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Re: "God helps those who help themselves."

Posted by ESC on October 31, 2002

In Reply to: "God helps those who help themselves." posted by Stan on October 31, 2002

: Although often attributed to the Bible, I don't think that is where this phrase originated. A little help please?
: I would also like to take this opportunity to say, as a lover of the English language, that I enjoy your site very much and appreciate all of the help given by the contributors. Thank you.

Nope. Not from the Bible.

GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES - "Some faith adages roll off the tongue, like 'God helps those who help themselves.' But the saying is not biblical and, in fact, violates a primary scriptural teaching that only God determines a person's destiny, according to religion analyst George Barna (the phrase).is an ancient proverb that shows up in the literature of many cultures, including a 1736 edition of Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack. But it does not appear in the Bible and suggests a spiritual self-reliance inconsistent with Christianity, said David Kinnaman, vice president of Barna Research Group." Mr. Kinnaman's comment was contained in a Washington Post article by Bill Broadway published in the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader on Sept. 2, 2000. Barna included the phrase in a list of 14 used in a survey of religious beliefs conducted by his California-based research organization. "The results of Barna's yearly surveys on faith and culture are meant tot help Christian pastors and groups focus their ministries," the article states.