the New Testament promises of resurrection and eternal life (e.g., John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15; 2 Cor. 5:1–15). The preacher/teacher who chooses to take one or both of the angles mentioned above may also integrate into that message the triple use of the suppliant’s verb of petition (see “Outline/Structure”). The three verbs are synonyms. And while we must be careful that we do not overreach for their semantic extensions, here is a case where three synonyms carry a slightly different nuance of meaning—that’s