We do not pray to Jesus. We pray only to teh Father
Incorrect-
Stephen's Prayer to Jesus
Acts 7:59-60: "And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on (ἐπικαλεῖσθαι) God and saying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not charge them with this sin.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
Greek Words: Stephen ἐπικαλεῖσθαι (epikaleisthai) or "called upon" the Lord Jesus in prayer as he was being martyred, directly addressing Him and entrusting his spirit to Jesus.
2. Paul's Prayer to Jesus
2 Corinthians 12:8-9: "Concerning this thing I pleaded (παρεκάλεσα) with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'"
Greek Words: Paul παρεκάλεσα (parekalesa) or "pleaded" with the Lord (Jesus) in a direct petition, seeking relief from his affliction.
3. Prayer for Jesus' Return
Revelation 22:20: "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
Greek Words: While the specific Greek term for "prayer" isn’t used here, the phrase "come, Lord Jesus!" functions as a direct appeal or prayer (προσευχή, proseuchē) to Jesus for His return.
4. The Apostles' Prayer to Jesus
Acts 1:24-25: "And they prayed (προσευξάμενοι) and said, 'You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.'"
Greek Words: The apostles προσευξάμενοι (proseuxamenoi) or "prayed" to Jesus, asking Him to guide their decision in choosing Judas' replacement.
5. Invocation of Jesus' Name
1 Corinthians 1:2: "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on (ἐπικαλουμένοις) the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours."
Greek Words: The term ἐπικαλουμένοις (epikaloumenois) is used here to describe how early Christians would "call on" the name of Jesus in prayer, signifying direct invocation of Christ.
These passages use the Greek terms for prayer (προσευχή) and calling upon (ἐπικαλέομαι) to show that early Christians prayed to Jesus, directly invoking His name and seeking His aid. These examples demonstrate that prayer to Jesus was an established practice, reflecting His divine status and the early believers’ recognition of His authority and presence.
Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35-108 AD)
Example: In his letter to the Romans, Ignatius expressed his desire to be united with Christ and mentioned praying to Jesus. He writes, "Permit me to be an imitator of the passion of my God" (Letter to the Romans, 6.3). His use of "my God" in reference to Jesus shows his devotion and the practice of addressing Jesus in prayer.
2. Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 69-155 AD)
Example: Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John, is recorded to have prayed to Jesus at his martyrdom. Before his death, he prayed, "I bless You, for having been deemed worthy of this day and hour, that I might take a portion among the number of martyrs in the cup of Christ" (Martyrdom of Polycarp, 14:2). This prayer reflects his faith and invocation of Jesus.
3. Justin Martyr (c. 100-165 AD)
Example: In Dialogue with Trypho, Justin refers to Christians as those who "pray to God the Father and to Jesus Christ" (Chapter 85). Justin acknowledged the practice of addressing prayers to both the Father and the Son, highlighting Jesus' divine role.
4. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-215 AD)
Example: Clement often spoke of praying to Christ, particularly in his work Exhortation to the Greeks. He refers to Jesus as the "Savior" and "God" to whom Christians offer prayers, showing the early tradition of prayer directed to Jesus.
5. Origen (c. 185-253 AD)
Example: Origen, in his work On Prayer, explicitly states that prayers should be offered to God through Jesus Christ. While he emphasizes praying to the Father, he acknowledges that Jesus, as the Logos and mediator, is also addressed in prayer.
The practice of praying to Jesus was well-established among the early Church Fathers. They viewed Jesus as divine, the Son of God, and as someone who could be addressed directly in prayer. This reflects the early Christian belief in the divinity of Christ and His active role in the spiritual lives of believers. These examples demonstrate that praying to Jesus was not only accepted but encouraged as part of Christian worship and devotion.