The Model Prayer
KJV Translation and Textus Receptus - Matthew 6:9-15
9 ¶ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
9 outwV oun proseucesqe umeiV pater hmwn o en toiV ouranoiV agiasqhtw (Aorist Passive Imperative) to onoma sou
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
10 elqetw (2nd Aorist Active Imperative) h basileia sou genhqhtw (Aorist Passive Imperative) to qelhma sou wv en ouranw kai epi thV ghV
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
11 ton arton hmwn ton epiousion doV (2nd Aorist Active Imperative) hmin shmeron
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
12 kai afeV (2nd Aorist Active Imperative) hmin ta ofeilhmata hmwn wV kai hmeiV afiemen (Present Active Indicative) toiV ofeiletaiV hmwn
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
13 kai mh eisenegkhV (Aorist Active Subjunctive) hmaV eiV peirasmon alla rusai (Aorist Middle Imperative) hmaV apo tou ponhrou oti sou estin (Aorist Passive Imperative) h basileia kai h dunamiV kai h doxa eiV touV aiwnaV amhn
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
14 ean gar afhte (Aorist Active Subjunctive) toiV anqrwpoiV ta paraptwmata autwn afhsei (Future Active Indicative) kai umin o pathr umwn o ouranioV
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
15 ean de mh afhte (Aorist Active Subjunctive) toiV anqrwpoiV ta paraptwmata autwn oude o pathr umwn afhsei (Furure Active Indicative) ta paraptwmata umwn
Here is Young's Literal Translation which scholars accept as valid translation of this passage.
9 ¶ thus therefore pray ye: `Our Father who art in the heavens! hallowed be Thy name.
10 `Thy reign come: Thy will come to pass, as in heaven also on the earth.
11 `Our appointed bread give us to-day.
12 `And forgive us our debts, as also we forgive our debtors.
13 `And mayest Thou not lead us to temptation, but deliver us from the evil, because Thine is the reign, and the power, and the glory--to the ages. Amen.
14 `For, if ye may forgive men their trespasses He also will forgive you--your Father who is in the heavens;
15 but if ye may not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
My comments on translating this passage:
Since I have only officially taken 1 year of organized Greek despite unofficially studying it for 4+ years for my own purposes of understanding Scripture, I recognize that I am not an expert. However, the otherside is that I do have a little to offer, and that is what I am attempting to do, offer what I have learned which adds to understanding this passage.
The Aorist tense is a tense that begins in the past and throughout its usage in the Koine Greek, it is translated into our simple past tense. However, it is unique that it doesn't mean that it is over or complete. An example of what I mean is found in Ephesians 4:11 where we have the five-fold ministry. This action of gifts to the body from Jesus started in the past when He ascended on high, but it is not complete as people are still called as pastors and apostles and prophets and teachers and evangelists. The Aorist as in other conjugations also has a voice (the middle part of what I have placed above to show one of three possibilities, active, passive or middle passive), and a mood which is the third part (imperative as we know to be a command, subjunctive which we know to be clearly a choice on the subject or indicative which declares the activity as denoted or perceived in reality or the verbal idea). When these different elements are combined together they produce a clear and precise meaning. This applies to infinitives and particples and gives us some of the most dorect insight into passages that is irrefutable about what is meant in them. The context will confirm the literal when the context is exegeted correctly as well. This is also proven in 1 John Chapters 1 & 2.
The specific verse in question is verse 12, so let's take a closer look at it. 12 kai afeV (2nd Aorist Active Imperative) hmin ta ofeilhmata hmwn wV kai hmeiV afiemen (Present Active Indicative) toiV ofeiletaiV hmwn
Now the the verb aphiemi is the verb used and is tranlsated forgive in its normal standing, but when we read in the Greek that it is 2nd Aorist (the difference between 1st and 2nd Aorist is the consonants, the meaning and usage is the same) we see that it starts in the past, the voice is active so the subject is doing the action, and the mood is the Imperative which is the command form. Now when the mood from the Aorist is either subjunctive or imperative it places and emphasis or immediacy on the action. Literally it would say, "And forgive NOW!" as indicated by the syntax and structure. Jesus also places in here the pronoun of "us" or "I" in the plural. Now this verse has a word that links the first thought with the second thought, wV kai - os kai - "JUST AS" AND or also or in addition to that thought.
This is critical to the verse because of the linkage. The way we have "commanded" the Lord to forgive us because of the syntax emphasis, we must also be a forgiving person asking forgiveness and giving forgiveness. Why? That's the translation of the second part because it is in the Present tense, it is always in the present tense and it is in the Active voice placing the stress on where the action is applied which is the direct object, the person that we forgive, and it is in the Indicative mood which confirms the action in reality or declares it in reality.
The literal papraphrase of this verse with all the proper emphasis based upon the syntax would be as such: God, forgive us now our sins, start in the past where we confessed them, and each and every time we confess our sins, and just as we walk our walk in life forgive us, and keep forgiving us the same way we forgive others and maintain that Christlike attitude of freely forgiving others.
The paraphrase that I have done is also confirmed by verses 14 and 15. We are to ask for forgiveness as the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, and the Faithful Lord of all will forgive us, yet there is one more detail of us having this same attitude of forgiveness freely forgiving those who sin against us. Sin is far too dangerous to take a callous and lackadasical look at it. When we sin, let's come boldy to the throne of grace and receive that which He has, mercy. Let's approach Him and ask for forgiveness confessing our sins and allowing Him to apply the payment for those sins that He made on Calvary's tree. Yes, He has already paid for it, and applying payment to that sin will cleanse us from all unrighteousness as John wrote to the church who was being deceived by gnosticism and New Age doctrine. Confess your sins, He is still forgiving sins for all who ask Him today.