 
>     Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by
>prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
>requests be made known unto God.
>
>Supplication phil 4:6
>deesis,   deh'-ay-sis; from Greek 1189 (deomai); a
>petition :- prayer, request, supplication.
>
>
>Requests phil 4:6
>aitema,   ah'ee-tay-mah; from Greek 154 (aiteo); a
>thing asked or (abstract) an asking :- petition,
>request, required.
>
>In Ester the king would say things like what is your
>petition and it will be granted. What is your request
>and it will be performed.
>
>It seems that petition in Ester is something that the
>king answers through giving. A request is something
>that the king answers through performing an action.
>But im wondering if supplication in phil. 4:6 means
>petition in Ester 7:2. And if request means request in
>Ester 7:2.
>
>Both words seems very similar and interchangable in
>phil 4:6. I just dont get it. I would appreciate any
>help that is offered.

HH: I don't think that the situation in Phil 4:6 is related to the 
one in Esther 7:2. The duplication of terms in Esther probably 
reflects the king's strong desire to get to the bottom of Esther's 
behavior. She risks her life for an audience with the king, then only 
wants a dinner party with one guest where nothing happens. She asks 
for another dinner party. The king knows that her request must be for 
more than the dinner party, so he presses: 'What are you asking for? 
What are you seeking?"

HH: In Phil 4:6 the first word PROSEUCHi is the most general word for 
prayer. The second word DEHSEI focuses on the idea of requesting 
something. The third word AITHMATA has the connotation of the things 
asked for (in the prayer and petitioning).

					Yours,
					Harold Holmyard



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