Church Weekly
29 Aug 2021

CHURCH WEEKLY

THE DOXOLOGY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT

Dear Members in Christ,

The Doxology 

When we gather weekly for worship, we sing praises to God. The singing of hymns is one way of expressing praise to God. We also offer praise when we sing the Doxologies, such as the “Gloria Patri” and the “Common Doxology”. The article below was written for the church seminar on “Biblical Worship” and it gives the history and the theological significance of the Doxology.

The word “doxology” is derived from a compound[1] word comprising “doxa” and “logia.” It means “glory” and “sayings” respectively. If it is expressed in an idiomatic phrase, it would simply be “words of praise”. How does the doxology feature in the history of God’s people? Church historians comment that the Doxologies pronounced at the end of a prayer occurs often in the Bible. In the Old Testament, such an example[2] can be found in the concluding verse of Psalm 41. In this psalm, King David calls out to God in prayer for mercy and deliverance from his enemies. King David expresses great confidence in God’s help and expresses praise and gratitude at the conclusion of the psalm. Thus the concluding verse 13 is a doxology that reads, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.” Another example is Psalm 117 which comprises of only two verses, and it reads,

“O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”

 

Spurgeon comments on the versatility of this psalm[3] as a doxology. He remarks,

“This Psalm, which is very little in its letter, is exceedingly large in its spirit; for, bursting beyond all bounds of race or nationality, it calls upon all mankind to praise the name of the Lord. In all probability, it was frequently used as a brief hymn suitable for almost every occasion, and especially when the time of worship was short. Perhaps it was also sung at the commencement or at the close of other psalms, just as we now use the doxology.”

Doxologies also abound in the New Testament. As a first example, it is profitable to look at how the Lord Jesus Christ concludes His prayer. The example of the Lord Jesus Christ proclaiming a doxology in scripture are the words found at the end of the Lord’s prayer “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, world without end, Amen” Matthew 6:13. The New Testament epistles are also replete with examples of doxologies. One observes the recurrent usage[4] of doxologies in Paul’s writings such as in Romans 11:36; where the Spirit inspired him to write, “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.”  The pattern of the doxologies as an expression of praise at the end of a prayer or a sermon is discernible from these examples. 

There is also an example of a doxology in the Apostle John’s book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 4, the throne scene is displayed where the four beasts and the four and twenty elders worshipped God on His throne. At the close of this chapter of the Book of Revelation, the reader’s attention is drawn to the doxology uttered by the elders who cried out, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”[5]  The throne scene carries into Revelation chapter 5, where the Apostle John witnessed all creatures praising God with the following doxology,

“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:13.

What is commonly observed in these examples of the doxologies? Numerous doxological passages6 in the New Testament contain words that appear to have common elements with Matthew 6:13; Revelation 5:13; and others. These are the themes that commonly recur in these doxologies. Firstly, the identity of the One worthy of praise is exclaimed, i.e. God. Secondly, God is praised for His omnipotence and divine attributes. In this element, praise or “glory” is often used in adoration. Thirdly, the Divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ is proclaimed, and finally, the doxologies exalt the eternal nature of God and His reign.  

May we be enriched with the knowledge of God’s word, and may His Name be praised in our worship! Amen.                            

In Christ,

Dn. Lim Seh Beng

 

[1] The Collins Dictionary s.v. doxology. The words are ”doxa” and “logia”  from medieval Latin, and in Greek, “δοχα” and “λογος” https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/doxology

[2] Besides Psalm 41:13, many other examples are cited Psalm 72:18,19; Psalm 89:52 and Psalm 106:48 “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD”

[3] Cited in Read, Pray, Grow “Book of Psalms Part II” April-June 2019 by Rev Timothy Tow. Tuesday, 14 May, entitled “The Shortest Psalm in the heart of the Bible.”

[4] Other citations of New Testament Doxologies are Romans 16:27; Ephesians 1:3-4; Luke 2:14; 1 Peter 4:11 and 5:10.

[5] Revelation 4:11 an example of a doxology in prophecy.