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The Historic Faith
Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Written Prayers And Prayer Books In Early Worship

Early Christian worship clearly used set prayers, spoken prayers, and sung psalms, but the evidence for a fixed prayer book in the later sense is thin. Tertullian, Cyprian, Origen, and the Apostolic Constitutions all describe common prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, daily prayer times, and set liturgical forms, while Justin, Ignatius, and Clement point to gathered prayer in the church.

The strongest support is for written or memorized forms used in worship, especially the Lord’s Prayer and liturgical prayers, not for a single universal prayer book. Some later liturgical texts are direct and useful, but the overall picture is broad practice with mixed and partly indirect evidence for formal written collections.

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27 references

Foundation Texts

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Direct Bible text of the Lord’s Prayer.

Supporting Passages

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.