“Let us now pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, saying…..Our Father, who art in heaven….”.
With this (or a similar) preamble, on any given Sunday morning, millions of Christians around the world are prompted to recite the Lord’s Prayer. But is it true that the prayer we pray today is the prayer Jesus taught?
Answer: Absolutely not! The words of the Lord’s prayer have actually been changed many times by many people.
Here is a litany of some of the dramatic changes that have shaped the verbiage of the Lord’s Prayer over the past two millennium…
Biblical historians mostly agree (?) that Jesus probably spoke several one sentence prayers during his years of ministry….
“Your name be revered.”
“Let your basileia (kingdom) come.”
“Give us the bread we need for today.”
“Forgive us our debts to the extent we forgive those who are in debt to us.”
“Please don’t subject us to test after test.”
Of course, none of these things were written down at the time they occurred.
Some forty years later, in about the year 75 c.e., the writer(s) of the book we call Matthew wrote these words….
“Our Father in the heavens, your name is revered. Let your kingdom come. Enact your will on earth ,as you have in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us our debts to the extent we forgive those in debt to us. And please don’t subject us to test after test, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Several years later, in the early 80’s, the writer(s) of Luke wrote….
“Father, your name be revered. Let your kingdom come. Give us the bread we need day by day. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone in debt to us. And please don’t subject us to test after test.”
Then, somewhere between 100-150 c.e. a Christian document known as the Didache records these words….
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done as in heaven so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the power, and the glory, forever.”
From another church document (anon.) supposedly authored sometime in the third century, we find ….
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done as in heaven so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debt, to the extent we have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.”
Today, the words that are recited have a more modern sound….
"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.* And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen."
· * In some churches an alternate, “…forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” is used.
So, perhaps the intent, but certainly not the words of Jesus are ensconced in what we recite today as the Lord’s prayer.
Just and interesting bit of history. Enjoy…
barry e
With this (or a similar) preamble, on any given Sunday morning, millions of Christians around the world are prompted to recite the Lord’s Prayer. But is it true that the prayer we pray today is the prayer Jesus taught?
Answer: Absolutely not! The words of the Lord’s prayer have actually been changed many times by many people.Here is a litany of some of the dramatic changes that have shaped the verbiage of the Lord’s Prayer over the past two millennium…
Biblical historians mostly agree (?) that Jesus probably spoke several one sentence prayers during his years of ministry….
“Your name be revered.”
“Let your basileia (kingdom) come.”
“Give us the bread we need for today.”
“Forgive us our debts to the extent we forgive those who are in debt to us.”
“Please don’t subject us to test after test.”
Of course, none of these things were written down at the time they occurred.
Some forty years later, in about the year 75 c.e., the writer(s) of the book we call Matthew wrote these words….
“Our Father in the heavens, your name is revered. Let your kingdom come. Enact your will on earth ,as you have in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us our debts to the extent we forgive those in debt to us. And please don’t subject us to test after test, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Several years later, in the early 80’s, the writer(s) of Luke wrote….
“Father, your name be revered. Let your kingdom come. Give us the bread we need day by day. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone in debt to us. And please don’t subject us to test after test.”
Then, somewhere between 100-150 c.e. a Christian document known as the Didache records these words….
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done as in heaven so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debt, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the power, and the glory, forever.”
From another church document (anon.) supposedly authored sometime in the third century, we find ….
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done as in heaven so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debt, to the extent we have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.”
Today, the words that are recited have a more modern sound….
"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.* And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen."
· * In some churches an alternate, “…forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” is used.
So, perhaps the intent, but certainly not the words of Jesus are ensconced in what we recite today as the Lord’s prayer.
Just and interesting bit of history. Enjoy…
barry e
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