The Greatest Prayer: Rediscovering the Revolutionary Message of the Lord's Prayer

In The Greatest Prayer, foremost historical Jesus scholar John Dominic Crossan, bestselling author of Historical Jesus and Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, intimately explores the revolutionary meaning of the cornerstone of Christian faith: The Lord’s Prayer.

Every Sunday, the Lord’s Prayer echoes in churches around the world.

It is an indisputable principle of Christian faith. It is the way Jesus taught his followers to pray and distills the most essential beliefs required of every one of the world’s 2.5 billion Christians. In The Greatest Prayer, our foremost Jesus scholar explores this foundational prayer line by line for the richest and fullest understanding of a prayer every Christian knows by heart.

An expert on the historical Jesus, Crossan provides just the right amount of history, scholarship, and detail for us to rediscover why this seemingly simple prayer sparked a revolution. Addressing issues of God’s will for us and our response, our responsibilities to one another and to the earth, the theology of our daily bread, the moral responsibilities that come with money, our nation-states, and God’s kingdom, Crossan reveals the enduring meaning and universal significance of the only prayer Jesus ever taught.

“Even if one disagrees with the author’s conclusions, it will be difficult to dislike his book, as one of Crossan’s gifts is his ability to challenge his readers in a gentle, respectful, and nonconfrontational manner.” - Booklist

“Crossan, co-founder of The Jesus Seminar and acclaimed author of many works on the life and mission of Jesus Christ, shows how Jesus, couched in the words of this prayer, advises His followers to reject violent methods of resisting their Roman captors, and instead work for the coming of the Kingdom of God, the only way to achieve true freedom. . . . A fine effort by a fine scholar.” - Publishers Weekly

Crossan... shows how Jesus, couched in the words of this prayer, advises His followers to reject violent methods... and instead work for the coming of the Kingdom of God, the only way to achieve true freedom. . . . A fine effort by a fine scholar.” - Publishers Weekly

“...A must-read, a guidebook for how and why the only prayer Jesus ever taught endures.” - The Daily Beast

“A full and loving exposition... of Christianity’s best-known and most-recited prayer. Crossan’s pastoral intent is more straightforward here than in some of his other works; scholars will appreciate the richness of his readings, while nonscholarly readers will be grateful for the directness and clarity of his approach.” - Library Journal (starred review)

“John Dominic Crossan is arguably the world’s foremost scholar of the historical Jesus. In The Greatest Prayer, Crossan argues that Christianity’s best-known invocation is misunderstood and undervalued in today’s society.” - Religion News Service

“Crossan roots his analysis of the Lord’s Prayer in what he knows best: the Bible. By interpreting the Lords Prayer through the stories, prophets, and psalms of the Jewish scriptures, he discovers there “a revolutionary manifesto and a hymn of hope” that not only announces the biblical God’s call to justice but commits the one who prays it to that vision as well...Crossan’s reflections reveal something that may surprise his detractors: a man of profound and challenging faith, who in his efforts to demystify Jesus has called us all back to the core of the gospel message.” - U.S. Catholic

“Crossan’s reflections reveal something that may surprise his detractors: a man of profound and challenging faith, who in h is efforts to demystify Jesus has called us all back to the core of the gospel message.” - U.S. Catholic

“[P]rovides a satisfying blend of history, scholarship and theology in researching the moral responsibilities that come with living a Godly life. The fundamental Lord’s Prayer here serves as a foundation for examining the principles of this life.” - Midwest Book Review

“Controversial biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan finds in Jesus’ words an evocation for ‘distributive justice,’ making sure all are cared for.” - Los Angeles Times