Doxology

Definition and Meaning

The Korean term songyeong (頌榮), meaning "extolling glory," is a rendering of the English word "doxology." "Doxology" combines the Greek words doxa (glory) and logos (word). A doxology is a short, fixed form of praise that gives glory to God, especially to the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The term is used in two senses:

• A phrase ascribing glory to God at the end of a Scripture passage or prayer
• A short hymn sung in worship

Biblical and Historical Background

Scripture contains a number of passages in doxological form. Representative examples include Romans 11:36 ("to whom be glory for ever. Amen"), Ephesians 3:20–21, and Jude 1:24–25. The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever," is also a doxology. This phrase appears only in some manuscripts of Matthew 6:13 and is generally understood to have been added from its use as a closing formula for prayer in the worship of the early church.

Two doxologies have been widely used in church tradition:

• The Greater Doxology (Gloria in excelsis): A longer hymn of praise that opens with the angels' song in Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest."
• The Lesser Doxology (Gloria Patri): A short hymn of praise beginning "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit." It is generally understood to have taken its fixed form as a confession of Trinitarian faith around the time of the fourth-century Arian controversy.

Among English-speaking Protestants, "the Doxology" usually refers to "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow," written by the Church of England bishop Thomas Ken. It is sung to the tune "Old Hundredth," which comes from the Genevan Psalter.

Practice in the Korean Church

The New Hymnal (Sae Chansongga), used jointly by Korean Protestant denominations, groups its doxologies at the front of the book. Hymn No. 1, "Manbogui geunwon hananim" ("God, the Source of All Blessings"), is Ken's Doxology.

When and how the doxology is sung varies by church and denomination:

• Many Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, and other churches: The congregation or choir often sings the doxology at the opening of worship, following the silent prayer. This is sometimes called the "opening doxology." Some churches also have the choir sing a short doxology or an "Amen" response at the close of worship in connection with the benediction. This is not a fixed rule, however, and practice depends on each church's order of worship.
• Churches that emphasize liturgy (a fixed order of service), such as the Anglican Church of Korea and the Lutheran Church in Korea: The Greater Doxology is included in the order of the Eucharist, and there is a tradition of adding the Lesser Doxology after the reading of a psalm.
• Catholic Church: The same praise is called yeonggwangsong ("Glory Be") and is used in the Mass and in devotional prayer.

Churches with freer forms of worship may not include a separate doxology in the order of service. Instead, songs with similar content may be sung during a time of praise led by a worship team.