The Saturday briefing

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER by CAROLINE FORD

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Is there anything you’re yearning to know? Send your questions, on any subject, to the contacts given below, and we will do our best to answer them...

What is the origin of the Christian Lord’s Prayer, has it altered over the years and do different churches, such as in Europe, have a similar prayer?

Eric Harrison, Newport, Shropshire

The Lord’s Prayer is the most widely known example in Christianity of a formal prayer - one that is often memorised so it can be recited or sung.

It is said across most Christian denominations and was originally written in Greek. As Christianity spread, it was translated into Latin and later into regional languages.

Each translation brought about some changes, mainly vocabulary ones — “Which art” to “Who is” — and in theological interpretations such as “Lead us not into temptation” to “Do not let us fail” but its core meaning and content has remained consistent.

The King James version in 1611 is the most familiar to English speakers with “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name...” with modern translations simplifying it for accessibility and clarity to “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

If you're visiting or attending a service in Europe, the prayer will likely be familiar but not word-for-word the same, with many orthodox churches using language that is closer to the original Greek.