Jesus’ Prayer on Jewish Models

Didache 8:1–3

Mid-1st to Mid-2nd Century

About This Entry

This prayer appears three times in early Christian literature (Matthew 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4; Didache 8:1–3); the wording is slightly different each time. The underlying prayer idiom and some of the specific phrases (“Our Father in heaven,” “hallowed be Your name,” Your kingdom come”) are familiar from Jewish prayers. The parallels with the language of the rabbinic Kaddish prayer have long been noted by scholars. We cite here the less familiar version from the Didache.

1But do not let your fasts fall on the same days as “the hypocrites,” who fast on Monday and Thursday. Rather, you should fast on Wednesday and Friday. 2Nor should you pray as “the hypocrites” do, but pray as the Lord commanded in his gospel, thus:

Our Father who is in heaven, may your name be revered.

May your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.

Let us partake today of our heavenly fare,

And forgive what we owe accordingly as we forgive those who are in debt to us.

And do not bring us into testing, but rescue us from evil.

For power and glory are yours forever.

3Thrice daily you should pray in that manner.

Translated by Robert A. Kraft.
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Credits

Didache 8:1–3, from The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3: Barnabas and the Didache, trans. Robert A. Kraft, ed. Robert Grant (New York, N.Y.: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1965), p. 165. Used with permission of the translator, who has made the translation freely available at http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/gopher/other/journals/kraftpub/Christianity/Barnabas/Commentary/Barnabas%20&%20the%20Didache%20(book).

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

Engage with this Source

This prayer appears three times in early Christian literature (Matthew 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4; Didache 8:1–3); the wording is slightly different each time. The underlying prayer idiom and some of the specific phrases (“Our Father in heaven,” “hallowed be Your name,” Your kingdom come”) are familiar from Jewish prayers. The parallels with the language of the rabbinic Kaddish prayer have long been noted by scholars. We cite here the less familiar version from the Didache.

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Related Guide

Petitionary Prayer in Early Judaism

2nd Century BCE–6th Century CE
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Related Guide

Prayer and Liturgy in Antiquity

4th Century BCE–6th Century CE

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