Lead us not into temptation?

[dee_burk]

Do you ever wonder why in the Our Father we ask God to "lead us not into temptation?

I can see asking him to protect us or free us from temptation? But, I can’t see God leading us into temptation, so why do we ask him to lead us not?

Just curious…

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I’ve wondered that, too.

Is it possible we are actually praying for our own benefit, in that we need to hear this affirmation? Or could this prayer by showing us a form which we can use, like a fill-in-the-blanks “say your temptation here.”

 

[bzkoss236]

The wording may be weird to us, but the people back then may have understood it differently. I see it more as saying “lead us away from temptation”.

 

[Immacolata]

The wording may be weird to us, but the people back then may have understood it differently. I see it more as saying “lead us away from temptation”.

That’s what I’ve always thought it as. If I recall correctly, I read something about this exact subject back when I was a lurker and reading through the “Ask an Apologist” threads but I do not remember the exact response, but I believe it was something like this.

 

[louisak]

Yes, I think the word temptation had slightly different connotations at one time. Someone once suggested that a better translation for current English would be “Do not let us be put to the test”. In order words, don’t let us be subjected to trials that are too great for our strength.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

The wording was originally, and do not subject us to the final test,*
but deliver us from the evil one."

In Jesus time Jewish theology held that at the end of time, there would be a final test which unbelievers would have a final test to convert.

The prayer is that we ask the Father that we not lose faith and be put to this final test.

Jim

 

[Pat_Albertson]

The wording was originally, and do not subject us to the final test,*
but deliver us from the evil one."

In Jesus time Jewish theology held that at the end of time, there would be a final test which unbelievers would have a final test to convert.

The prayer is that we ask the Father that we not lose faith and be put to this final test.

Jim

That is very interesting. Do you know what the nature of that test would be? A second final short life (or the illusion of one) perhaps?

I’m just guessing. I don’t know. Perhaps my suggestion is coming from past movies or TV. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

That is very interesting. Do you know what the nature of that test would be? A second final short life (or the illusion of one) perhaps?

I’m just guessing. I don’t know. Perhaps my suggestion is coming from past movies or TV. Anybody have any ideas?

Well it was Old Testament theology, so you would have to use New Testament Theology and teaching of the Church to understand better what the final test will be.

Jim

 

[Pat_Albertson]

Well it was Old Testament theology, so you would have to use New Testament Theology and teaching of the Church to understand better what the final test will be.

Jim

With all due respect, I find that rather vague. Could you perhaps be a bit more specific?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

With all due respect, I find that rather vague. Could you perhaps be a bit more specific?

Well, the final test at the end of time isn’t specific, other than that we know there will be a great tribulation before the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ.

What that will entail, no one knows for sure.

Some go by what visionaries of various apparitions were told by the Blessed Mother, that there would be three days of darkness and other things, but often visionaries are only able to understand according to their own intellectual abilities and convey the messages in a symbolic rather than specific terms.

As it is, the 3rd Secret of Fatima where the visionaries saw the Pope shot, was like reading the book of revelation. Until the even happened to Pope John Paul II and he asked the remaining visionary, Lucia if this was the 3rd secret, which she affirmed, it was too vague for anyone to understand before it actually took place.

So it is with messages given about the end of time.

Jim

 

[Pat_Albertson]

Well, the final test at the end of time isn’t specific, other than that we know there will be a great tribulation before the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ.

What that will entail, no one knows for sure.

Some go by what visionaries of various apparitions were told by the Blessed Mother, that there would be three days of darkness and other things, but often visionaries are only able to understand according to their own intellectual abilities and convey the messages in a symbolic rather than specific terms.

As it is, the 3rd Secret of Fatima where the visionaries saw the Pope shot, was like reading the book of revelation. Until the even happened to Pope John Paul II and he asked the remaining visionary, Lucia if this was the 3rd secret, which she affirmed, it was too vague for anyone to understand before it actually took place.

So it is with messages given about the end of time.

Jim

OK, thanks.

 

[dee_burk]

Yes, I think the word temptation had slightly different connotations at one time. Someone once suggested that a better translation for current English would be “Do not let us be put to the test”. In order words, don’t let us be subjected to trials that are too great for our strength.

Thanks for the responses. This will certainly help me when i recite the Our Father from now on. I sometimes find it distracting when i am reciting prayers and get caught up or sidetracked asking myself what something means and why it says that…