The Threefold Daily Prayers of the Apostles & the Early Church

tHE tHREEfOLd dAiLY PRAyERS Of the APOSTLES & the EARLY CHURCH

tERtuLLiAN Of cARtHAGE (c. 155-230 A.d.)

The Theologian Tertullian was a prolific author. He coined the phrase: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” In his writings, he often took stands against different heresies.

Theophilus of Antioch (2nd Century) was the first person to use the word “Trinity” (English: Trinity; Latin: Trinitas; Greek: Trias).

In Tertullian’s book, “Against Praxeas,” Tertullian was the first person to detail a specifically Trinitarian Theology, the first to use the word “Trinity” in reference to God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

“And at the same time the mystery…is safeguarded, for the unity is distributed in a Trinity. Placed in order, the three are the Father, Son, and Spirit.

…of one being, however, and one condition and one power, because He is one God of whom degrees and forms and kinds are taken into account in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

-Tertullian (“Against Praxeas” 2; written c. 200 A.D.)

tERtuLLiAN Of CARtHAGE wRitiNG AbOut the tHREEfOLd dAiLy PRAyERS

“Evening, and morning, and at noon: I will pray, and call out loud; and He shall hear my voice.”

-Psalm 55:17

Introductory Background Information:

The observance of The Threefold Daily Prayers (times of prayer) is recorded in both the Old and New Testaments, as well as in the writings of the earliest Christians.

It is taught in the Didache, also known as: “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles.” This is a Church manual from the late first century (Date source: The Oxford English Dictionary of the Christian Church; 3rd rev. ed.; Oxford University Press; 2005; p. 482).

The Didache is mentioned in the very first written history of the Christian Church: Eusebius’ The History of the Church (written c. 325 A.D.).

To be fair to the Protestant Reformers, a copy of this Manual was not re-discovered until 1873 (by Philotheos Bryennios, Metropolitan of Nicomedia, in the Codex Hierosolymitanus).

A Latin version of the first five chapters was discovered in 1900 by J. Schlecht.

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The observance of The Threefold Daily Prayers is mentioned by Tertullian, writing c. 200 A.D. in “On Prayer.” __________________________________________________________

Tertullian speaks of the Christians of his time praying before meals, before going to the public baths, and at sunrise and sunset; but says of the three times of prayer (The Threefold Daily Prayers: 9am, Noon, 3pm) that these times of prayer are found:

“…in the Scriptures to have been more solemn than the rest.”

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Tertullian writes:

“Touching the time, however, the extrinsic observance of certain hours will not be unprofitable—those common hours, I mean, which mark the intervals of the day—the third, the sixth, the ninth—which we may find in the Scriptures to have been more solemn than the rest.

The first infusion of the Holy Spirit into the congregated disciples took place at “the third hour.” Peter, on the day on which he experienced the vision of Universal Community, (exhibited) in that small vessel, had ascended into the more lofty parts of the house, for prayer’s sake “at the sixth hour.” -Acts 10:9

The same (apostle) was going into the temple, with John, “at the ninth hour,” when he restored the paralytic to his health.

Albeit these practices stand simply without any precept for their observance, still it may be granted a good thing to establish some definite presumption, which may both add stringency to the admonition to pray, and may, as it were by a law, tear us out from our businesses unto such a duty; so that–

–what we read to have been observed by Daniel also, in accordance (of course) with Israel’s discipline — we pray at least not less than thrice in the day, debtors as we are to Three — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: of course, in addition to our regular prayers which are due, without any admonition, on the entrance of light and of night.

But, withal, it becomes believers not to take food, and not to go to the bath, before interposing a prayer; for the refreshments and nourishments of the spirit are to be held prior to those of the flesh, and things heavenly prior to things earthly.”

-Tertullian,“On Prayer” (Chapter 25) c. 200 A.D.

the VEnERABLE bEdE wRiting AbOut the tHREEfOLd dAiLY PRAyERS OF THE APOSTLES & THE EARLY CHURCH

“In order to proclaim to the world the glory of the indivisible Trinity, the Holy Spirit descended appropriately at the third hour.

