PRAYER
times
reaching
a
distinctively
NT
level;
the
thought
in
2
Mao
12"
as
to
prayer
in
relation
to
the
dead
is
noteworthy
(ct.
below,
2
Es.
and
Bar.).
As
the
books
are
little
read,
it
may
be
well
to
take
them
in
order,
giving
fairly
full
reference
to
relevant
passages.
1
Esdras.
Zerubbabel's
thanksgiving
(468-68).
prayer
for
journey,
with
confession
(8"-™).
2
Esdras.
Confession
and
historical
retrospect
(3'-^),
colloquy
with
Uriel
(4-14,
where
note
the
allusion
to
various
OT
intercessors,
all
useless
at
judgment-day,
7102.
112
[not
in
AV]).
Tobit.
Prevailing
prayer
of
Tobit
and
Sarah
(3'-");
Tobias
urged
to
pray
(4")
—
prays
in
nuptial
room
(8'-^)
;
thanksgiving
of
Raguel
(8"-"),
Tobit
(11"-
«•
"
13).
Judith.
Except
where
general
supplication
is
made
(49-13-16
618-
"
72s),
or
where
Judith's
intercession
is
sought
(8^'),
prayer
in
this
romance
is
of
a
very
un-worthy
kind:
prayer
for
the
success
of
a
trick
(ch.
9);
prayer
and
the
plans
of
Eolofernes
(II"-
");
prayer
before
slaying
him
(13'-
').
Ad.
Esther.
Prayers
of
Mordecai
(IS'-'*)
and
Esther
(14'-")
in
national
peril.
Wisdom.
Chs.
9-19
are
in
prayer-form.
Note
the
picturesque
illustration
of
manna
and
the
morning
prayer
(16"-
28).
Sirach.
In
this
book
prayer
reaches
heights:
value
of
prayer
(21'),
true
prayer
heard
of
God
(36"-"),
prayer
in
sickness
(38°'
",
cf.
Ja
6"-"),
for
deliverance
from
sin
(23'-'),
prayer
and
alms
(T'"),
'battology'
(7",
cf.
Mt
6'),
prayer
and
revenge
(28'-*,
cf.
Mt
6"
1821.
22)_
national
prayer
against
foe
(36'-"),
thanks-giving,
led
by
Simon
(SO^'-**),
author's
closing
prayer
(511-12).
Baruch.
Jews
of
Babylon
ask
those
of
Jerusalem
to
pray
for
welfare
of
Nebuchadnezzar
(1";
cf.
Ezr
61°,
Jer
29',
1
Ti
2');
prayer
and
confession
of
captive
Israelites
(li'-3',
where
note
prayer
by
the
dead,
3S
but
see
RVm).
Song
of
the
Three.
Prayer
and
confession
of
Azarias
before
the
Benedicite
(vv.i-22;
cf.
Ezr
9,
Dn
9).
Susanna.
Her
prevailing
prayer
(w.«-«).
Bel.
Brief
prayer
by
Habakkuk
(v."),
Daniel
(v.'»),
king
of
Babylon
(v.*').
Prayer
of
Manasses.
For
pardon.
Maccabees.
The
two
books
are
quite
distinct,
1
Mac.
being
much
the
more
reliable
as
history.
Prayer
is
very
prominent
throughout
the
whole
Maccabaean
struggle,
—
before,
during,
and
after
battles
(1
Mac
3"-"
410.
24.
80-83.
40.
GS
780-88.
41.
42
g4S
1X71
2
MaC
124-20
322
1016.
25.
S8
118
1213.
28.
42
I3IO-I2.
14
I4I6.
84-36
1522-24
"■
27).
Note
specially
in
2
Mac.
the
allusion
to
the
efficacy
of
prayer,
etc.,
of
the
living
for
the
dead
(1244,
46.
cf.
baptism
tor
dead,
1
Co
152»,
and
[?]
2
Ti
118),
and
prayer
of
the
dead
for
the
living
(15i2-»;
cf.
angelic
intercession.
Zee
li').
6.
