Number of Parts in the Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer, as taught by Jesus to his disciples, is presented in two main forms in the Gospels: Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 [1, 2]. While both versions convey the same core message, there are differences in their length and structure, leading to varying interpretations regarding the number of petitions it contains.
The version in Matthew's Gospel is generally considered to have seven petitions, a view held by early Church Fathers like Augustine [6]. These seven petitions are often grouped into two categories: three petitions focused on eternal blessings and four on temporal needs [6]. Augustine identifies the first three as "Hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," which he interprets as requests for eternal blessings [6]. The remaining four petitions address daily bread, forgiveness of debts, deliverance from temptation, and rescue from evil [6].
However, the Gospel of Luke presents a shorter version of the prayer, which Augustine notes contains five petitions [7]. Augustine clarifies that this brevity in Luke does not indicate a discrepancy but rather a more concise way of expressing the same concepts found in Matthew's seven petitions [7]. For instance, Luke's version omits the petition "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" [7].
The closing doxology, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen," found in some versions of Matthew 6:13 (such as the King James Version), is omitted in Luke's account and in the Revised Version of Matthew [2]. This doxology is considered by some scholars to be a later addition to the text [2].
Throughout Christian history, theologians have analyzed the structure and content of the Lord's Prayer. Thomas Aquinas, for example, considered the Lord's Prayer to be "most perfect" because it encompasses all fitting desires for prayer [3]. He affirmed the fittingness of the seven petitions, aligning with the Matthean tradition [3].
John Calvin, a key figure in the Reformed tradition, interpreted the prayer as having six petitions [10]. He explicitly stated, "This form or rule of prayer is composed of six petitions. For I am prevented from agreeing with those who divide it into seven by the adversative mode of diction used by the Evangelist" [10]. Calvin divided the prayer into two main parts: the first three petitions concerning God's glory and the last three concerning human needs [8]. He saw the petition for daily bread as preceding the request for forgiveness of sins, highlighting God's kindness [8].
Patristic writers also engaged with the structure of the prayer. Tertullian, for instance, discussed a "new form of prayer" given by Christ, emphasizing its spiritual depth [5]. Cyprian, following Tertullian, also undertook an explanation of the Lord's Prayer, going through its "seven chief clauses" [4]. This demonstrates an early patristic consensus around the seven-petition structure, particularly in the Western Church.
Despite variations in the precise number of petitions identified, there is broad agreement that the Lord's Prayer serves as a comprehensive model for Christian prayer [1, 2]. It is seen as embodying a wide range of spiritual needs and desires in a concise form [1]. Augustine emphasized that if one prays "rightly and fittingly," they can say nothing else but what is contained within this prayer [3]. The prayer's petitions cover themes such as the hallowing of God's name, the coming of His kingdom, the doing of His will, the provision of daily sustenance, forgiveness, and protection from evil and temptation [6, 9].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lords Prayer — the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples. (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) "In this prayer our Lord shows his disciples how an infinite variety of wants and requests can be compressed into a few humble petitions. It embodies every possible desire of a praying heart, a whole world of spiritual requirements; yet all in the most simple, condensed and humble form, resembling, in this respect, a pearl on which the light of heaven plays."--Lange. "This prayer contains four great general sentiments, which constitute the very soul of religion,--sentiments which”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lord's Prayer — The name given to the only form of prayer Christ taught his disciples (Matt. 6:9-13). The closing doxology of the prayer is omitted by Luke (11:2-4), also in the R.V. of Matt. 6:13. This prayer contains no allusion to the atonement of Christ, nor to the offices of the Holy Spirit. "All Christian prayer is based on the Lord's Prayer, but its spirit is also guided by that of His prayer in Gethsemane and of the prayer recorded John 17. The Lord's Prayer is the comprehensive type of the simplest and most universal prayer."”