Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
First, you attempt to make prescription out of a couple of observations. In response to your observations, it is worth noting that there are times when the Bible records things according to some numerical pattern. Like leaving out a little-known generation in some genealogy so that the groupings are exactly 7 or 10 from here to there. You make the observation that two different people many years apart prayed three times — once by counting the manner in which the events are recorded and the other by the account of the person who prayed (Paul) — but scripture makes no comment in either case concerning any significance to the three, whether immediately or later, yet you make a rule out of it.
|
I am quoting your first paragraph but I am addressing your whole post regarding praying three times. As usual, when addressing your posts I only have to consult what bible scholars say. You may be right with your "SOLO scriptura" interpretation that "there is no rule". Yet this does not mean you are correct. In fact you are quite wrong because you have not considered the reason why Paul might have prayed three times and that this was according to a well-established principle.
This is from Barnes' Notes on the Bible 2 Corinthians 12:8 (emphasis mine)
There is some reason to suppose that the Jews were in the habit of praying three times for any important blessing or for the removal of any calamity; and Paul in this would not only conform to the usual custom, but especially he would he disposed to imitate the example of the Lord Jesus. Among the Jews three was a sacred number, and repeated instances occur where an important transaction is mentioned as having been done thrice; see Numbers 22:28; Numbers 24:10; 1 Samuel 3:8; 1 Samuel 20:41; 1 Kings 18:44; Proverbs 22:20; Jeremiah 7:4; Jeremiah 22:29; John 21:17.
I think the parallel between Jesus praying 3 times and Paul praying 3 times is well known. At least most of the bible commentaries I have consulted make reference to it. Here, Paul used the thrice-prayer principle that Christ used. God also confirms this principle as it was God who intervened after the third time and gave His response.
So consider which of these two views are most in accordance with the bible?
- praying as many times as you like, "because the bible gives no principles".
- praying three times to imitate the example of the Lord Jesus, Paul and the many other uses of the three-fold principle.