Prayer
in
the
NT.
—
I.
Example
and
teachinq
OF
Jesus
Christ.
—
The
special
character
of
the
Fourth
Gospel
should
be
remembered.
Of
the
Synoptics,
Lk.
is
specially
instructive
as
to
prayer
(cf.
Acts
also).
For
Lord's
Prayer,
see
separate
article.
(i.)
Christ's
example.
—
(a)
Prays
at
great
moments
in
His
life:
baptism
(Lk
321),
election
of
Apostles
(Lk
612.
IS),
miracles
(Lk
Q";
cf.
Jn
62»,
Mk
7"
[implied]
926,
Jn
96»-66
[implied]
ll"-
«),
transfiguration
(Lk
922);
Gethsemane
(Lk
226»-«6),
crucifixion
(Mt
27",
Lk
23");
(6)
intercedes
for
disciples
(Jn
17),
Peter
(Lk
22»2),
soldiers
(Lk
23");
for
His
intercession
in
glory,
see
below,
§
IL
(ii.)
(1).
(ii.)
Christ's
TEAcmNa.
—
The
range
of
prayer
is
chiefly
(ct.
OT)
for
spiritual
blessing
(cf.
Lord's
Prayer,
and
esp.
Mt
638),
but
not
exclusively
so
('daily
bread'
in
Lord's
Prayer
and
Mt
242«).
The
conditions
and
requisites
of
prayer
are
numerous.
—
(a)
Earnestness
[cf.
urgent
supplication
in
OT,
esp.
Psalms]
(Lk
11'-",
where
note
juxtaposition
with
Lord's
Prayer,
I81-8);
and
His
attitude
to
the
Syrophoenician
seems
to
teach
PRAYER
urgency
of
petition
(Mk
72').
(6)
HumUUy
(Lk
189";
the
juxtaposition
with
preceding
parable
is
suggestive,
and
ct.
OT
assertion
of
righteousness;
e.g.
in
Dt.
and
Neh.
[see
above,
3
(vi.)],
Lk
171°);
ambition
rebuked
(Mt
2026-28).
(c)
A
forgiving
spirit:
as
in
Sir.
(see
above,
§
4).
(d)
Privacy
recommended;
see
above,
§
2
(i.)
end,
and
cf.
Christ's
own
example
of
solitary
prayer
(Lk
6").
(e)
With^mt
'battology';
see
above,
§
2
(ill.)
(2),
where
the
reff.
show
that
the
repetition
discouraged
is
that
of
mere
mechanical
prayer
(cf.
heathen
incantations)
or
of
pretence
(Mk
12").
(f)
With
faith.
Mk
1128
contains
just
such
hyperbole
as
would
appeal
to
an
Eastern
mind
and
enforce
the
value
of
prayer;
while
the
seeming
paradox
of
v.2'
must
be
taken
along
with
this
and
understood
in
the
light
of
Christ's
general
teaching.
The
need
of
faith
is
further
illustrated
by
Christ's
attitude
to
those
seeking
aid
(e.g.
Mt
818
928,
Mk
686
923,
Lk
S").
(g)
Agreement
when
two
or
three
join
in
prayer
(Mt
ISi'-
20).
(ft)
In
His
name
(Jn
14"
15i«
1628.
24.
26).
This
specially
Johannine
feature
suggests
frame
of
mind
rather
than
form
of
speech
(cf.
Mt
18'-
20
1022
etc.;
on
the
other
hand,
cf.
Ac
36.
").
For
the
Christology
it
supports,
see
below,
§
II.
(ii.)
1.
II.
Customs
and
ideas
in
Apostolic
times.
—
Evidence
is
afforded
by
Acts
(where
the
prominence
given
to
prayer
is
natural
if
Lk.
wrote
it,
see
above,
§
I.),
and
by
Epp.,
whose
writers
had
inherited
the
best
traditions
of
Jewish
piety
and
had
also
assimilated
their
Master's
teaching
(which,
however,
they
may
not
in
every
point
have
grasped
fully).
