Vineyard Evensong Part 4

The fourth element of Vineyard Evensong for our discussion is known as the “Gloria Patri”. The Gloria Patri is also called the “Glory Be” or “Glory Be to the Father”. It is a short doxology or hymn of praise to God so it is also sometimes referred to as the “Minor Doxology” or the “Lesser Doxology”. These titles help to distinguish it from what is known as the Greater Doxology, the “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”. The “Gloria Patri” is perhaps most notable for its strong Trinitarian emphasis.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The “Gloria Patri” seems to have initially been included in the liturgy by the monastic communities to be sung after the reading of each of the Psalms as ordered by St. Benedict in his Rule of 525. The practice of adding a doxology to a reading is derived from the tradition of the synagogue where ancient rites and hymns concluded with a similar formula. The “Gloria Patri” finds its biblical foundation in the texts listed below:
Romans 14:26
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
Philippians 4:20
Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
Revelation 1:6
and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 14:7a
He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory;
1 Chronicles 29:11
Yours, LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.
2 Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. AMEN.
The “Gloria Patri” should help us to focus on the majesty of the Trinity and to give God glory now and forever. There are three persons of the Trinity, the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit, but there is only one God. Trying to explain the Trinity with physical analogies almost always leads to heresy.
For instance, sometimes an explanation if offered that says that the trinity is like water. It can be liquid, ice, or vapor. Unfortunately, that is “Modalism” which says that God is not three persons but three forms.
Another analogy is that the Trinity is like the Sun. Star, light and heat. But that is “Arianism” which says that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not one with the Father but were created by Him, like light and heat being created by the star.
Another analogy is that the Trinity is like a three leaf clover. But that is “Partialism” which says that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not distinct persons of the Godhead but different parts of God, each composing one-third of the Divine.
The reality is that the Trinity is a mystery which cannot be comprehended by human reason but is understood only through faith and is best confessed in the words of the Athanasian creed.
The Athanasian Creed
Whosoever wishes to be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Christian faith, which faith, if anyone does not keep it whole and undefiled, without doubt he will perish everlastingly.
And, the Christian faith is this,
that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity,
neither confounding the Persons:
nor dividing the Substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son:
and another of the Holy Spirit,
but the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is all one,
the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son: and such is the Holy Spirit.
The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated and the Holy Spirit uncreated;
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible: and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal: and the Holy Spirit eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated: but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
So likewise, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty: and the Holy Spirit almighty.
And yet they are not three almighties: but one almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God: and the Holy Spirit is God.
And yet there are not three Gods: but one God.
So likewise the Father is the Lord, the Son the Lord: and the Holy Spirit the Lord.
And yet not three Lords: but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by Christian truth to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord;
so are we forbidden by the Christian religion: to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten:
The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other: none is greater, or less than another;
But all whole three Persons are co-eternal together: and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved: must think thus of the Trinity.