Page 3 of 4: The Main Prayer in Christianity

The Main Prayer in Christianity: The Lord's Prayer 

THE Lord's Prayer (English Translation)

OUR FATHER,
WHO IS IN HEAVEN,
HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME.
YOUR KINGDOM COME,
YOUR WILL BE DONE,
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD,
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE.

The Lord's Prayer, as found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, contains the words of Jesus to his disciples when they asked him to teach them an appropriate prayer in the spirit of his New Covenant. This prayer, which was originally uttered in Aramaic or Hebrew by Jesus and his disciples, was handed down through Greek writings and has now been translated into more than 2,000 languages. Yet despite its appearance in numerous languages, the Lord's Prayer has not lost its original vitality, spirit and power.

Nearly all Christian denominations teach the Lord's Prayer as a main ingredient to their particular confession of faith, because it includes the basic tenets of the Gospel. Many Christians consider the Lord's Prayer to be the most concentrated form of the Gospel -- indeed one of the most valuable treasures in the Bible.

The Lord's Prayer embraces the whole world. It is not only uttered during certain prayer times or church services; anyone can pray it at any time, alone or with others.