‘Laat uw Naam geheiligd worden’: Een uiting van eerbied aan God

Abstract

Along with Norman Metzler, I will argue that the first petition of the Lord’s prayer: ‘Hallowed be thy Name’ (Mt 6:9b) is not the first petition in proper sense. It rather can be seen as a ‘parenthetical doxological phrase’ that describes closer the address ‘Our Father in Heaven’ (Mt 6:9b), following examples in both Jewish and Muslim traditions. The question will be raised whether the devotional address to God is not a stronger base for respectful co-existence and dialogue with each other than a rather general moral demand of ‘having respect for each other’?