Revision #12311
Benediction
Localized for English-speaking readers (msgbatch_01GvFKF6zaroxwZ2RCatyoPp)
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Definition and Meaning
- The benediction (Korean *chukdo*, 祝禱) is the part of a worship service in which, at its close, the minister faces the congregation and either prays for God's blessing or pronounces it. The Korean term combines two characters that both mean "to pray" or "to invoke." In the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, the term *gangbok* (降福), meaning "to bestow blessing," is more commonly used. As the congregation leaves worship and returns to daily life, the benediction asks that God's grace and protection go with them.
+ The benediction is the part of a worship service in which, at its close, the minister faces the congregation and either prays for God's blessing upon them or pronounces it. In the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, the act is commonly called the blessing, in the sense of bestowing God's blessing. As the congregation is sent from worship back into daily life, the benediction asks that God's grace and protection go with them.
=
= ## Biblical and Historical Background
= Two passages are commonly cited as the basis for the benediction.
= - **Numbers 6:24–26**: The words God gave to Aaron and his sons for blessing the people of Israel, known as the "Aaronic blessing."
- - **2 Corinthians 13:14**: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all" (KJV). Because it names the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together, it is also called the "Trinitarian benediction." It is the form most widely used in Korean Protestantism. In the New Korean Revised Version, the verse is numbered 13:13, whereas some English Bibles, including the KJV, number it 13:14.
+ - **2 Corinthians 13:14**: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all" (KJV). Because it names the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together, it is also called the "Trinitarian benediction." It is the form most widely used in Korean Protestantism. The New Korean Revised Version numbers this verse 13:13, whereas some English Bibles, including the KJV, number it 13:14.
=
= The tradition of closing worship with a blessing has continued throughout church history. After the Reformation, Protestant worship also adopted the practice of ending services with the Aaronic blessing or with a blessing drawn from the Pauline epistles.
=
= ## Practice in Korean Churches
- The benediction normally comes at the very end of the service, after the final hymn. The pastor raises both hands and pronounces the benediction, while the congregation receives it with heads bowed and eyes closed. The service then concludes with a postlude (instrumental music played after worship) or a doxology (a short hymn giving glory to God).
+ In Korean Protestant churches, the benediction normally comes at the very end of the service, after the final hymn. The pastor raises both hands and pronounces the benediction, while the congregation receives it with heads bowed and eyes closed. The service then concludes with a postlude (instrumental music played after worship) or a doxology (a short hymn giving glory to God).
=
= ### Who Gives the Benediction
- Most Korean Protestant denominations, including Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, Baptist, and Full Gospel churches, regard the benediction as a duty reserved for an ordained pastor. Accordingly, when a service without a pastor is led by an evangelist (jeondosa), a licentiate, or an elder, the common practice is to close by reciting the Lord's Prayer together instead of giving a benediction. In the Anglican and Catholic churches, the priest bestows the blessing. Some, however, point out that Scripture does not explicitly require that the benediction be reserved for pastors. This view treats the question of who gives the benediction as a matter of church order rather than doctrine.
+ Most Korean Protestant denominations, including Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, Baptist, and Full Gospel churches, regard the benediction as a duty reserved for an ordained pastor. Accordingly, when a service without a pastor is led by an evangelist (*jeondosa*), a licentiate, or an elder, the common practice is to close by reciting the Lord's Prayer together instead of giving a benediction. In the Anglican and Catholic churches, the priest gives the blessing. Some, however, point out that Scripture does not explicitly require that the benediction be reserved for pastors. This view treats the question of who gives the benediction as a matter of church order rather than doctrine.
=
- ### "Be with You" and "We Pray"
- The wording that concludes the benediction has long been debated within the Korean church.
+ ### Declarative and Petitionary Endings
+ The wording that concludes the benediction has long been debated within Korean churches.
