The Lord’s Prayer – More Than One?

“More Than One?” comes from the fact that Matthew and Luke have different versions of the Lord’s Prayer. If you extend your search, you will find translations of the Bible and denominations also have slightly different versions. My simple answer to that is – Because!

Imagine my surprise as a preteen, when I visited a different denomination and they did not know the Lord’s Prayer. Everyone stopped and did not finish it; they left the ending off.     

My post, my opinion, and my hope is that you will study so that “you can show yourself approved” if you ever choose to get into a discussion on this or any topic. I will even inject a few facts.

Not only are there variations between Matthew and Luke, but other people have done some well-meaning additions since they were written. There has been attempts in the past to make Luke sound more like Matthew, or the translators’ choice of sin or debit, and the big one of adding a line after temptation. By 1599 the Geneva Bible had – but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen. That means by 1611 it was also in the King James. This addition to the Prayer sounds a lot like 1 Chronicles 29:11, which is part of a prayer from David.

So, was this to be the perfect prayer or a pattern of how to pray? Read Matthew 6:5 to 7:12, now compare it to Luke 11:1-13. Yes, I am contemplating learning activities, but for now, how would you defend your answer?

Did this perfect prayer pattern (see what I did there) have an effect? Analyze Colossians 1:9-14 and compare it to the Lord’s Prayer. How does Ephesians 4:32 reflect the Prayer? Do the differences and additions show a lack of competent teaching or a lot of use?  

More Than One? The Lord prayed many times, yet only one is named. John 17, the Garden, and on the cross; Jesus prayed some powerful prayers. The Our Father is important, but is it a formula or a foundation to a relationship?