“If my people, which are called by my name (Christians), shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chron.7:14 KJV).
A protasis is the clause expressing the condition of a conditional sentence (e.g., “If you asked me” in “If you asked me, I would agree”). An apodosis is the main clause of a conditional sentence (e.g., “I would agree” in “If you asked me, I would agree”). A protasis expresses the condition of a conditional sentence and is in most instances introduced with the word “if.” An apodosis is the main clause in a conditional sentence and is usually introduced with the word “then.”
A conditional sentence isn’t a command, but would more likely be called a suggestion or incentive for doing right and obeying a command, or a warning against doing wrong and not obeying a command.
The Bible has many protases and apodoses. In other words, there are many promises in the Bible (KJV) which are conditional. If we meet the conditions, God’s promises are fulfilled in our lives.
God promises to chasten or discipline His people when they disobey His Word, and to bless them when they obey His Word (c.f. Deut. 11:26-28; Ps.119:67, 71, and 75).
The protasis is the condition that God expects us to meet, and which He knows we can meet, and the apodosis is the promise we can expect God to fulfill after we’ve met His conditions. Once God makes a promise, He is morally obligated to fulfill it if the conditions are met. He will keep His Word, whether it’s to chasten or to bless.
Leviticus 26:3 introduces a protasis: “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them.” Verses 4 through 13 give the apodosis: “Then I will give you rain . . . peace . . . have respect unto you, and make you fruitful . . . And I will walk among you.”
In verse 14, there’s another protasis introduced with the words: “But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments . . .” Verses 16 through 39 give the apodosis: “I will appoint over you terror . . . I will set my face against you . . . I will break the pride of your power . . . I will walk contrary to you . . . I will bring the land into desolation . . . I will scatter you among the heathen.”
Deuteronomy 28, 1 Chronicles 16, and Proverbs 2:1-5 are other places in Scripture where the protasis and apodosis are used.
Our opening text has the most important protasis and apodosis for us today.
The protasis or condition that the church must meet is simply to repent of her sins and turn back to the God of the Bible (KJV). The apodosis is the promise from God that if we do, He will heal and restore America.
The conditions in America make her ripe for revolution or revival. The direction in which our nation proceeds will be determined by what Christians do about this promise from God.
