"It is better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission."

[Gordon Wright]

That is of course nowhere in the Bible, at least as far as I can tell. But is it reconcilable with scripture or contradicted by it?

The young Jesus did not ask permission of Mary and Joseph to hang out in the temple. Nor did he beg forgiveness afterward.

Moses did not ask permission of Pharaoh to take the Israelites out of Egypt.

Stephen did not ask permission of the Sanhedrin to preach the Word.

Jeremiah did not ask permission of the king to prophesy. Nor did Elijah.

Did Abraham ask permission to leave the house of his father? It's not recorded that he did.

On the other hand, Esther did ask permission - but wasn't completely open about her intentions or motives. Then again, she was dealing with a mental mediocrity in a position of great power. She was in a contest with Haman to grab the strings of this puppet.

Nehemiah asked permission, and it was granted. Suppose it hadn't been granted?

Perhaps whether or not to ask permission depends on the particular situation. It certainly isn't an absolute. The powers that be are inferior to God, and a man of faith can go over the king's head and straight to the top.

 

[Holoman]

Well the wording of the phrase implies that one is doing something wrong, otherwise they wouldn't need forgiveness. I suppose it depends on whether you are doing something morally wrong, or merely something that a particular person perceives as wrong but that you think is for the right reasons. In the examples you gave of people not asking permission I'm not sure any of them asked for forgiveness, so I think given the implications of the question it is unbiblical to do something knowingly wrong in preference to asking for forgiveness later.

 

[Paradoxum]

If someone disagrees with your choice, it's easier to ask 'forgiveness'.

 

[keith99]

One asks permission from one who has authority, or put differently rightful responsibility over you. Scripture speaks volumes on this from honor your mother and your father to Paul saying to submit to authorities.

It may be EASIER to ask forgiveness, but it is not better.

 

[Gordon Wright]

One asks permission from one who has authority, or put differently rightful responsibility over you. Scripture speaks volumes on this from honor your mother and your father to Paul saying to submit to authorities.

Yes, and with provisos galore. But I've already covered that elsewhere.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

When I was little I used to pray to God for a bicycle. Then I found out prayer doesn't work that way so I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

 

[Paradoxum]

It may be EASIER to ask forgiveness, but it is not better.

Why not better, sometimes?

 

[Deidre32]

If given the opportunity, ask permission. There is an implication of taking someone's forgiveness for granted, if you knew beforehand that asking permission was the right thing to do. Just how I view it.

 

[Gordon Wright]

If given the opportunity, ask permission. There is an implication of taking someone's forgiveness for granted, if you knew beforehand that asking permission was the right thing to do. Just how I view it.

Suppose Stephen had asked permission of the Sanhedrin before preaching Christ. Would they have said yes? If they had said no, what then?

 

[Lazy_Proverb]

Suppose Stephen had asked permission of the Sanhedrin before preaching Christ. Would they have said yes? If they had said no, what then?

They did say no. That's why Stephen was stoned to death while Saul of Tarsus held his robe.

They believed they had permission under God and they have never asked forgiveness.

 

[Deidre32]

Suppose Stephen had asked permission of the Sanhedrin before preaching Christ. Would they have said yes? If they had said no, what then?

It's hard to say. You can't preach about religion at work for example, so should you ask there? Maybe there is a time and place for everything. But, you could do it and accept the consequences. There are always consequences, remember.