Friday, June 07, 2013

Hippolytus And Prayers To The Dead

Praying to the deceased is an unbiblical and antibiblical practice with no foundation in the earliest generations of church history. See the articles on the subject linked here. The Roman Catholic theologian Ludwig Ott wrote:

"The invocation of the saints is first attested by St. Hippolytus of Rome, who turns to the three companions of Daniel with the prayer: 'Think of me, I beseech you, so that I may achieve with you the same fate of martyrdom.' (In Dan. II, 30)." (Fundamentals Of Catholic Dogma [Rockford, Illinois: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1974], 319)

It would be bad enough if nobody could be cited prior to Hippolytus. But can Catholics even do that much?

A few years ago, Tom Schmidt published what, to my knowledge, is the first full English translation of Hippolytus' commentary on Daniel, the document cited by Ott. You can read it for free online. The commentary is significant for more than one reason. It contains the first reference to December 25 as Jesus' birthday, for example. But does the document also have the significance Ott assigns to it?

No. As I've noted before, we have to distinguish between addressing the deceased in prayer and addressing them as a rhetorical device. Who would argue that Psalm 114:6 supports prayer to mountains? Or that Evangelicals who sing Angels From The Realms Of Glory believe in praying to angels? In a previous thread at this blog, a commenter cited Psalm 103:21 as evidence for prayer to angels, but didn't apply the same reasoning to the verse that follows.

Ott is correct in saying that Hippolytus writes as if he's speaking to the companions of Daniel. But consider who else Hippolytus addressed in a similar manner (all references that follow are to Tom Schmidt's translation):

"For they who believe have carried up all authority and glory to God, because he is able to deliver us, but if not we would rather gladly die than to do what is prescribed by you, Nebuchadnezzar!" (2.24.8 on p. 66)

"Tell me, Nebuchadnezzar, on what account do you order these boys to be bound and cast into the fire?" (2.27.2 on p. 68)

Notice, first, that Hippolytus is addressing Nebuchadnezzar in contexts in which he's acting sinfully, an unlikely context for addressing prayer to somebody. Secondly, notice that Hippolytus addresses Nebuchadnezzar as if he's currently in the process of doing what's described in the book of Daniel. Clearly, Hippolytus is addressing Nebuchadnezzar as a rhetorical device. He's not praying to Nebuchadnezzar. So, why should we think that he's praying to Daniel's companions when he addresses them?

Here's an example of Hippolytus addressing dead unbelievers in the context of sins they committed centuries earlier:

"O lawless rulers and leaders who are filled with diabolical activity! Did Moses hand down these things to you?" (1.20.2-3 on p. 32)

Elsewhere, Hippolytus approvingly refers to believers who speak to "all creation" (2.29.3-9 on pp. 71-72). Should we conclude, then, that Hippolytus believed in praying to trees, planets, etc.?

Another problem with Ott's use of Hippolytus is that he ignores the immediate context of the passage he cites. Here's the passage as Ott cites it, followed by the full passage in Schmidt's translation:

"Think of me, I beseech you, so that I may achieve with you the same fate of martyrdom."

"Tell me, you three boys, remember me, I entreat you, that I also may obtain the same lot of martyrdom with you, who was the fourth person with you who was walking in the midst of the furnace and who was hymning to God with you as from one mouth? Describe to us his form and beauty so that we also, seeing him in the flesh, may recognize him. Who was he who in this way orderly described all creation through your mouth, so that you omitted nothing of which is and has been?" (2.30.1-2 on p. 73)

Notice that Ott leaves out the portions of Hippolytus' comments in which he asks Daniel's companions to answer questions and provide him (Hippolytus) with information. When Catholics pray to the dead, do they expect the dead to answer questions for them and provide them with the sort of information Hippolytus is requesting? Catholics often tell us that they don't pray in that manner. We're often told, by Catholics, that all they do in prayer to the dead is ask the dead to pray for them. Despite what they claim, they often do more than that. For instance, they'll offer thanksgiving, praise, and requests for protection to Mary when they pray to her. But when Hippolytus asks Daniel's companions questions and asks them to provide him with information, is that how Catholics typically pray to the deceased?

In another work, Hippolytus defines prayer as "supplication offered to God" (On The Psalms, 1:8). It's unlikely that he believed in praying to the dead.

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