= - **"Be with you" (*isseuljieoda*, declarative form)**: This view regards the benediction as the pastor proclaiming blessing upon the congregation in God's name. Its proponents note that it follows the wording of the biblical text directly.
= - **"We humbly pray" (*chugwonhaomnaida*, petitionary form)**: This view holds that the pastor stands together with the congregation in asking God for blessing.
=
- The general assemblies of some Presbyterian denominations are reported to have resolved that the declarative form "be with you" should be used. In congregational practice, however, petitionary expressions such as "we humbly pray" and "we pray that [God's grace] may be with you" also remain in use.
+ The general assemblies of some Korean Presbyterian denominations are reported to have resolved that the declarative form "be with you" should be used. In congregational practice, however, petitionary expressions such as "we humbly pray" and "we pray that [God's grace] may be with you" also remain in use.
The benediction (chukdo) is the part of a worship service in which, at its close, the minister asks for or pronounces God's blessing upon the congregation. In Catholic and Anglican usage, it is called gangbok, meaning "the bestowal of blessing."
The benediction is the part of a worship service in which, at its close, the minister asks for or pronounces God's blessing upon the congregation. In Catholic and Anglican usage, it is commonly referred to as the blessing.
Full revision
The benediction is the part of a worship service in which, at its close, the minister asks for or pronounces God's blessing upon the congregation. In Catholic and Anglican usage, it is commonly referred to as the blessing.
Definition and Meaning
The benediction is the part of a worship service in which, at its close, the minister faces the congregation and either prays for God's blessing upon them or pronounces it. In the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, the act is commonly called the blessing, in the sense of bestowing God's blessing. As the congregation is sent from worship back into daily life, the benediction asks that God's grace and protection go with them.
Biblical and Historical Background
Two passages are commonly cited as the basis for the benediction.
- Numbers 6:24–26: The words God gave to Aaron and his sons for blessing the people of Israel, known as the "Aaronic blessing."
- 2 Corinthians 13:14: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all" (KJV). Because it names the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together, it is also called the "Trinitarian benediction." It is the form most widely used in Korean Protestantism. The New Korean Revised Version numbers this verse 13:13, whereas some English Bibles, including the KJV, number it 13:14.
The tradition of closing worship with a blessing has continued throughout church history. After the Reformation, Protestant worship also adopted the practice of ending services with the Aaronic blessing or with a blessing drawn from the Pauline epistles.
Practice in Korean Churches
In Korean Protestant churches, the benediction normally comes at the very end of the service, after the final hymn. The pastor raises both hands and pronounces the benediction, while the congregation receives it with heads bowed and eyes closed. The service then concludes with a postlude (instrumental music played after worship) or a doxology (a short hymn giving glory to God).
Who Gives the Benediction
Most Korean Protestant denominations, including Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, Baptist, and Full Gospel churches, regard the benediction as a duty reserved for an ordained pastor. Accordingly, when a service without a pastor is led by an evangelist (jeondosa), a licentiate, or an elder, the common practice is to close by reciting the Lord's Prayer together instead of giving a benediction. In the Anglican and Catholic churches, the priest gives the blessing. Some, however, point out that Scripture does not explicitly require that the benediction be reserved for pastors. This view treats the question of who gives the benediction as a matter of church order rather than doctrine.
Declarative and Petitionary Endings
The wording that concludes the benediction has long been debated within Korean churches.
- "Be with you" (isseuljieoda, declarative form): This view regards the benediction as the pastor proclaiming blessing upon the congregation in God's name. Its proponents note that it follows the wording of the biblical text directly.
- "We humbly pray" (chugwonhaomnaida, petitionary form): This view holds that the pastor stands together with the congregation in asking God for blessing.
The general assemblies of some Korean Presbyterian denominations are reported to have resolved that the declarative form "be with you" should be used. In congregational practice, however, petitionary expressions such as "we humbly pray" and "we pray that [God's grace] may be with you" also remain in use.