haydock1859.tripod.com/id20.htmlVer. 7. Long prayer is not here forbidden; for Christ himself spent whole nights in prayer: and he sayeth, we must pray always; and the apostle, that we must pray without intermission, 1 Thessalonians v.; and the holy Church hath had from the beginning her canonical hours for prayer, but rhetorical and elaborate prayer, as if we thought to persuade God by our eloquence, is forbidden; the collects of the Church are most brief and most effectual. (St. Augustine, ep. 121. chap. viii, ix, x.) (Bristow) — Perseverance in prayer is recommended us by the example of the poor widow, who by her importunity prevailed over the unjust judge. (St. Chrysostom, hom. xix.) — The Greek word means, to babble or trifle.
Thanks for the response. But still, how accurate is the “vain repetition” phrase found in other Bible versions and how did it come about?
It refers to Pharasitical prayer, where numers counted – the more prayers you said, the better. It was almost like Buddist prayers, where a prayer is written on a wheel, and by spinning the wheel you get “credit” for many prayers.Thanks for the response. But still, how accurate is the “vain repetition” phrase found in other Bible versions and how did it come about?
The word in Greek is “babble”.Jesus taught us how to pray and how not to pray in Matt 6. Some Bible translations say “vain repetitions” while some say “empty phrases”. We all know this is the reason why fundamentalists attack Catholics for our prayers like Rosary, etc. What’s the right interpretation?
scripturecatholic.com/vain_and_repetitious_prayer.htmlJesus taught us how to pray and how not to pray in Matt 6. Some Bible translations say “vain repetitions” while some say “empty phrases”. We all know this is the reason why fundamentalists attack Catholics for our prayers like Rosary, etc. What’s the right interpretation?
If you read the whole verse, if I’m not mistaken Jesus said don’t offer up vain repetitions like the Gentiles do. So, he might not have been referring to the Jewish practice at all but some pagan practice.The word in Greek is “babble”.