The doctrine of prayer in third-century Christian Africa

Abstract

This thesis takes as its subject the doctrine of prayer in third-century Christian Africa, and it is based on the writings of four authors: Tertullian and Cyprian who lived at Carthage and wrote in Latin, and Clement and Origen, both of Alexandria, who wrote in Greek. The first chapter gives an account of the background, by examining prayer in the New Testament, in the post-apostolic Church and in the Apologists. Chapter two provides an account of Tertullian's doctrine of prayer, by means of an analysis of his treatise, De Oratione. Chapter three does the same for Cyprian and his treatise, De Dominica Oratione. It also includes a comparison between Cyprian's doctrine of prayer and that of Tertullian. Chapter four is an account of Clement of Alexandria's conception of prayer, drawn from his teaching in the Stromateis especially book seven. Chapter five analyses Origen's treatise Peri Euches, and compares Origen's doctrine of prayer with that of Clement. The final chapter presents a summary account of the doctrine of prayer as found in these four authors, and offers a synthesis. The argument is that these authors proclaim a common witness to the Christian doctrine of prayer, in spite of some differences of terminology and emphasis.