The Doxology is an expression of praise used in Christian worship across many traditions. The term refers to specific short hymns and a general category of liturgical formulas that offer glory to God. These concise declarations serve as a common way for congregants to affirm their faith and conclude various parts of a service. Whether sung or spoken, the doxology focuses worshipers on the authority and splendor of the divine.
Defining the Term and Concept
The word “doxology” originates from two Greek words: doxa, meaning “glory” or “splendor,” and logia, meaning “saying” or “word.” A doxology is thus a “word of glory,” a liturgical utterance dedicated to praising God’s eternal nature and majesty. The practice of using such a concluding phrase has roots in the Jewish synagogue, where a similar form of praise, like the Kaddish, was used to terminate sections of a service.
Within Christian theology, doxologies are Trinitarian, directing praise toward the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This affirmation of the three persons of the Godhead is characteristic of the form and encapsulates a central tenet of Christian belief. Doxologies are found throughout the Bible, often concluding prayers or epistles. They remind believers of God’s sovereignty and acknowledge that all honor belongs to the divine being.
The Common Doxology: Text and Authorship
The most familiar English doxology is the four-line hymn beginning, “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow.” The text is: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The words were penned in 1674 by Thomas Ken, an Anglican bishop and hymn writer.
Ken originally wrote this stanza as the concluding verse for three hymns (morning, evening, and midnight) composed for the students at Winchester College. It was intended as a permanent expression of praise for daily use. The text achieved widespread use soon after its composition, quickly becoming separated from its original longer works.
The popularity of the Common Doxology is tied to the tune “Old 100th.” This melody is much older than Ken’s lyrics, having first appeared in the Genevan Psalter in 1551, where it was set to the text of Psalm 134. The tune is attributed to French composer Louis Bourgeois. The combination of his established melody with Ken’s concise, Trinitarian text created an expression that has been sung for more than three centuries.
Varied Forms and Contexts of Use
Beyond the famous four-line hymn, the term “doxology” refers to other concluding formulas used in liturgical settings. One of the oldest and most frequently used is the “Lesser Doxology,” or Gloria Patri (Latin for “Glory to the Father”). The standard text is, “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen”.
This Lesser Doxology is an acclamation of praise to the Trinity that became fixed in its current form around the fourth century. It is traditionally inserted to conclude the recitation of Psalms or New Testament canticles during prayer services. Its purpose is to transform the ancient poetry of the Psalms into a distinctly Christian, Trinitarian prayer.
Another recognized doxology is the concluding phrase often added to the Lord’s Prayer: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”. Textual analysis indicates that this phrase was not part of the original words spoken by Jesus, but was a later addition. It was incorporated into the prayer in the early Church, evidenced by the first-century text Didache, to provide a fitting conclusion of praise, likely drawing language from Old Testament passages like 1 Chronicles 29:11.