Should we pray for the dead?

[SeraphimH]

2 Tim 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

Although Paul speaks of Onesiphorus in past tense, there is no indication that Onesiphorus was indeed dead. Maybe he was on his deathbed and Paul, knowing he would not see him again, wished to express his gratification to Onesiphorus in the letter to Timothy.

2 Timothy was also Paul's last letter. He was in prison as he wrote this and most likely knew he was to die shortly... and he did.

When Jesus conquered death, it was the second death that was changed.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

It is believed by many Christians that the dead know their fate as soon as they die. If this is true, why then would Paul waste time praying if Onesiphorus was already where God intended him to be at his death? His mercy would have already bee attained.

This seems to be the only proof text in the NT concerning the alleged praying for the dead. One verse doesn't make a doctrine anyway and where oral tradition or extra Biblical teaching contradict the Bible, they are to be discarded.

Also, why would Paul rebuke the Corinthians for baptizing on the dead's behalf, but then pray for the dead? That too is a contradiction.

How would Christ's death and Resurrection effect the second death, the death of those who reject Him? It was the first death that had separated us from Him, from our life in Him, when we fell in Eden. Through His death and Resurrection, Christ frees those held in Hades (Sheol) and they are granted a foretaste of Paradise or Hell. This is the "judgment" spoke of in Hebrews, the particular judgment faced after death. They await the Second Coming of Christ, either in joyful anticipation of Him, or in great sorrow awaiting their final condemnation. They are unable to help themselves after death, but through our prayers for them, God is compassionate and helps them in ways we can't understand. It also helps us, in kindling a remembrance of death and our numbered days, and to foster repentance in us.

You use one verse to explain this idea of the Resurrection changing the second death, then condemn the use of 1 verse in 2 Timothy to refute Paul praying for the soul of Onesiphorus. Can we pick and choose what we believe from scripture, and claim that it's founded or unfounded based on our personal views? Absolutely not. This is the fault of sola scriptura. Tradition and Scripture together trump this. I would trust the Church that formed the NT canon and their interpretations which are universal in preciseness over all 2000 years through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, over a modern-day pick and choose Scripture precept. Maybe we should all step back and look at scripture from an objective viewpoint, rather than a purely subjective one.

What verse by the way is it in that condemns baptizing in the name of a dead person? I don't remember seeing this and would like to look at it further myself.

 

[follower of Christ]

You use one verse to explain this idea of the Resurrection changing the second death, then condemn the use of 1 verse in 2 Timothy to refute Paul praying for the soul of Onesiphorus.

No offense but there is no indication that Paul is praying for the dead there at all.

 

[follower of Christ]

This is the fault of sola scriptura. Tradition and Scripture together trump this. I would trust the Church that formed the NT canon and their interpretations which are universal in preciseness over all 2000 years through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, over a modern-day pick and choose Scripture precept. Maybe we should all step back and look at scripture from an objective viewpoint, rather than a purely subjective one

huh.
Do you mean the church who used to call us protestants 'heretic' who then changed to a more politically correct phrase 'separated brethren' ?

I'll take the consistency of Gods word in matters of doctrine over being told what to believe about it by men who cant seem to make up there minds.

 

[SeraphimH]

This is the fault of sola scriptura. Tradition and Scripture together trump this. I would trust the Church that formed the NT canon and their interpretations which are universal in preciseness over all 2000 years through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, over a modern-day pick and choose Scripture precept. Maybe we should all step back and look at scripture from an objective viewpoint, rather than a purely subjective one

huh.
Do you mean the church who used to call us protestants 'heretic' who then changed to a more politically correct phrase 'separated brethren' ?

I'll take the consistency of Gods word in matters of doctrine over being told what to believe about it by men who cant seem to make up there minds.

Unfortunately there is no consistency in God's word when it's interpreted on a purely personal level. Correct interpretation involves the consistency and the catholicity (universal in all places and ages) of the Holy Spirit inspired saints, who despite being separated by time and distance, consistently came up with the same interpretations. You must be confusing Orthodoxy with Roman Catholicism, and the two aren't even close anymore.

I've never heard the phrase "separated brethren" from any Orthodox Christian. We know which Church the Holy Spirit abides in, but who are we to say where He is not? That would be exceedingly prideful.

 

[GuitarGirl28]

OK, I'm new on here, but this question really got my attention. At night when I say prayers to my children, I ask God to please bless Grandma, Great-Grandma, and my 3 year-old's lost twin. This brings comfort to my children to still remember them in prayer, especially my 3 year-old, who was so little when he lost his Grandma and Great-Grandma. He constantly asks about them and reminds me if I forget to mention them in our nightly prayers. Until I lost my mom, though, I'd never prayed for the dead. I'd never had such a close loss. My mom, along with my grandmother, were both believers, so I have no doubt I'll see them again. But, I've found that praying for them also gives me comfort also.