Theology of Prayer in the Gospel of Luke

Abstract

"Prayer materials in Luke’s Gospel are rich and unique.1 P. T. O’Brien has correctly observed that “[p]rayer is a signi˜cant motif in the Lukan writings as both the terminology and the contexts make plain.”2 The verb proseuvcomai (meaning “to oˆer petition”), for example, is used nineteen times in the Gospel of Luke alone. In fact, thirty-˜ve of the eighty-six NT occurrences of the term are in Luke-Acts, whereas only ten occurrences are in Mark and ˜fteen in Matthew. When the noun proseuvch is included in the count, the Lukan writings use the term forty-seven times, whereas Matthew employs it seventeen times, Mark twelve, John never, the Pauline writings thirty-three times, and others three times. In Luke’s Gospel alone, proseuvcomai or proseuvch occur twenty-two times"