A
glimpse
of
prayer-triumphs
would
be
afforded
by
such
passages
as
Ac
316
481
9"
IC
126.
12
1628
288.
One
or
two
detailed
points
have
already
come
up
for
notice
(see
above
§
2
(1.
ii.
ill.
1.
4),
5
(I.
ii.
(A)),
but
it
may
be
well
now
to
collect,
from
Acts
to
the
Apocalypse,
some
passages
showing
the
practice
and
teaching
as
to
prayer
in
the
Apostolic
Church.
(i.)
Prayer
is
found
in
connexion
with:
—
(1)
Laying
on
of
hands:
(o)
in
healing
(Ac
288,
gf.
9"
(see
below
(3));
(6)
after
baptism
(Ac
8"-",
cf.
196);
(c)
on
appointment
to
ofiice
(Ac
68
IS'),
with
which
also
prayerful
lot-casting
is
associated
(Ac
12«.
20,
cf.
Pr
1688).
(2)
Public
worship
(1
Ti
2).
(o)
Both
sexes
participate
(cf.
1
Ti
5',
1
Co
11*.
6);
(5)
prayer
and
gift
of
tongues
(1
Co
14"-
i',
where
it
is
suggested
that
the
head
as
well
as
the
heart
is
concerned
with
prayer);
(c)
'state-prayers'
in
the
Apostolic
Church
(1
Ti
2i'.
;
ct.
§
4
'
Baruch').
(3)
Sick-ness
(Ja
5"-i6,
where
notice
conjunction
of
prayer
and
outward
means
[for
unction
ct.
Mk
6"]
with
con-fession;
physical
and
spiritual
healing
are
associated,
and
both
with
prayer;
see
above,
§
4
'Sirach').
(ii.)
(1)
A
distinctive
idea
in
NT
prayer
is
the
work
of
the
Holy
Spirit.
He
aids
us
in
prayer
(Ro
S"-",
Eph
618,
Jude2»),
interceding
for
us
(Ro
826).
Christ
also
intercedes
(Ro
88*,
He
726;
of.
§
5
I.
(i.)
(6)).
Ct.
pre-sentation
of
prayer
to
God
in
Rev
5'
8'.
By
Christ
we
enjoy
free
access
to
God
(Gal
4«-',
Eph
2i8
312,
He
4i'-
"
1018-22;
see
above,
§6
I.
(ii.)
(A));
prayer
offered
to
Christ
direct
(Ac
7'»-
1°
9"
(?),
1
Co
I2
(?)).
(2)
Prayer
needs
faith
(Ja
I'-s,
1
Ti
2*
RVm,
He
IO22),
must
have
right
aims
(Ja
4'),
and
be
backed
by
conduct
(1
Jn
322,
cf.
above,
§
3
(vii.)
'
Proverbs').
Such
prayer
succeeds
(Ja
616-18,
1
Jn
322
5".
16).
Prayer
for
temporal
gifts
is
not
very
conspicuous
in
NT,
but
see
Ro
li°,
2
Co
128,
Ph
46.
(3)
Exhortations
to
prayer
(Ro
12",
Col
42,
1
Th
616,
1
p
47,
Jude2»).
(4)
Reminiscences
of
OT
occur
in
prayer
as
colloquy
(Ac
918-16
22"-2i;
cf.
§
3),
as
struggle
(Ro
1586,
Col
2i
4";
cf.
Gn
3224),
as
cry
for
vengeance
(Rev
68.
i»,
ct.
1
Ti
2').
(5)
Intercession,
which
in
OT
is
specially
characteristic
of
the
prophetic
office,
is
here
a
general
duty,
and
is
very
prominent:
Apostles
for
converts
(Ro
IQi
15',
2
Co
13',
Eph
li«
314,
Ph
14.
»,
Col
1»
21,
1
Th
12,
2
Th
1".
Philem',
3
Jn2);
converts
for
Apostles
(Ac
12',
Ro
IS'",
2
Co
1"
9",
Col
4',
2
Th
31,
Philem22);
for
one
another
(Ja
S",