And since it was said above, ‘They were persevering in prayer,’ they quite rightly received the Holy Spirit at the hour of prayer…

Now we read that three times a day Daniel bent his knees and prayed (Daniel 6:10), and the church understands these to have been the third, sixth, and ninth hours.*

Also the Lord sent the Holy Spirit at the third hour, He Himself ascended the cross at the sixth, and He yielded up His soul at the ninth (Matthew 27:45-46).

He thus saw fit to enjoin these same hours preeminently upon the rest of us and to sanctify them.”

The Venerable Bede — Monk, and England’s First Historian; –Commentary On the Acts of the Apostles 2.15 ______________________________________________________________

* Bede is referring here to Jerome’s Commentary On Daniel (2.6.10)

-Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture (Vol. V; Acts, P. 28)

the tHREEfOLd dAiLy PRAyERS in the bibLE - OLd & nEw tEStAMENtS

Two Verses in the Old Testament: Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10

Nine Verses in the New Testament:

Matthew 15:36; Luke 18:10; Acts 2:15, 3:1, 10:3,9; 10:30; 16:25; 27:35

They were not a part of the Law of Moses. Nowhere in the Bible is their observance required.

But they were observed by the Apostles in the New Testament:

Matthew 15:36; Luke 18:10; Acts 2:15, 3:1, 10:3,9; 10:30; 16:25; 27:35

And by the entire Christian Church for its first 800 years:

From the Early Church through the conversion of the Roman Empire and on into the era of Celtic Christianity.

At that time, like so much of Christian spirituality (including the praying of the Psalms)

…What had once been practiced by all Christians was relegated to being retained and observed only by the Monks in the Monasteries.

With the freedom we have in Christ, these times may be easily modified to fit your current daily schedule.

Pray the Morning Prayer anytime between waking and 9am, the Noon Prayer as close to Noon as you can, and the Evening Prayer anytime between 3pm and retiring at night.

They can then be observed whether you are working, or skiing, or even “mushing” an Iditarod Dogsled Team visiting from Alaska!

You can observe just “The Basics” of The Threefold Daily Prayers. Our Knights of Prayer Lay Monastic Order prays:

Morning: The Lord’s Prayer Noon: The 23rd Psalm Evening: Psalm 117

Psalm 117 is only two verses long. These Scripture Verses can be memorized, and prayed anywhere. Your own personal prayers can be added as desired.

As far as we can tell, Christians in the early Church began each prayer time with The Lord’s Prayer, adding their own personal prayers and/or any Psalms, Hymns, or Spititual Songs they might want to.

In the Book of Acts, We See the Apostles Observing these three Historical Hours (Times) of Prayer

Besides these set hours of prayer, we try to pray to the Lord all throughout the day, as it is brought to mind do so.

We follow the example of the Apostles as shown in the New Testament and what is known of Early Christian prayer.

Upon awaking and arising, we begin the day with individual prayer. We end each Day the same way.

Before sleeping, we will pray the St. Francis Prayer:

“Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace”

Many of us also observe a Daily Hour of Prayer (or even longer), at a time that best fits with our own individual schedules.

“Glaodh àrd, is urnuigh ni mi ris, moch, feasgar,s meadhon-là, is eisdidh e gu grad ri m Ghlaodh.”

“Evening, and morning, and at noon; I will pray and call out loud, and He shall hear my voice.”

-Psalm 55:17 (In Irish Gaelic)

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem,

he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and gave thanks before his God, as he had done before.”

-Daniel 6:10

“For as the rain descends from heaven, and the snow from heaven… …so shall My word be that goes out of My mouth:

It shall not return to me empty, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

-Isaiah 55:10-11

“Who, having not seen, you love; in who, though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith: the salvation of your souls.”

-1 Peter 1:8-9

REAdiNg, PRAyiNg, & SiNgiNg PSALMS

^“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

-Ephesians 5:19-20

I was blessed to be able to attend the 100th Anniversary of the Moody Church in Chicago. It was totally packed.

The surprise, which was unadvertised, was who the keynote speaker turned out to be:

The Rev. Dr. Billy Graham!

It was unforgettable!

What a blessing to hear Dr. Graham speaking, honoring his fellow world Evangelist, Dwight L. Moody.

And in such a relatively small (for him) venue!

-Lay Monk Preston

The Psalms are God’s Prayer Book

“I used to read five psalms every day – that teaches me how to get along with God.

