TIP OF THE DAY 75: Speaking to God Part 1

MJ. Smith
MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,105

I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day ;

QUESTION: Show an example of a search argument with all attributes for each of the datasets discussed in this section.

ANSWER: collected from the discussion in this section.

Reported speech

Marker

speaker:"Crowd at Siloam"

addressee:"Crowd at Siloam"

Speech acts

Datatype

speechAct:"Informative: Assertive–Information Question"

Sentence type

Datatype

sentence:"Declarative Sentence"

Mitzvoth

Label

mitzvoth:(applicableToday:true AND classification:"Duties Toward Family" AND command:"Be Fruitful and Multiply" AND number:P212 AND state:Positive)

Command

Label

command:(type:Request AND verbClass:"Sending and Carrying")

Promise

Label

promise:(theme:preachingTheme:Judgment AND verbClass:Judgment)

Question

Label

question:(rhetorical:false AND type:Yes/no)

STEP THREE NON-INTEGRATED SPEECH ACTS

QUESTION: What data is available in the Interactive Speaking to God (Evans, Eli, ed. Speaking to God. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016.)?

ANSWER: From the About option within the interactive:

The contents of this interactive is all speech acts in which the addressee is God.

Bible reference

Bible text (from highest priority Bible containing the text)

Type: The type of speech

Monologue: involving a speaker and a hearer

Dialogue: involving speakers in turn

Soliloquy: involving only a speaker

Addressee: a divine person that is part of the Trinity

Speaker: the person or entity addressing God

Context: The context of the speech

Communal: Public expression not categorized as liturgical

Incarnational: Special subset of theophany for Jesus’ time on earth

Literary: Speech “to” God used as a literary or rhetorical device

Prophetic: Oracular experiences not categorized as visions

Ritual: Part of a ritual, cultic, or other religious exercise

Solitary: Personal prayer or music expressed in private

Theophanic: A dialog with a manifested presence of God (also see Parks, Jimmy. Theophanies in the Bible Documentation. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2023.)

Visionary: A visionary or dream dialogue with God (also see Parks, Jessica. All the Dreams and Visions in the Bible. Faithlife Biblical and Theological Lists. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2021.)

Other: Not otherwise categorized.

Distance: The physical proximity of the speaker and hearer

Abstract: Hypothetical speech or soliloquy

Local: The hearer is present with the speaker

Remote: The hearer is not present with the speaker

Mode: The mode of speech

Address: Spoken monologue to a passive audience

Conversation: Give and take between multiple dialogue participants

Meditation: Introspection or reflection

Music: sung monologue sometimes involving instruments

Prayer: a remote spoken dialogue directed to God

Content: The content of the speech

Affirmation: Expression of agreement, especially “amen”

Blessing: Uses the formular “bless/blessed”

Complaint: Report of a specific grievance

Confession: Confession of faith; the speech act portion of salvation

Consecration: A kind of oath where one is set apart for divine

Curse: Uses the formula “curse/cursed”

Imprecation: Request for justice or vengeance to come down on another

Intercession: Request on behalf of another

Lament: expressing negative emotion

Oath: A promise, vow, covenant, or other swearing (see Jeremy Thompson. All the Oaths and Vows in the Bible. Faithlife Biblical and Theological Lists. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2021. and Parks, Jessica. All the Covenants in the Bible. Faithlife Biblical and Theological Lists. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2021.)

Petition: request for a specific consideration for oneself

Praise: Ascribing glory, adoration, worship, or recounting good deeds

Query: Requestion for information or direction (see Thompson, Jeremy. Questions in the Bible Dataset Documentation. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2017.)

Repentance: Confession of sin; the speech act portion of repentance

Response: The rejoinder to a question or call

Thanksgiving: An expression of gratitude

Other: Not otherwise categorized

Places: Places implicitly or explicitly associated with passages that record speaking to God

Things: Things implicitly or explicitly associated with passages that record speaking to God

Theme: Themes or topics associated with passages that record speaking to God

Literary type: Literary types associated with occurrences of speaking to God

QUESTION: Are there any prayers to the Holy Spirit in the Speaking to God interactive?

Answer: No. This should immediately trigger the question “Why?” The follow-up questions below show both its late origins and its relative rarity.

QUESTION: Is there prayer addressed to the Holy Spirit?

SOFTWARE: Ask the AI all search in Logos/Verbum “Prayer addressed to the Holy Spirit.”

ANSWER: from all search synopsis:

Prayer addressed to the Holy Spirit is a complex topic with varying perspectives across Christian traditions. While there are no direct instances of such prayer in the New Testament, some Christian practices have evolved to include it. The Holy Spirit is often invoked in benedictions and intercessions, such as "The communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all". However, it's important to note that prayer to the Holy Spirit is implicitly addressed when praying to God, as the Holy Spirit is considered one with the Father and Son in the Divine Essence. The Holy Spirit's role in prayer is multifaceted, including prompting supplication, inspiring praise, and enabling believers to address God as "Abba". Some traditions view the Holy Spirit as the universal vitalizing Executive of Deity, active in all aspects of creation and life, suggesting a broader scope for communion with the Spirit beyond traditional prayer settings. In liturgical contexts, invocations of the Holy Spirit often emphasize unity, as seen in the phrase "in (the unity of) the Holy Spirit" used in some prayers1.

QUESTION: When and by whom was “Veni Creator Spiritus” (Come, Creator Spirit) – one of the oldest prayers/hymns to the Holy Spirit - written?

