It\u2019s no secret that when we pray the Lord\u2019s Prayer (the Our Father), there\u2019s one point of uncertainty: do we say \u201cforgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,\u201d or do we say, \u201cforgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors?\u201d Presbyterians are among those who use \u201cdebts,\u201d and most others seem to use \u201ctrespasses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, \u201cdebts\u201d is correct according to the source of the Lord\u2019s Prayer, Matthew 6.9 – 13. Look it up in almost any translation. The word translated \u201ctrespasses\u201d is opheilema<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u1f40\u03c6\u03b5\u03af\u03bb\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 opheil\u0113ma; from (the alternate of) 3784; something owed, i.e. (figuratively) a due; morally, a fault: \u2014 debt.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It was William Tyndale who used the word “trespasses” in 1526. The very influential Anglican Book of Common Prayer used Tyndale’s “trespasses” when it was published in 1549, and it has stuck. Here’s an excellent article<\/a> explaining the nuances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But that\u2019s not the point of this blog…<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few days ago I was at a memorial service, conducted by Presbyterian ministers in a Presbyterian church. At the end, one of the ministers said something like this.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a few minutes, we\u2019re going to pray the Lord\u2019s Prayer together. I\u2019m aware that this is a mixed crowd. Not all of us are Presbyterians here; in fact, probably most of us are not Presbyterians. We say \u201cdebts,\u201d but most traditions say \u201ctrespasses.\u201d So let\u2019s keep it simple, and we\u2019ll say \u201ctrespasses.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n My first thought was, \u201cWhy? We\u2019re Presbyterians for goodness sake, and \u201cdebts\u201d is right!\u201d But then I realized, \u201cSaying \u2018trespasses\u2019 may not have been right<\/em>, but it was certainly considerate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowledge puffs up while love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8.1, NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up…\u00a0Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15.2, 7, NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s no secret that when we pray the Lord\u2019s Prayer (the Our Father), there\u2019s one point of uncertainty: do we say \u201cforgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,\u201d or do we say, \u201cforgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors?\u201d Presbyterians are among those who use \u201cdebts,\u201d and most … Continue reading Right versus Considerate<\/span>