In Jesus' Name

In Jesus’ Name

Prayer is made in Jesus’ Name.  In public worship this normally involves ending the prayer with a statement that we ask these things in his name; often it is a mere formulaic ending, a theological full stop that says the prayer is over.

However, to pray in Jesus name is more than simply adding a standardised form of words at the conclusion of the prayer.  The Larger Catechism devotes two questions and answers to this issue:

Q. 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ?

A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake; not by bare mentioning of his name, but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation.

Q. 181. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?

A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a mediator; and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that glorious work but Christ alone, we are to pray in no other name but his only.

In saying that it is “not by bare mentioning of his name” the catechism does not exclude us using the formula, “in Jesus’ name”, but it does encourage us to consider the work of Christ as our Mediator as the basis of our approach in prayer.

One means to avoid the trap of the bare mentioning of his name is to expand upon that formula, especially by the use of fuller scriptural descriptions of Christ’s mediatorial role.  The sadly neglected 19^th century Southern Presbyterian theologian Thomas Smyth (see: http://www.pcahistory.org/HCLibrary/periodicals/spr/bios/smyth.html ), has a very useful piece in volume 9 of his works, “Forms of Doxology and Benediction with Concluding Prayers”.  Many are simply biblical quotations; others are biblically based or from traditional Reformed liturgies. 

Perhaps in a later blog I will be able to reproduce the list using the ESV and updating the language.  But for now they are a useful source and we can do our own modernisation of the language.  Certainly, using the rich biblical terminology suggested by Smyth will help us move away from a bland, formulaic and repetitive use of the phrase, “in Jesus’ name”.

FORMS OF DOXOLOGY

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PART I. For Closing Prayer.

1. Through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Heb. xiii. 21.

2. Now, to Him that is of power to establish you according to the gospel of Jesus Christ : To God the only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Rom. xvi. 35, 27.

3. Through Jesus Christ who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Rom. ix. 5.

4. Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Gal. i. 4, 5.

5. Now, unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us ; unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Eph. iii. 20, 21.

6. Now, unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Tim. i. 17.

7. Through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Pet. iv. 11.

8. Through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Pet. iii. 18.

9. Now unto Him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen, Jude 24, 25.

10. Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and' dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Rev. i. 5, 6.

11. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Rev. v. 13.

12. Through Jesus Christ our Lord ; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

13. Through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.

14. And this we beg, for Jesus Christ's sake.

15. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our advocate and mediator Jesus Christ.

16. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

17. For the sake and merits of thy Son, our blessed Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.

18. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever one God, world without end.

19. Hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great; and after themultitude of thy mercies look upon us, through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

20. Grant this, for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake.

21. May thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us, through the satisfaction of thy Son; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

22. May we be found, O Lord Jesus Christ, an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever one God, world without end. Amen.

23. May we rise to life immortal, through Him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

24. That we, thy servants, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy church, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

25. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty; and thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, who only art the Lord, for thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, are most High in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

26. Through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

27. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen.

28. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost : As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

29. Help, Lord, and save us for thy mercies sake, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

30. This, we beg, through thy merits, O Lord, our Saviour and our Redeemer. Amen,

31. These things, and whatever else thou shalt see necessary and convenient for us, we humbly beg, through the merits and mediation of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

32. Through thy merits, O blessed Jesus, thou gracious Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, who art, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

33. O God, Holy Ghost, sanctifier of the faithful, visit, we pray thee, this congregation with thy love and favour ; enlighten their minds more and more with the light of the everlasting gospel; graft in their hearts a love of the truth; increase in them true religion ; nourish them with all goodness ; and of thy great mercy keep them in the same, O blessed Spirit, who with the Father and the Son together, we worship and glorify as one God, world without end. Amen.

34. O God, the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us, miserable sinners. O God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us, miserable sinners. O God, the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, have mercy upon us, miserable sinners. O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God, have mercy upon us, miserable sinners. Favourably with mercy hear our prayers, through our only mediator and advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

35. Lord, have mercy upon us. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. Spirit of all grace, favourably with mercy hear our prayers. Glory be to the Father, &c.

36. O Lord, hear ; O Lord, forgive ; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake defer not, O Lord my God. According unto the multitude of thy mercies — according to the riches of thy grace — for thine own sake, O Lord, and for thy Christ's sake, be merciful unto us sinners, to the glory of thy rich and sovereign mercy in Christ Jesus. Amen,

37. For all thy mercies, O God the Father, we give thanks unto thee always, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom, with thee, &c.