Answer: from all search synopsis:

The "Veni Creator Spiritus" is a significant hymn in Christian liturgical tradition. It is an invocation for the aid of the Holy Spirit, commonly used in certain liturgical celebrations such as ordinations and feasts associated with the Holy Spirit. The hymn has been attributed to Rabanus Maurus and is included in the Roman Catholic hymnal, Gather Hymnal (1994), as one of the hymns with Acts 2 as its scriptural basis. In liturgical practice, the Pontifical of William Durandus introduced the singing of "Veni, creator Spiritus" immediately after the bishop enters the church during the rite for the dedication of a church. The hymn is also noted for its musical significance, with one article mentioning it as part of Victoria's notable hymn settings, praised for its transparent counterpoint and long-range harmonic inevitability. It's important to note that this hymn is sometimes confused with the "Veni, Sancte Spiritus," which is a different composition.2

QUESTION: Ask the Catholic Magisterium AI about Prayer addressed to the Holy Spirit.

Answer: response from

The prayer addressed to the Holy Spirit is often expressed in simple and heartfelt terms. A traditional invocation is "Come, Holy Spirit," which is a direct appeal for the Spirit's presence and assistance in one's life. This prayer can be spontaneous and should come from the heart, especially in moments of difficulty or uncertainty.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is the interior Master of Christian prayer, guiding believers in their petitions and intercessions. It is noted that every liturgical tradition has developed various forms of this invocation, such as the well-known hymn, "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love".

Moreover, Pope Francis encourages the faithful to invoke the Holy Spirit frequently, highlighting that this invocation can be made in one's own words, reflecting personal needs and circumstances. The Spirit is recognized as the source of wisdom, strength, and consolation, making the act of praying to Him essential for spiritual growth and guidance.

In summary, prayers to the Holy Spirit are characterized by their simplicity and personal nature, inviting the Spirit to guide, comfort, and enlighten the faithful in their journey of faith.3

QUESTION: When do Eastern Orthodox prayers address the Holy Spirit?

SOFTWARE: AI all search with search argument “orthodox prayer to the holy spirit”

ANSWER: from search results:

The Holy Spirit inspires and guides every aspect of the Church: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:7). We do not even know how to pray, “but the Spirit Himself makes intercession” (Rom. 8:26). It is for this reason that the only Orthodox prayer directed exclusively to the Holy Spirit begins every worship service:

O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things, the treasury of blessings and giver of life, come and abide in us. Cleanse us from all impurity, and of Your goodness save our souls.

The Holy Spirit, present everywhere and filling all things, brings the faithful together as the Body of Christ and establishes the context of prayer and worship.[4]

Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

Comments

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,105

    QUESTION: What is a contemporary Assemblies of God take on prayers addressing the Holy Spirit?

    ANSWER: from Palma, Anthony. “The Person of the Holy Spirit.” In The Holy Spirit in Christian Education, edited by Sylvia Lee, 37–48. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1988.

    Is it proper to pray to the Holy Spirit, or to ascribe praise to Him? This is a natural question to raise now that we have established both His personality and His deity. We have already seen that He is coequal with the Father and the Son. But there is no clear indication in the Scriptures that He may be addressed in prayer or in worship. Prayer is normally made to the Father through Jesus our Mediator, and it is done in or by the Holy Spirit (John 4:23, 24; Philippians 3:3).

    Two prayers in the New Testament indirectly invoke the Holy Spirit. At the conclusion of 2 Corinthians Paul asks that the fellowship of the Holy Spirit may be with the Corinthian Christians (13:14). John, in the Book of Revelation, asks that grace and peace may come to his readers “from the seven Spirits who are before His [God’s] throne” (1:4, NASB). The seven Spirits are elsewhere called the seven Spirits of God (3:1; 4:5; 5:6). This is an obvious reference to the Holy Spirit, even though the number seven may confuse some. The Book of Revelation contains much symbolism, and numbers in this book are often symbolic. Seven is the number of completeness; therefore, “seven Spirits” refers to the Spirit of God in His fullness or His complete activity.

    Isaiah 11:2, 3 is often taken as an explanation of this inasmuch as it contains seven small commentaries on the Holy Spirit: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him [the Messiah]—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”

    In Revelation 4:6–9, four angelic beings around the throne of God worship Him, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty” (v. 8). They are similar to the seraphim in Isaiah’s vision who say to one another, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3, NASB). Some biblical scholars take this triple repetition of the word holy to be an ascription of praise to each member of the Trinity.

    Although there is no clear example in the Scriptures of prayer or praise addressed to the Spirit, there is nothing that prohibits it. And it is perfectly natural for one who believes the Holy Spirit to be God to pray to Him occasionally. This is reflected especially in hymns and choruses. Not only do we sing about the Holy Spirit, but we also sing to Him in hymns like “Holy Spirit, Faithful Guide”; “Holy Ghost, With Light Divine”; and “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”; and in choruses like “Spirit of the Living God” and “Come, Holy Spirit, I Need Thee.”[5]

    QUESTION: How does Logos analyze “It is you, O Lord, whom we must worship.”[6]

    ANSWER: using the Search function of the Context Menu on the relevant datatypes, markers, labels . . .

    speaker:"Kingdom of Judah (Babylonian Exile)"

    addressee:God

    label.longacreGenre:primary:longacreGenre:"Narrative: Future Events"

    speech:(content:Praise AND context:Solitary AND distance:Remote AND mode:Prayer AND type:Dialogue)

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."