Origen S Treatise On Prayer

Composed c. 233, the treatise on prayer is not merely a treatise, but a prayer itself. The Exhortation was composed c. 235 to provide solace for Origen's great friend and patron, Ambrose, and the presbyter, Protoctetus, both of whom had been imprisoned. +

Origen, or Origen Adamantius (184/185 – 253/254), was a scholar, early Christian theologian and Church Father, who was born and spent the first half of his career in Alexandria. He was a prolific writer in multiple branches of theology, including textual criticism, biblical exegesis and hermeneutics, philosophical theology, preaching, and spirituality. Some of his reputed teachings, such as the pre-existence of souls, the final reconciliation of all creatures, including perhaps even the devil (the apokatastasis), and the subordination of the Son of God to God the Father, later became controversial among Christian theologians. A later group of Egyptian monks who came to be known as Origenists, and who believed in the preexistence of souls and the apokatastasis, were declared anathema in 553 AD. This condemnation is attributed to the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople, though it does not appear in the council's official minutes. For this reason Origen was and is not called a "saint" in either the Catholic or Orthodox churches.

A CHRISTIAN CLASSIC Written in the late first/early second century AD, Origen on Prayer remains a significant and masterful text for all Christian believers on the subject of prayer. Origen, an early church theologian and scholar, was born, lived, and taught in Alexandria, Egypt. He writes that prayer is the way in which humans can know and have discourse with God. He notes the many ways prayer is depicted in the Bible, and then tackles the argument that prayer is superfluous. He describes the four purposes of prayer: requests, praise, intercessions, and thanksgivings. Origen also performs an exegesis of the Lord's Prayer, which makes this in-depth look at each phrase of the prayer a valuable resource. Origen concludes with comments on the formalities of prayer in which he describes the proper posture and state of mind for praying. Origen on Prayer uses many Biblical references, particularly to prayerful characters, so the text presents many role models for our communication with God and is essential for those who wish to know how to approach the practice, structure, and mindset of prayer.

Proceeding from Josef A. Jungmanns groundbreaking book of the same title, this volume gathers new work from fifteen renowned scholars on christological and trinitarian themes in prayer and worship. Eastern and Western traditions, Catholic and Protestant, ancient and contemporary are all represented in this record of the 2005 meeting of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. Collectively, these practitioners and theologians, from their varied settings, grapple with the competing ideas and expressions of christological and trinitarian doctrine in meaningful liturgy.

The Lord s Prayer is arguably the most important prayer in Christianity. Still, exactly how the prayer developed in the life of the early church has remained hidden in ancient manuscripts. Hammerling s thorough and ground-breaking examination of these works reveals that early authors enthusiastically expounded upon its power and mystery, claiming that the prayer uttered by Christ belonged at the core of Christian ritual and beliefs. Many early church writers labeled it a "perfect summary of the gospel" and joyously referred to it as a pearl of great price and worth.