Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DOXOLOGY

A short formula expressing praise to God (Gk. doxología, from dóxa, “glory,” and lógos, “speaking”). Such formulaic expressions are found throughout the OT and NT.

Doxologic statements occur in the OT most frequently in the Psalms (Ps. 28:6; 31:21[MT 22]; 41:13[14]; 68:19, 35[20, 36]; 72:18; 89:52[53]; 106:48), but they are also found at the end of songs or hymns (1 Chr. 16:36) and as prayers (1 Sam. 25:32). A number of standard forms occur, most commonly describing God or God’s actions as “blessed”: e.g., “Blessed be the Lord” (Gen. 24:27; 1 Sam. 25:39; 2 Sam. 18:28; Ps. 28:6) or “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel” (1 Kgs. 1:48; 1 Chr. 16:36; Ps. 41:13[14]). These expressions are frequently completed with an enumeration of the actions performed by God. The doxology of Ps. 119:12 is the likely foundation for the rabbinic Berakot, or blessings, that developed later and attained the traditional forms that continue to be used in Jewish worship. Other common forms for doxology within the OT include “ascribe to the Lord glory” (1 Chr. 16:28) or “ascribe greatness to the Lord” (Deut. 32:3).

The object of doxology in the NT and the early Church appears to have been almost exclusively God, rather than Christ (e.g., Rom. 11:36), although such praise of God is occasionally “through” Christ (16:27). Possible doxologies directed to Christ can be found in Gal. 1:5; 2 Tim. 4:18; 1 Pet. 4:11, although the text is not entirely clear to whom praise or glory is directed. Pauline doxologies frequently take the form “to [God] be the glory forever and ever, Amen” (Gal. 1:5; Rom. 11:36; Phil. 4:20; cf. Eph. 3:20-21). These early Christian doxologies were later modified in light of Arianism and the trinitarian controversies and directed “to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew S. Collins

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DOXOLOGY

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)