Question:
54.2—Why do so many people use “Old English” when praying?
Answer:
54.2—The use of “Thee, Thou, and Thy” when referring to God is to show more reverence than simply the common “you.” The Lockman Foundation has followed this in their NASB translation of the Bible. Quoting their l977 edition, they say, “Thou, Thee, and Thy are not used in this translation except in the language of prayer when addressing Deity.” (I believe them to be correct in this.) To be consistent, they ought to have done the same when addressing Christ…Is He not Deity?
Notice that the Lord Jesus is careful in addressing Mary at the grave when He said, “…but go tell my brethren, and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'” He did not say ‘to our Father and our God.’ The distinct Glory of the Godhead must be maintained.