" And this I. pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all perception; that ye may judge of and approve the things that are more excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense unto [the) day of Christ." Inasmuch as ye did it unto Me 1 " All will come out in that day, and the secrets of our hearts be manifested.
SCRIPTURE QUERY AND ANSWER
Q.—1 Tim. 2:1. What is the difference between supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks "? E.P.
A.—One cannot do better than answer in the words of the late Editor of this Magazine:
" Supplication' implies earnestness in pressing the suit of need; prayer ' is more general, and puts forward wants and wishes; ' intercession ' means the exercise of free and confiding intercourse, whether for ourselves or for others; and ‘thanksgiving ' [' giving of thanks '] tells out the heart's sense of favor bestowed or counted on."
For the sake of some who may not have at hand the usual works of reference, we may add that the first (δέησις) occurs nineteen times in the New Testament, and is rendered once by " request " (Phil. 1:4); six times by " supplication " (Acts 1:14; Eph. 6:18 bis; Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1, 5); and twelve times by " prayer " (Luke 1:13; 2:37; 5:33; Rom. 10:1; 2 Cor. 1:11, 9:14; Phil. 1:4, 19; 2 Tim. 1:3; Heb. 5:7; James 5:16 Peter 3:12).
The second (προσευχή), being the more general word, occurs thirty-seven times, and is, throughout, translated " prayer," see margin of James 5:17.
The third (ὲντευξις) occurs but twice, 1 Tim. 2:1 (" intercession "); and 1 Tim. 4:1 (" prayer ").
Whilst the last (εὐχαριστία), occurring fifteen times, is rendered by " thankfulness," Acts 24:3; “giving of thanks,” 1 Cor. 14:16; Eph. 5:4; 1 Tim. 2:1; “thanks,” 1 Thess. 3:9; Rev. 4:9; and by “thanksgiving” nine times, 2 Cor. 4:15; 9:11, 12; Phil. 4:6; Col. 2:7; 4:2; 1 Tim. 4:3, 4; Rev. 7:12.