re prayer in jesus name according to what i have read on biblical idioms speaking in x s name is a standard aramaic hebrew legal idiom for what we today would call power of attorney a person from jesus culture authorized to conduct business in john s name had full authority over john s financial affairs but was held under a solemn fiduciary obligation to work only for john s benefit and consonant with john s wishes it was not required for the steward to preface each business transaction with in john s name it was sufficient to have valid power of attorney and be operating in good faith note the overlap here between legal and religious definitions of faith with this cultural background praying in jesus name does not mandate a particular verbal formula rather it requires that the petitioner be operating faithfully and consciously within an analogous fiduciary relationship with jesus and for the purposes of his kingdom the message of praying in jesus name is thus closely aligned with the parable of the talents and other passages about god s delegation of kingdom business to his stewards both resources and responsibilities this idea of praying in jesus name is not only present but prominent in the lord s prayer although the verbal forumula is absent the act of praying the words in jesus name may be beneficial if they cause us to clarify the relationship of our requests to the advancement of god s kingdom for that reason i m not quite ready to say that the praying the formula is without meaning prayers to god for other purposes desperation anger thanksgiving etc don t seem to be in this category at all whether uttered by christian or non christian whether b c or a d that s b c e or c e for you p c i don t see anything in christ s words to contradict the idea that god deals with all prayers according to his omniscience and grace van kelly vek research att com the above opinions are my own and not those of at t
