The Lord's Prayer. We have said it so many times the words may have lost some of their power. What if we chose to really search and knock, expecting the door to open? What is the Holy Spirit longing for us to request?Sometimes I wonder why some of these passages were assigned to the Summer months. Especially like the one for this coming Sunday, which is about what is probably the most well-known prayer in Christianity.
Well-known, but known in may different versions.
When I attend services with my brother's family at their Roman Catholic Church, I have to remember that the Roman Catholic mass splits what Episcopalians consider a whole. The Compline service in the Book of Common Prayer also ends the prayer after "and deliver us from evil." Some protestant denominations use "debts" and "debtors" instead of "trespasses" and "those who trespass against us." And then there's the contemporary form from our own Book of Common Prayer, which uses "sins" and "those who sin against us."
Which version is used most often in your church during Sunday worship?
Rite I gives only one option--the so-called traditional version ("Our Father, who art in heaven..."). In Rite II we have a choice: the traditional version or the contemporary version ("Our Father in heaven..."). It depends on which introductory phrase the priest uses. "And now, as our Savior Christ has aught us, we are bold to say," prefaces the traditional version, and "As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we now pray," the contemporary. Many congregations now add some sort of invitation to pray it in the language or form most comfortable for the individual. This often results in a wonderful cacophony of language.
Which version do you use during your private prayers?
At some point, saying and hearing the traditional version--at least in Episcopalian circles--became jarring to my ears when said in the midst of a Rite II Eucharist or Daily Office prayer. So I started using the contemporary version as often as possible. For a long time I stumbled over it. Even growing up unchurched, the traditional "Our Father, who art in heaven" version was the one that I learned and steeped itself in my consciousness. Now, however, I find myself stumbling over that form and have to look at the Prayer Book for the words.
Which one do you teach your children?
The priest that introduced regular use of the contemporary version of the Lord's Prayer in our congregation, when asked, admitted that he was teaching his children the traditional version at home. Most people probably do because that one is ingrained in their memories.
Here are versions of the Lord's Prayer taken from the various Books of Common Prayer. Note the changes that have taken place over the years.
1549 (the very first BCP)
Let us praye.
As our saviour Christe hath commaunded and taught us, we are bolde to saye. Our father, whyche art in heaven, halowed be thy name. Thy Kyngdome come. Thy wyll be doen in yearth, as it is in heaven. Geve us this daye our dayly breade. And forgeve us our trespaces, as wee forgeve them that trespasse agaynst us. And leade us not into temptacion.
The aunswere. But deliver us from evill. Amen.
1552 and 1559
OUR Father, which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy wylle be done in earth as it is in heaven. Geve us this daye oure daylye bread. And forgeve us our trespasses, as we forgeve them that trespass against us. And leade us not into temptacion. But delyver us from evyll. Amen.
1662
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
Episcopal Church: 1786 Proposed, 1789 (First TEC BCP), and 1892
OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
1928
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 trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.
1979
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
-or-
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
How many different versions of the Lord's Prayer can you find?
How do those different versions speak to you as a Christian?
How do they enrich your understanding of the Prayer?
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