In the KJV, there is not a single verse that says, word-for-word, “you may only ask God directly and not angels.”
That teaching is usually drawn from several passages taken together:
Main KJV basis (prayer directed to God)
- Matthew 6:6, 9 (KJV) — Jesus teaches prayer to the Father (“Our Father…”).
- John 14:13–14 (KJV) — “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name…” (prayer/request is directed to Christ / to God in Christ’s name).
- John 16:23 (KJV) — “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name…”
- Philippians 4:6 (KJV) — “…let your requests be made known unto God.”
- 1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV) — “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Verses used against angel-veneration / angel-directed devotion
- Colossians 2:18 (KJV) — warns about “worshipping of angels.”
- Revelation 19:10 (KJV) — when John falls before an angel, the angel says:
“See thou do it not… worship God.” - Revelation 22:8–9 (KJV) — same pattern again: the angel refuses this and says, “worship God.”
What this means (KJV-based conclusion)
The KJV does not explicitly say, “Do not ask angels for help” in those exact words.
But many Christians conclude that:
- Prayer/petitions are to be made to God (Father, through Christ),
- Worship/devotional reliance on angels is forbidden, and
- Angels are servants/messengers of God, not the proper recipients of prayer.
Important nuance
The Bible does show people speaking with angels when angels appear (for example in Daniel, Zechariah, Luke, Acts), but that is different from a standing practice of praying to angels.
Best alternative argument (from the pro-intercession side) is usually this:
Core alternative argument
They would say:
- The Bible forbids worshipping angels
(Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10; 22:8–9) - But it does not explicitly forbid asking heavenly beings to pray/intercede
- Therefore, “asking” is not the same thing as “worshipping”
In other words:
“Don’t worship angels” ≠ “You may never address an angel at all.”
Strongest form of that argument (KJV framing)
1) The Bible shows heaven involved with prayers
- Revelation 5:8 (KJV) — golden vials “full of odours, which are the prayers of saints”
- Revelation 8:3–4 (KJV) — an angel offers incense “with the prayers of all saints”
Argument: if angels are involved in presenting prayers before God, then asking for angelic assistance is not automatically anti-biblical.
2) Angels are ministers sent to help
- Hebrews 1:14 (KJV) — angels are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation”
Argument: if God sends angels to minister to believers, asking for their help (under God) may be seen as requesting the service God already appoints them to do.
3) Speaking to angels is not inherently condemned
Scripture includes humans speaking with angels (Daniel, Zechariah, Luke, Acts, Revelation).
Argument: direct address to an angel is not itself sinful; the sin is giving an angel worship that belongs to God.
The key distinction they insist on
They distinguish between:
- Worship / adoration (for God alone)
vs. - Requesting intercession / assistance (as one might ask another believer to pray)
That is the strongest conceptual move.
The main weakness of that argument (why many reject it)
Even though it’s the best alternative argument, many Christians still reject it because:
- There is no clear KJV example of believers being taught to pray to angels
- Jesus and the apostles consistently direct prayer to God
- 1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV) strongly centers Christ as mediator
So the debate usually turns on this question:
“Is silence permission (if not worship), or is the prayer pattern to God alone meant to exclude angel-directed requests?”