There are also other versions of this doxology with various lyrics, including in the United Methodist Anthem (#621), “Be Present at Our Table, Lord,” often sung as a grace before dinner with the tune “Old 100th”; Anthem by John Cennick; melody from the Geneva Psalter, 1551; Attributed to Louis Bourgeois: According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this doxology takes up Easly, Ken. “Downstream Departments.” Downstream departments. 13 September 2016. downlineministries.com/a-theology-of-doxology/ (accessed October 17, 2019). In the Catholic Mass, a prose doxology concludes the Eucharistic prayer that precedes the Our Father. It is usually sung by the presiding priest with the concelebrant priests. The Latin text reads as follows: Doxology has passed from medieval Latin doxologia to English, which in turn comes from the Greek term doxa, meaning “opinion” or “fame”, and the suffix -logia, which refers to oral or written expression. It is therefore quite logical that the “doxology” refers to an oral expression of praise and glorification since it first appeared in English around 1645. The word finally derives from the Greek verb dokein which means “to appear” or “to appear well”. Two cousins of the “doxology” on the “donone” are “dogma” and “paradox”. More distant relatives are “decent” and “synecdochis.” The Gloria in Excelsis and the Gloria Patri are two of the best-known and most frequently sung doxologies in contemporary Christianity.
It is believed that the Gloria Patri or minor doxology was written in the 2nd century, while the author is unknown. It is believed to be based on the Trinitarian baptismal formula in Matthew 28:19. This doxology is always sung at the end of the entire part of the psalter. It is also sung during morning, noon and evening prayers. Traditionally, Gloria Patri has been used to culminate or conclude psalms related to liturgical acts. A doxology (Ancient Greek: δοξολογία doxologia, from δόξα, doxa “glory” and -λογία, -logia “to say”)[1][2][3] is a short hymn of praise to God in various forms of Christian worship, often at the end of songs, psalms, and hymns. The tradition derives from a similar practice in the Jewish synagogue,[4] where a version of Kaddish serves to end each section of worship. Catholicism has also adopted the use of a doxology in many parts of its services. A doxology can be heard during the fair. Other times, a doxology may be heard when clergy enter the sanctuary, receive communion and offer offerings.
One of these doxologies is the Gloria Excelsis, which is explained here by Father Daniel Callam. Known as the Great Doxology, it has and is important in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches. It is sung in Latin but used in a contemporary translation in the Roman Catholic liturgy. It can also be heard in Lutheran and Protestant churches. These words were written by Thomas Ken[7] in 1674 as the last verse of two hymns: “Wake up, my soul, and with the sun”[8] and “Glory to you, my God, tonight”[9], which were intended for morning and evening services at Winchester College. This last verse, separated from his actual anthems and sung to the tune “Old 100th”, “Duke Street”, “Let Us Delight”, “The Eighth Tune” by Thomas Tallis, among others, often marks the consecration of alms or offerings in Sunday services. The popular Hawaiian version Hoʻonani i ka Makua mau was translated by Hiram Bingham I and published in hymns. [10] Many Mennonite congregations sing a longer, more embellished text, known as Samuel Stanley`s “Dedication Hymn.” [11] In Mennonite circles, this doxology is commonly referred to as “606” for its hymn number in The Mennonite Hymnal [1969] and colloquially known as the Mennonite National Anthem. Students at Goshen College stand up and chant the doxology when 6:06 remains in a football game — as long as Goshen wins the game. [12] Merriam-Webster defines the word doxology as an expression of praise to God, usually liturgical. This word is composed of the Greek words doxa and logos. In the Greek language, doxa means fame, splendor or greatness, while the Greek word logos means word or word.
The word itself dates back to the 4th century and is best known today as the term used for the last paragraph of the Lord`s Supper. Throughout the scriptures, we encounter stories of those who have experienced God`s greatness. They sing the praises of him. To speak or sing the words of a doxology is to copy what it has done. People who lived and worshipped in the early church felt the importance of giving praise where it was deserved. They knew that God deserved all their praise and gave us this great example to follow. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article on doxology Essentially, the meaning of the word doxology is to speak of glory and praise. If we do this every day in our quiet time or in our worship together, we can`t help but want to know more about the great God we serve. There is an instinctive feeling in us. Another well-known doxology is the one often added at the end of the Lord`s Prayer: “For thee is thee kingdom, and power, and glory, forever and ever, Amen.” It is found in the representative manuscripts of the Byzantine text of Matthew 6:13, but not in the manuscripts considered by Catholics to be the most reliable. According to Scrivener`s “Supplement to the Authorized English Version of the New Testament,” eight of the approximately 500 manuscripts are omitted.
Some scholars do not consider it part of Matthew`s original text, and modern translations do not include it, mentioning it only in footnotes. Since 1970, the doxology has been used in the form “For the kingdom, power and glory are yours, now and forever” in the Roman rite of the Mass after embolism. The Catholic Encyclopedia (1914) states that this doxology “appears in the Greek text receptus and has been adopted in later editions of the Book of Common Prayer, [and] is undoubtedly an interpolation.” Indeed, the doxology of the Lord`s Prayer is often omitted by Catholics, as in the Liturgy of the Hours, or when, as often happens outside Mass, a Hail Mary immediately follows (for example, in the Rosary, where the Gloria Patri serves as a doxology). The short song or song that comes at the end of a prayer in a Catholic church is a type of doxology. In the Lord`s Prayer, which is common in many different Christian churches, the last line, ending with “forever and ever, Amen,” was added to the original ancient biblical manuscripts and is considered a doxology. The word comes from the Greek doxologia, “praise or glory”, a combination of doxa, “glory” and logos, “a word”. These words illustrate the purpose of singing praises to God and submitting to one another. We must come together and worship in song and words. Our theology cannot be separated from our doxology. An article by Ken Easly, professor of biblical studies at Union University, states: “When we experience something or someone good, true or beautiful, we can`t help but offer admiration and appreciation. It is an integral part of the nature of who we are.
Of course, we are full of praise. You are more likely to hear a doxology in a Christian church because it is a short religious verse or prayer that is sung. A popular doxology in African-American Pentecostal and Baptist churches is “Praise Him, Praise Him,” written in the 1980s by famed African-American singer and pastor Milton Biggham. [14] Doxology, an expression of praise to God. There are three common doxologies in Christian worship: One of the best-known Jewish doxologies today is the “Yigdal,” which is explained here by the Jewish Virtual Library. This doxology consists of thirteen stanzas and is often heard at the end of Friday evening service in Sephardic congregations. The inspiration for Yigdal`s words comes from the first two of the Ten Commandments. The importance of this doxology comes from the inspiration it gave to Thomas Oliver when he wrote “Abraham`s Praise to God.” Olivers adapted this Jewish doxology into a Christian hymn, which is now sung as a doxology.