Then I read a chapter of Proverbs every day and that teaches me how to get along with my fellow man.”

-Billy Graham

Dr. Graham’s practice resulted in his reading through the entire Book of Psalms (all 150) each month, along with all 31 Chapters of Proverbs.

Many Christians throughout the world observe this practice with the Psalms

Some of the ancient Celtic Monks prayed through all 150 Psalms each day! Yes, that would take 2-6 hours…depending on how quickly you pray them! Most did it while they were working.

Historically, Monks have memorized all 150 Psalms, and prayed through all of them once each week.

As Lay Monks, we like to pray them slowly (for about 15 min. a day: 5 Psalms a day; all 150 each month).

Most Psalms take about 3 min. to pray – longer ones may take 5 min.

Praying Only One Psalm a Day:

If even only one new Psalm is read or prayed every day, the entire Book of Psalms would still be gone through twice each year!

JOHN CHRySOStOM wRitiNG AbOut the PSALMS

“Teach him to sing those psalms which are so full of love of wisdom…

…immediately with the very beginning of the book; for there it was, that the prophet began in this way:

‘Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…’

-Psalm 1:1

-St. John Chrysostom (c. 349-407 A.D.)

The practice of reciting prayers at certain hours of the day or night goes back to the Jewish people of Old Testament times, from whom Christians have borrowed it.

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In the Psalms we find expressions like:

“I will meditate on You in the morning…” -Psalm 62:7

“I rose at midnight to give praise to You…” -Psalm 118:62

“Evening, and morning, and at noon: I will pray, and call out loud, and He shall hear my voice.” -Psalm 55:17

“Seven times a day I have given praise to You” -Psalm 119:164

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The Apostles observed the Jewish customary times of prayer.

(See: Matthew 15:36; Luke 18:10; Acts 2:15; 3:1; 10:3,9; 10:30; 16:25; 27:35).

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The Christian prayer of that time consisted of almost the same elements as the Jewish:

Recital or chanting of psalms, and the reading of the Old Testament.

To this was soon added the reading of the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles, and at times the singing of canticles (Songs).

HiStORy Of the tHREEfold dAiLy PRAyERS OF THE APOSTLES & THE EARLY CHURCH

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

HOURS OF PRAYER

The Mosaic law did not regulate the offering of prayer, but fully recognized its spontaneous character.

In what manner or how far back in Jewish history the sacrificial prayer, mentioned in Luke 1:10, originated no one knows. In the days of Christ it had evidently become an institution.

But ages before that, stated hours of prayer were known and religiously observed by all devout Jews. It evidently belonged to the evolutionary process of Jewish worship in connection with the temple-ritual.

Devout Jews, living at Jerusalem, went to the temple to pray . (Luke 18:10; Acts 3:1).

The pious Jews of the Diaspora opened their windows “toward Jerusalem” and prayed “toward” the place of God’s presence. (I Kings 8:48; Daniel 6:10; Psalm 5:7).

The regular hours of prayer, as we may infer from Psalm 55:17 and Daniel 6:10, were three in number.

The first coincided with the morning sacrifice, at the 3rd hour of the morning, at 9 A.M. therefore (Acts 2:15).

The second was at the 6th hour, or at Noon, and may have coincided with the thanksgiving for the chief meal of the day, a religious custom apparently universally observed. (Matthew 15:36; Acts 27:35)

The 3rd hour of prayer coincided with the evening sacrifice, at the ninth hour. (3 P.M.: Acts 3:1; 10:30)

Thus every day, as belonging to God, was religiously subdivided, and regular seasons of prayer were assigned to the devout believer.

Its influence on the development of the religious spirit must have been incalculable, and it undoubtedly is, at least in part, the solution of the riddle of the preservation of the Jewish faith in the cruel centuries of its bitter persecution.

Mohammedanism borrowed this feature of worship from the Jews and early Christians, and made it one of the chief pillars of its faith.

-Henry E. Dosker

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. “Entry for ‘HOURS OF PRAYER.” “International Standard Bible Encyclopedia” (1915)

Just once, in over thirty years, due to a strange confluence of the Pacific Ocean, the tide receded out past Haystack Rock. Lay Monk Preston & Lay Monk Linda, with many others, were able to walk out on dry land to the rock, and climb its lower reaches.