Praise be to GOD

[Once4all]

Do a word search on the word "praise" in the NT and see to whom praise is directed. It is directed to "God" and to "the Father."

Yes, there are other instances of praise being directed to (or denied) men; for example, by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:2 and 11:17.

There is one verse where praise is directed toward Jesus:

Luke 4:15 NASB - And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.

But that only lasted until Jesus compared them to the wicked Israelites in the days of Elijah and Elisha. Then the praise turned to rage:

Luke 4:28-29 NASB
(28) And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things;
(29) and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.

I am NOT saying that Jesus doesn't deserve our praise. He certainly does for what he did for us, for his perfect obedience to God, and because he is our Lord. But there's just no direct example—using the word "praise"—in the New Testament. The "upward" praise is directed to "God" or "the Father."

Then there's the word "hallelujah." What does that mean? "Oh, that means 'Praise the Lord!'" Well, no, it doesn't. It literally means "Praise Yah" and Yah is Almighty God. Jesus is not Yah. Yet, I wonder if you have Jesus in mind as the recipient when you say hallelujah? It makes sense to say "Hallelujah!" praising God for Jesus, though.

Food for thought.

[Sower]

Mar 17, 2010 1:10:04 GMT -5 Once4all said:

Do a word search on the word "praise" in the NT and see to whom praise is directed. It is directed to "God" and to "the Father."

Yes, there are other instances of praise being directed to (or denied) men; for example, by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:2 and 11:17.

There is one verse where praise is directed toward Jesus:

Luke 4:15 NASB - And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.

But that only lasted until Jesus compared them to the wicked Israelites in the days of Elijah and Elisha. Then the praise turned to rage:

Luke 4:28-29 NASB
(28) And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things;
(29) and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.

I am NOT saying that Jesus doesn't deserve our praise. He certainly does for what he did for us, for his perfect obedience to God, and because he is our Lord. But there's just no direct example—using the word "praise"—in the New Testament. The "upward" praise is directed to "God" or "the Father."

Then there's the word "hallelujah." What does that mean? "Oh, that means 'Praise the Lord!'" Well, no, it doesn't. It literally means "Praise Yah" and Yah is Almighty God. Jesus is not Yah. Yet, I wonder if you have Jesus in mind as the recipient when you say hallelujah? It makes sense to say "Hallelujah!" praising God for Jesus, though.

Food for thought.

Hi Bev,

I think, I found more instances of the Lord Jesus being praised:

1 Peter 4:11, 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16; Jude 1:25; Revelation 1:6!

The Sower~

[Once4all]

Mar 19, 2010 20:31:25 GMT -5 Sower said:

Hi Bev,

I think, I found more instances of the Lord Jesus being praised:

1 Peter 4:11, 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16; Jude 1:25; Revelation 1:6!

The Sower~

Hi Sower! Thanks for reading and commenting on my post.

My search was only on the word "praise." To search also on "glory" does reveal many additional examples!

Pronouns in the Bible can be tricky, however, as it is not always obvious to whom they refer. I'll look at each of the scriptures you listed.

(1 Peter 4:11 NASB) Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The "whom" there, I believe, is God, not Jesus. God is glorified through Jesus (as the verse states). Some other New Testament scriptures:

Romans 11:32-36 NASB
(32) For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
(33) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
(34) For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?
(35) Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?
(36) For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

That the "Him" in verse 36 is God is clear from verses 32 and 33.

(Romans 16:27 NASB) to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

(Philippians 4:20 NASB) Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

(Jude 1:25 NASB) to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

There are others, some with pronouns that could go either way, depending on one's point of view. I'm not saying this is never applied to Jesus. Our love and good deeds are a glory to Christ, who is the glory of God.
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(1 Timothy 1:17 NASB) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:17 speaks of the only God, which we know is God the Father. (John 17:3, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6)
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(1 Timothy 6:16 NASB) who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

This is speaking of God, not Jesus. It is speaking of He who will bring about the appearing of Christ (1 Timothy 6:13-15); the He who is the only one who knows the day or hour (Mark 13:32).

(1 Timothy 6:15 NASB) which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
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(Jude 1:25 NASB) to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

As this verse says, we glorify God through Jesus.
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(Revelation 1:6 NASB) and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

I believe the "to Him" refers to "His God and Father." (Yes, Jesus—the one who "released us from our sins by his blood" (vs 5)—has a God.

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And now I remember why that other thread made me think of this. The worship, praise, and hymns in the New Testament are heavily weighted on God the Father, not Jesus. Yet churches today have flip-flopped that ratio.