LE3 .A278 2000

2000

Williams, Roy

Acadia University

Master of Arts

Masters

Theology

Acadia Divinity College

This thesis explores three factors which contributed to the concept and practice of prayer in two ancient Christian writings, 'De Oratione ' by Tertullian of Carthage and 'Peri Euches' by Origen of Alexandria. This thesis examines their concept of Scripture, their hermeneutic theory and their philosophical presuppositions. Further, this thesis demonstrates how these three factors contribute to the concept and practice of prayer in the works in question. The second chapter is devoted to a background discussion of these factors as they pertain to 'De Oratione' and ' Peri Euches'. The third through fifth chapters examine these authors' expositions of the Lord's Prayer along with topics they treat in common and in isolation from each other. This thesis also compares and contrasts the two authors' works in such a way that the differences between the two are explained based upon the varying presuppositions with which each author worked. This study is important since these two writings are the earliest treatises devoted to prayer. Tertullian's was the first while Origen's was an early comprehensive treatise on prayer. Tertullian and Origen are contrasted since each represents a distinct strand of ancient Christianity. Tertullian lived in the western portion of the Roman empire while Origen lived in the east. They were influenced by different philosophical traditions and used different hermeneutical methods. They were near contemporaries. These reasons lend support to the notion that a comparison of the two authors and their writings on prayer would be important.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2772