Prayers of the Early Church

On one occasion the disciples observed Christ in prayer and after its conclusion one of them said, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples" (Luke 11:1). We teach men to preach, we teach men to sing, but very seldom do we give any instruction concerning how to pray. If the disciples of our Lord made the request, "teach us to pray," should not we offer up a similar request? Christ proceeded then to give to His disciples what we often call The Model Prayer: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil" (Luke 11:2-5). Christ did not intend for this prayer to be repeated verbatum (although it can be), but rather as a model (hence, The Model Prayer), a starting place, a pattern to be followed. Christ gave us a model to teach us to pray, to give expression to the petitions of our hearts, can we not then also use the words of pious men who have gone before us to express those same desires? I should not be understood to be exalting the words of men to that of our Lord Christ, for I am not, but even though the second and third counsellors are inferior to the first, are not two instructors better than one, and three better than two? "Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established" (Proverbs 15:22).

Having established the validity of examining other prayers as a means of learning how to pray, let's notice some prayers of the early church.

A PRAYER AT MEAL

God, as a Father, provides food for His children. "He hath given food unto them that fear Him" (Psalm 111:5). "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25). In light of this fact, perhaps the most common prayers heard today are prayers of thanksgiving for the nourishment with which we have been provided. It is of course right to thank the Creator for such provisions, but sadly, it may be the ONLY time of day that many of us pray. Regardless, notice here an early example of such a prayer.

"Blessed be you, O Lord, who has nourished me from my youth and who gives food to all flesh. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness, that always having all we need, we may abound in every good work, in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom glory, honor, and power be to you for ever. Amen (Apostolic Constitutions 7.5.49.68).

A PRAYER FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY

Though the following prayer by Clement of Rome is more general, I have here recorded the portion in which he prayed for the government and officials of his day:

"You made manifest the eternal constitution of the world through the things you performed. You, Lord, created the inhabited earth, you who are faithful in all generations, righteous in judgments, marvellous in strength and majesty, wise in creating and understanding in establishing the things made, good in the things seen, and kind to those who trust you, merciful and compassionate. Forgive us our lawlessness and unrighteousness, our transgressions and faults. Do not reckon every sin of your servants and handmaidens, but purify us with the cleansing of your truth and direct our steps to walk in holiness of heart and to do the things which are good and pleasing before you and our rulers. Yes, Lord, make your face to shine upon us for good in peace in order that we may be sheltered by your mighty hand and may be delivered from every sin by your uplifted arm, and deliver us from those who hate us unjustly. Give concord and peace to us and to all who dwell on the earth, even as you gave to our ancestors when they called upon you devoutly in faith and truth. May we be obedient to your almighty and glorious name and to our rulers and governors on the earth. You, O Master, by your majestic and ineffable might gave to them imperial authority in order that we who know the glory and honor you gave to them might be submissive to them, not opposing your will in anything. Give to them, Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability in order that they may administer blamelessly the dominion which you have given them. For you, Master, heavenly King of the ages, do give to human beings glory and honor and authority over what dwells on the earth. May you, Lord, direct their counsel according to what is good and pleasing to you so that by piously administering the authority you gave them with peace and gentleness they may find mercy from you. You alone are able to do these things and better things with us. To you we offer our praise through the high priest and guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be to you the glory and the majesty both now and for all generations for ever and ever. Amen."

Never have I heard such a fervent prayer for the government of our time, and yet, what prayer could be more relevant to our age and circumstance? Paul, a holy apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote to his beloved son in the faith, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Timothy 2:1, 2). I have no fear of saying that this command is all too often over looked, and yet, is it not just as much a part of our sacred vocation as is the singing of psalms or the fellowship of the Lord's Supper? We must heed this exhortation, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). For He that said, Do this in remembrance of Me, saith also, Offer prayers for those in authority. Now if thou remembrest our Lord's death, yet if thou fail to offer prayers for those in authority, thou art become a transgressor of the law. "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty" (James 2:12). We should learn from this prayer of Clement, and make his words our own. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).

A PRAYER FOR UNBELIEVERS

During Jesus longest and most precious recorded sermon, The Sermon on the Mount, He gave the following admonition: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). Though one may say, "I have no enemies," what greater "enemy" have we than those that are "enemies of the cross of Christ" (Philippians 3:18)? Not only should we pray for those who are our enemies personally, but also for all of those that are enemies of our Lord Christ. The prayer of Irenaeus for the conversion of heretics should be our teacher in this matter.

"We indeed pray that they may not remain in that pit which they themselves have dug...and that being converted to the church of God they may be lawfully begotten, that Christ may be formed in them, and that they may know the Framer and Maker of this universe, the only true God and Lord of all. We pray these things for them, loving them to a better purpose than they imagine they love themselves. For our love, since it is true, is for their salvation, if they will accept it...Wherefore it does not weary us to extend our hand to them to cease from their error and to stop their blasphemies against their Maker, who is both the only God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Against Heresies 4.25.7).

The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle, praying for those who oppose themselves that God will give them "repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will" (2 Timothy 2:25, 26).

Hopefully this study has been as beneficial for all of its readers as it has been for me. I leave you with this final admonition: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

*All quotations are taken from "Early Christians Speak: Faith and Life in the First Three Centuries" by Everett Ferguson, 3rd edition.