Acts of Worship

[aggie03]

This another forum where I have recently become a member where this discussion has come up. Have you all ever heard of the phrase "Acts of worship" used to try and describe certain things that are done "during the worship service"?

If you have heard of these, and even better if you believe that they exist, would you please provide the basis for these from the Sciptures showing clearly where they are defined. I have yet to find a single translation anywhere that has the phrase "acts of worship" located anywhere within the text of the New Testament. I will admit that I have not committed a thorough search of all the translations that I have, but I have not found it in the only one that really matters, the ASV (j/k ;) ).

I would appreciate any information that you all can provide. :)

[constance]

http://bible.gospelcom.net/

Check out "The Message" translation - maybe that's it?

Constance

[aggie03]

Could you provide a passage from that translation?

[constance]

2 Chron 2:4
I'm about to build a house of worship in honor of GOD, a holy place for burning perfumed incense, for setting out holy bread, for making Whole-Burnt-Offerings at morning and evening worship, and for Sabbath, New Moon, and Holy Day services of worship--the acts of worship required of Israel.

2 Chron 29:7
They boarded up the doors, turned out the lights, and canceled all the acts of worship of the GOD of Israel in the holy Temple.

Psalm 50:8
I don't find fault with your acts of worship, the frequent burnt sacrifices you offer.

Psalm 51:19
Then you'll get real worship from us, acts of worship small and large, Including all the bulls they can heave onto your altar!

[/url]Is 66:3
"Your acts of worship are acts of sin: Your sacrificial slaughter of the ox is no different from murdering the neighbor; Your offerings for worship, no different from dumping pig's blood on the altar; Your presentation of memorial gifts, no different from honoring a no-god idol. You choose self-serving worship, you delight in self-centered worship--disgusting!

[url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=51&chapter=18&verse=13&version=65&context=verse"] (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=23&chapter=51&verse=18&end_verse=20&version=65&context=context)Acts 18:13
and filed charges: "This man is seducing people into acts of worship that are illegal."

Heb 13:16
Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship--a different kind of "sacrifice"--that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.

[constance]

By the way, I am not endorsing this particular translation. you can see this and probably 20 other translations at biblegateway.com

Constance

[aggie03]

I'm currently looking up some information on that particular translation. Are you aware of any others that use that phrase. Thank you for looking those up for me :) That's the first translation that I am aware of that uses that particular phrase.

[constance]

You may go to http://bible.gospelcom.net/ and look at the other 20 translations to see if they contain the phrase you are looking for. It is a nice site, I am sure you will find it quite useful.

Constance

[rlvaughn]

Crosswalk.dot.com also has many different translations that can be searched. Acts 26:7 in the Complete Jewish Bible has the phrase. It is the only one I found besides "The Message". I have never heard of the Complete Jewish Bible, and certainly wouldn't endorse it. Just passin' on information.

[aggie03]

Constance:

I've done a little more looking into the passages that you've quoted from the message, and I'm not satisfied with what I've found out. In the New Testament the passages that you mentioned where the phrase "acts of worship" is actually found the Greek words should be translated "worship" and "sacrifice" respectively.

I have a couple problems with this. First, the translation is not consistent making it very difficult to try and derive a definition from the text. Second, where they have that phrase doesn't seem to help answer the question I've posted in any way (as far as defining or nailing down what an act of worship is).

I really appreciate the effort that you went through to look for that exact phrase :). I look forward to talking about this more with you, as this is something that I have been wondering about for quite some time.

RLVaughn:

The passage that you've quoted should also simply be translated as worship, or ever better "to serve". Unfortunately, this doesn't bring my any closer to answering the question either.

[constance]

Do you want me to look it up in the greek?

Constance

[aggie03]

I've been a bit of looking on my own in the Greek and I can't find the phrase anywhere.

I suppose what I'm really looking for is reasons why people believe that there should be something that we designate as the "worship service". When I read through the New Testament, I can see where different groups of Christians come together to worship God, but I never see anything designated as a "worship service" in the way that we attempt to so designate things today. Does any of this make any sense at all?