On Prayer (c. 235)
On Prayer (c. 235)
Translated by William A. Curtis
This influential treatise gives guidance on the practice, structure and mindset of prayer. In the text, Origen explains that prayer is the way in which humans can know and have discourse with God. He discusses the many ways in which prayer is depicted in the Bible and then tackles the argument that prayer is superfluous. Origen then goes on to describe the four purposes of prayer: requests, prayers (praise), intercessions and thanksgivings. The treatise also includes an exegesis of the Lord’s Prayer, with an in-depth look at each phrase of the prayer, providing a valuable resource for Christians old and new. The text concludes with comments on the formalities of prayer, in which Origen describes the appropriate posture and state of mind for praying.