| Summary: | This thesis presents a theological exegesis of prayer in the four canonical Gospels. The main focus is the theological anthropology of the prayer texts. This aspect is described through a text-centred analysis of the “ideal pray-er” (<i>Beter</i>), one aspect of the implied audience. The exegesis discusses the strategies used in the construction of such an ideal with regard to: a) teaching by Jesus; b) paradigmatic and unique aspects of the character of Jesus; c) ideals from the Old Testament; d) play on pre-knowledge; e) narrative progression; f) characterisation; g) eschatology. As a result of this discussion a description of the ideal pray-er in the Gospels is presented. Here the material is placed within a wider conceptual framework in a more theological and philosophical discussion. In all the Gospels, it can be observed that a) prayer is a major way to respond to the Gospel in faith; b) prayer is offered on account of the salvific works of Jesus; c) pray-ers are to address God as “Father”; d) prayer is a sharing in God’s work; e) prayer is seen as a major part of the connection to the people of Israel and to the Temple; f) prayer is an expression of incompleteness and dependence; and finally, following from the previous point g) prayer is an expression of a basic eschatological outlook. For general Gospel studies it can be seen that the prayer-teaching of John is not substantially different from that of the Synoptics. Furthermore, the four canonical Gospels are constructed for those already initiated into faith and require accompanying tradition, praxis, and self-involvement for the communication on prayer to be felicitous.
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