Koenig, John. Rediscovering New Testament Prayer: Boldness and Blessing in the Name of Jesus. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 1992.
Meet the Author
Koenig began in ministry in the Lutheran (LCA/ELCA) church as a pastor for twenty years before becoming an Episcopal priest in 1993. Since 1978, he has been on faculty at General Seminary, where he is currently Professor of New Testament. He has written six books all in the broad area of biblical theology and practice. They include: New Testament Hospitality, Rediscovering New Testament Prayer and, most recently, The Feast of the World’s Redemption, an inquiry into what Christians can learn for their mission today from the table rituals of the first century churches.
Book Basics
Koenig writes a rather scholarly, yet fairly accessible text on the New Testament practice of prayer because he believes that there are few modern works covering the topic. The twelve topical chapters weave together the earliest Christian prayer practices and invite the reader to be informed by and invited into them. Koenig also critiques contemporary mainline American church practices of prayer when he finds that they differ from the New Testament norms.
So What?
I selected this book as a part of my preparation for teaching a class in early 2009 on Jesus’ prayers. As such, Koenig’s second chapter: Jesus, Our Teacher and Priest, was of particular interest. Koenig welcomes us to follow our Master Teacher, “For those who pray (or want to pray) in Jesus’ name, the study of his teachings is nothing less than a step into fuller communion with him and his ongoing mission of redemption” (p.15).
Learn from Jesus’ example of prayer:
- Regularly seeking God’s will (God who is Abba and also Father)
- Praying privately/alone
- Praying persistently
- Finding empowerment for ministry in and through prayer
- Offering blessings (a blend of prayer and pronouncement)