THE LORD'S PRAYER


The prayer consists of an introduction and seven petitions in the Matthew version, which seems to be a liturgical expansion of the original utterance of Christ. The Matthaean form, which has been employed liturgically since very early times, is:
"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 debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil."
A closing doxology, "For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory," was added to the prayer in ancient times, although it does not appear in most manuscripts of the Bible and is only a footnote in the Revised Standard Version. Its incorporation into the Lord's Prayeras early as the 1st century is attested by the version of the prayer in the Didache, a brief manual of instruction for converts to Christianity. Many Protestants ordinarily recite the doxology as part of the Lord' Prayer;
Romen Catholics incorporate it into the recitation of the prayer at Mass, but generally do not use it in private recitation....     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                                                     -PRAYER
(Encarta Encyclopedia Article)

by Glenn Ford

(Ministry of Jesus Christ)

TALKING
IT
OVER