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Prayer, Art. 9: Article: Whether the seven petitions of the Lord's Prayer are fittingly assigned? I answer that, The Lord's Prayer is most perfect, because, as Augustine says (ad Probam Ep. cxxx, 12), "if we pray rightly and fittingly, we can say nothing else but what is contained in this prayer of our Lord." For since prayer interprets our desires, as it were, before God, then alone is it right to ask for something in our prayers when it is right that we should desire it. Now in the Lord's Prayer not only do we a”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — ON THE LORD'S PRAYER. (part 1): ARGUMENT.--THE TREATISE OF CYPRIAN ON THE LORD'S PRAYER COMPRISES THREE PORTIONS, IN WHICH DIVISION HE IMITATES TERTULLIAN IN HIS BOOK ON PRAYER, IN THE FIRST PORTION, HE POINTS OUT THAT THE LORD'S PRAYER IS THE MOST EXCELLENT OF ALL PRAYERS, PROFOUNDLY SPIRITUAL, AND MOST EFFECTUAL FOR OBTAINING OUR PETITIONS. IN THE SECOND PART, HE UNDERTAKES AN EXPLANATION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER; AND, STILL TREADING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF TERTULLIAN, HE GOES THROUGH ITS SEVEN CHIEF CLAUSES, FINALLY, IN THE THIRD PART, HE CONSIDERS ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. I.--GENERAL INTRODUCTION.[1] (part 1): The Spirit of God, and the Word of God, and the Reason of God--Word of Reason, and Reason and Spirit of Word--Jesus Christ our Lord, namely, who is both the one and the other,[2]--has determined for us, the disciples of the New Testament, a new form of prayer; for in this particular also it was needful that new wine should be laid up in new skins, and a new breadth be sewn to a new garment.[3] Besides, whatever had been in bygone days, has either been quite changed, as circumcision; or else supplemented, as the rest of the La”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 115.--THE SEVEN PETITIONS OF THE LORD'S PRAYER, ACCORDING TO MATTHEW.: Accordingly, in the Gospel according to Matthew the Lord's Prayer seems to embrace seven petitions, three of which ask for eternal blessings, and the remaining four for temporal; these latter, however, being necessary antecedents to the attainment of the eternal. For when we say, "Hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven"(2) (which some have interpreted, not unfairly, in body as well as in spirit), we ask for blessings that are”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 116.--LUKE EXPRESSES THE SUBSTANCE OF THESE SEVEN PETITIONS MORE BRIEFLY IN FIVE.: But the Evangelist Luke in his version of the Lord's prayer embraces not seven, but five petitions: not, of course, that there is any discrepancy between the two evangelists, but that Luke indicates by his very brevity the mode in which the seven petitions of Matthew are to be understood. For God's name is hallowed in the spirit; and God's kingdom shall come in the resurrection of the body. Luke, therefore, intending to show that the third petition is a sort o”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: three things. Advent of the kingdom of God in the world. 43. Distinction between the second and third petitions. The will here meant not the secret will or good pleasure of God, but that manifested in the word. Conclusion of the three first petitions. 44. A summary of the second part of the Lord’s Prayer. Three petitions. What contained in the first. Declares the exceeding kindness of God, and our distrust. What meant by bread. Why the petition for bread precedes that for the forgiveness of sins. Why it is called ours. Why to be so”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — AGAIN ON THE LORD'S PRAYER, MATT. VI. TO THE COMPETENTES. (part 9): from the heart, when thou forgivest thy brother his sin. The other alms is that which is done out of thy substance, when thou dealest bread to the poor. Offer both, lest without either wing thy prayer remain motionless. 11. Therefore when we have said, "Lead us not into temptation," there follows, "But deliver us from evil." Now whoso wishes to be delivered from evil, bears witness that he is in evil. And thus saith the Apostle, "Redeeming 288 the time, because the days are ev”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: same time, he reminds us of our unhappy condition in not being able to open our lips before God without dangers unless his Spirit instruct us how to pray aright ( Rom. 8:26 ). The higher value, therefore, ought we to set on the privilege, when the only begotten Son of God puts words into our lips, and thus relieves our minds of all hesitation. 35. This form or rule of prayer is composed of six petitions . For I am prevented from agreeing with those who divide it into seven by the adversative mode of diction used by the Evangelist, ”