Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

NUNC DIMITTIS

Latin name derived from the opening words (“now You are dismissing”) of Simeon’s canticle (Luke 2:29-32), sung — since the 5th century — every evening at Compline, the last of the daily monastic offices.

The “prophet” Simeon (“the Holy Spirit rested on him”; Luke 2:25) declared that his life had found completion with the realization of the Holy Spirit’s promise that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s messiah (v. 26). Simeon’s declaration that the Messiah’s advent was “for glory to your people Israel” and its context (the Jerusalem temple, Jesus’ parents following the Jewish ritual of offering a firstborn child, along with Simeon and Anna both personifying expectant Israel) cohere with mention of the Gentiles to suggest the universality of salvation, a common Lukan theme (cf. Luke 3:4-6; 4:16-30; Acts 13:47; 26:23). The hymn is replete with OT allusions, particularly from Second Isaiah (cf. Isa. 40:5; 42:6; 46:13; 49:6; 52:9-10). To a promise-fulfillment motif, the hymn adds direct praise of God.

Scholars differ on the origins of the Nunc Dimittis. Some see it as a free composition by Luke; others warrant Luke is citing a primitive hymn, either from Jewish or Jewish-Christian sources. With the Nunc Dimittis, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), and Benedictus (1:68-79), the early Jewish Christian community and subsequent Christian generations have expressed gratitude that Jesus, the long-awaited one, has come into their midst.

Bibliography. R. E. Brown, The Birth of the Messiah, rev. ed. (New York, 1993); S. Farris, The Hymns of Luke’s Infancy Narratives. JSNTSup 9 (Sheffield, 1985).

Terrence Prendergast, S.J.

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

NUNC DIMITTIS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)