📖 Biblical Definition
The Gloria Patri is the historic short Trinitarian doxology, sung at the close of Psalms and other liturgical units: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. The form is sub-apostolic but the content is biblical: every public reading of Scripture closes by ascribing glory to the Trinity.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(Latin.) The historic short Trinitarian doxology used at the close of Psalms and other liturgical units.
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Two parts: praise of the Trinity (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost) and affirmation of God's eternal sameness (as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen).
Used in Reformed and Anglican Daily Office traditions to close the recitation of each Psalm; the Trinitarian close re-receives the Old Testament Psalter as Christian Scripture.
📖 Key Scripture
Romans 11:36 — "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:21 — "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
Revelation 5:13 — "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."
Matthew 28:19 — "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often skips Trinitarian-grade doxology; the Gloria Patri preserves a brief weekly rehearsal of the Trinitarian core.
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The Gloria Patri ascribes glory to all three Persons by name. In an age of generic spiritual language, the discipline of naming the Trinity at every reading-close keeps the saint's confession sharp.
The household that learns the Gloria Patri (or its English equivalent) in two languages and uses it at family worship has internalized a Trinitarian rhythm that protects against generic-deity drift.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Latin opening words: Gloria Patri — Glory to the Father.
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Latin gloria — glory; patri — to the Father.
Note: also called the Lesser Doxology, distinguishing it from the Gloria in Excelsis (Greater Doxology).
Usage
"Naming the Trinity at every reading-close keeps the saint's confession sharp."
"The household's daily Trinitarian rhythm protects against generic-deity drift."
"World without end — the eternity-clause of the doxology."