38. Glory, and honour, and praise, and blessing, and thanksgiving, and wisdom, and virtue, and riches, and power, and might, and holiness, and salvation, be unto our God that liveth and sitteth upon the throne for ever, and unto the Lamb slain.

Hallelujah. Amen.

39. Amen. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

40. Blessing and honour, and glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen.

41. Worthy art thou at all times to be celebrated by holy lips, O Son of God, thou giver of life. Therefore, the world, in unison with all the host of heaven, do glorify thee, with the Father and the Holy Spirt, to whom be praise in the church throughout all generations. Amen.

42. O Lord, the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, forsake us not, but favourably hear us in thy mercy ; and  o the Father, &c.

43. O Lord my God, incline thine ear and hear, open thine eyes, and behold our multiplied necessities ; for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy manifold and great mercies. And to the Father, &c.

44. We ask all through Jesus, the great Mediator of the Covenant, to whom, with thee O Father, and thine Holy Spirit, be everlasting praise ascribed. Amen.

45. We present these, our imperfect prayers and most unworthy services, in the all-prevailing name of Jesus, who died for our sins, and rose again for our justification, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, to whom be honour and dominion everlasting. Amen.

46. And let thy grace and blessing, thy love and fellowship, thy direction and assistance, O heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us and with all for whom we ought to pray, this day and for evermore. Amen.

47. O Lord God of Hosts, hear our prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine Anointed. Amen.

48. So we, thy people and the sheep of thy pasture, will give

thee thanks for ever ; we will show forth thy praise through all generations. Amen.

49. And all we implore is through the mediation of Him who bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors, to whom, with the Father, &c.

50. Of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things. And to God the only wise, the Father, &c.

PART II. For Closing Worship.

1. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with you all evermore. Amen. 2 Cor. xiii. 14.

2. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Amen. Rom. xvi. 24.

3. The Lord bless thee and keep thee: The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

4. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Gal. vi. 18.

5. Peace be to you, brethren, and love, with faith from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Eph. vi. 23, 24.

6. May God count you all worthy of his calling, and fulfil (in you,) all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the workof faith with power ; That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. i. 11, 12.

7. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant — make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Heb. xiii. 20, 21.

8. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. 1 Pet. iv. 14.

9. May God give you an understanding that ye may know him that is true, and that you may be in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Amen. 1 John v. 20.

10. Grace unto you, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. i. 7 ; 1 Cor. i. 3 ; 2 Cor. i. 2.

11. Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Gal. i. 3, 4.

12. Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Tim. i. 2.

13. Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Tim. i. 2.

14. Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. Titus i. 4.

15. Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon i. 3.

16. Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 1 Pet. i. 2.

17. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Pet. i. 2.

18. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love, 2 John i. 3.

19. Beloved, mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied, that ye may be sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ. Amen. Jude 1, 2.

20. Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven spirits who are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth : unto whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Rev. i, 4. 5,

21. The peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.

22. The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you, and remain with you forever. Amen.

23. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you : The Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace.

24. Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we now commit you. The Lord bless you, and keep you : The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace, both now and evermore. Amen.

25. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

26. The Lord have mercy upon you; pardon, and deliver you from all your sins ; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

27. The good Lord pardon every one that loveth Him with his whole heart, and seeketh the Lord God of his fathers ; and the love of God, our heavenly Father ; the grace of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour ; with the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, our Guide and Sanctifier, be with you all now and ever. Amen.

28. To thee therefore, our dear Father, our Creator, Protector, Governor, and Defender, and thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, our only Prince, Redeemer, Justifier and Advocate, and thy Holy Spirit, our Sanctification and Wisdom, our Teacher, Instructor, and Comforter, be all dominion, power and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

29. My brethren! The end of all things is at hand. Be ye therefore sober minded, watch and pray. The Lord be with you. Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and protect you. Amen.

30. Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will

towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee,

we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O

Lord God! heavenly King! God the Father Almighty!

O Lord ! the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ : O Lord God ! Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takest away the sin of
the world, have mercy upon us. Thou, who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou, who sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy ; thou only art the Lord ; thou only, O Christ ! with the Holy Spirit, are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.