PRAYERS
of the
EARLY CHURCH

Edited by
J. MANNING POTTS

THE UPPER ROOM

The World’s Most Widely Used Devotional Guide
1908 Grand Avenue
Nashville 5, Tennessee

Copyright, 1953
by
The Upper Room
Nashville, Tennessee

UR-74-50-1053-10
Printed in the United States of America

Preface

Demand for books of prayers has caused thisbook to be compiled. The experience of TheUpper Room in publishing Ralph S. Cushman’sA Pocket Book of Prayer with its sale of overa million copies and the reaction from thepublication of other prayer books have promptedthe editor to collect and arrange these prayers.There are prayers of our Lord, the apostles, themartyrs, and the saints covering the period ofthe Early Church from its beginning throughthe fifth century. There are some prayers fromeach of the first five centuries. The treasurehouse from which to choose is almost unlimited.It is a vast and fruitful field and anyone is amplyrewarded who delves into it.

The prayers have been selected primarily fortheir spiritual and devotional content. Manyhave been laid aside with regret that theycould not be included in this book, but its compassin size is set and only so many can beused.

The prayers are arranged chronologically.Some other method of arrangement might havebeen chosen but this seemed good in order torepresent each century. There are questions aboutthe date and authorship of the prayers. They arethe same questions that arise in reference to theBooks of the Bible.

This book of prayers is published with thehope and prayer that it may have wide use. Ithas been prepared for individual and familydevotions. It can be used with prayer groups inprayer meetings, for cells, and, of course, forthe development of one’s own personal spirituallife. The material is perfect for use in the devotionalservices of young people’s groups,women’s groups, and men’s clubs. The prayersare excellent for insertion in church bulletins.Other ways will be found of making thesegreat prayers usable.

The prayers have been collected from manyold books of prayers and devotional materials.The editor is deeply indebted to all those whohave ploughed the field before. They have laboredand we have entered into their labors. Ithas been a joy to search out the material, to arrangethe prayers, to put them in order, and toindex them under so many subjects.

Contents

Chapter I

FIRST CENTURY PRAYERS 7

1. New Testament Prayers 8

Simeon, Mary, Jesus, Stephen, Paul, Peter.

2. Other First Century Prayers 15

Clement of Rome, Clementine Liturgy, Syrian Clementine Liturgy

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