Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol III:
Tertullian: Part III: The Second Clause.

Chapter III.—The Second Clause.

The name of “God the Father” had been published to none. Even Moses, who had interrogated Him on that very point, had heard a different name. 8773 To us it has been revealed in the Son, for the Son is now the Father’s new name. “I am come,” saith He, “in the Father’s name;” 8774 and again, “Father, glorify Thy name;” 8775 and more openly, “I have manifested Thy name to men.” 8776 That name, therefore, we pray may “be hallowed.”  Not that it is becoming for men to wish God well, as if there were any other 8777 by whom He may be wished well, or as if He would suffer unless we do so wish. Plainly, it is universally becoming for God to be blessed 8778 in every place and time, on account of the memory of His benefits ever due from every man. But this petition also serves the turn of a blessing. Otherwise, when is the name of God not “holy,” and “hallowed” through Himself, seeing that of Himself He sanctifies all others—He to whom that surrounding circle of angels cease not to say, “Holy, holy, holy?” 8779 In like wise, therefore, we too, candidates for angelhood, if we succeed in deserving it, begin even here on earth to learn by heart that strain hereafter to be raised unto God, and the function of future glory. So far, for the glory of God. On the other hand, for our own petition, when we say, “Hallowed be Thy name,” we pray this; that it may be hallowed in us who are in Him, as well in all others for whom the grace of God is still waiting; 8780 that we may obey this precept, too, in “praying for all,” 8781 even for our personal enemies. 8782 And therefore with suspended utterance, not saying, “Hallowed be it in us,” we say,—“in all.”

Footnotes

Ex. iii. 13-16.

John v. 43.

John xii. 28.

John xvii. 6.

i.e., “any other god.”

Ps. ciii. 22.

Isa. 6:3, Rev. 4:8.

Isa. xxx. 18.

1 Tim. ii. 1.

Matt. v. 44.