Is there any scriptural support for praying to anyone besides God?

Question

If so, please cite the references.

Mr Obvious, this question applies to Christianity, as well as any other religion. I am open to hearing anyone's views.

Answer 1

Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we, believers here on earth, can "...approach the throne of grace with confidence..."
1 Timothy 2:5 declares, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." There is no one else that can mediate with God for us.
Further, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ Himself is interceding for us before the Father, "Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
Catholics argue that praying to Mary and the saints is no different than asking someone here on earth to pray for you. Let us examine that claim. (1) The Apostle Paul asks other Christians to pray for him in Ephesians 6:19. Many Scriptures describe believers praying for one another (2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:19; 2 Timothy 1:3). The Bible nowhere mentions anyone asking for someone in Heaven to pray for them. The Bible nowhere describes anyone in Heaven praying for anyone on earth. (2) The Bible gives absolutely no indication that Mary or the saints can hear our prayers. Mary and the saints are not omniscient. Even glorified in Heaven, they are still finite beings with limitations. How could they possibly hear the prayers of millions of people? Whenever the Bible mentions praying to or speaking with the dead, it is in the context of sorcery, witchcraft, necromancy, and divination - activities the Bible strongly condemns (Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-13). The one instance when a "saint" is spoken to, Samuel in 1 Samuel 28:7-19, Samuel was not exactly happy to be disturbed. It is plainly clear that praying to Mary or the saints is completely different from asking someone here on earth to pray for you. One has a strong Biblical basis, the other has no Biblical basis whatsoever.

God does not answer prayers based on who is praying. God answers prayers based on whether they are asked according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). There is absolutely no basis or need to pray to anyone other than God alone. There is no basis for asking those who are in Heaven to pray for us. Only God can hear our prayers. Only God can answer our prayers. No one in Heaven has any greater access to God's throne that we do through prayer (Hebrews 4:16).

Recommended Resource: The Gospel According to Rome: Comparing Catholic Tradition and The Word of God by James McCarthy.

Answer 2

God, by definition, is the one you pray to. I don't see referances to what God actually is as far as a detailed description.

I guess some things the scripture left to imagination. For example, look in Exodus, that part right before Moses goes to the Pharoah. The voice (God) tells Moses to go to the Pharoah and tell the him to let his people go. Moses asks the voice, "Which God should I say sent me?" The voice only says, "YAHWAH." In Hebrew, that's a simple verb. It means simply "to be" in English. The King James translates this passage as "I am what I am."

No other discription is given.

Answer 3

What would make us think that anyone but God could hear us when we pray? No one else is omnipresent or omniscient. God doesn't give His glory to anyone.

Answer 4

Uh, dude. I assume you mean within Christianity? And I assume you don't approve of certain Christians praying to saints and whatnot?

Am I right or wrong? YOU NEED TO ELABORATE WHAT YOU MEAN, because there are many scriptures and many gods.

Answer 5

nope. praying to false god's is called idolarty. There is one mediator between man and God and thats Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

nope

Answer 7

Not that I know of.

Answer 8

No, doesn't exist.