Salutation & Doxology in New Testament

 There are many who misunderstand the salutation & doxology in scriptures in the New Testament and attribute the esteem given to Alahym through another person Yahusha ha Mashiyach, and thus misrepresent His Mediatorship. 

Firstly to understand what doxology is, we must look at Luke 2:14 where the angels sing the doxology

Luk 2:14  “Glory G1391 δόξα doxa to Elohim in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased!”

The word comes from the Greek doxologia, "praise or glory," a combination of doxa, "glory," and logos, "a speaking." 

But it’s different from a Salutation.

We have the following salutations in Shaul's epistles which is not a doxology because it’s a greeting from above and doxology is a upward esteem given whose synonyms are hymns, praise, glory, psalm, HalaluYah. 

Salutation:

Rom 1:7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of Elohim, called, set-apart ones: Favour to you and peace from *Elohim our Father and the Master יהושע Messiah*.

1Cor 1: 3 Favour to you and peace from *Elohim our Father and the Master יהושע Messiah.*

We see the same in 2Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; Col 1:2; 1Thes 1:1; 2Thes 1:2; 1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2; Tit 1:4 and Phil 1:3.

Luke 2:14 is different from a salutation and is an example of doxology/glorification whereas the opening of epistles is salutation. 

Why does Shaul opens his epistles with salutations 'Favour and peace from Alahym our Father and Adon Yahusha Messiah'? Was it Shaul's intention to show that Elohim our Father and Adon Yahusha Messiah are two entities?

Of course not! It's to show that what comes from above must come through our Adon Yahusha Messiah' as our only Mediator, and whatever comes, comes from beyond time into time in the transitioned body of Yahusha ha Mashiyach. Hence, it's the Father at the sending point and the Son at receiving point on our behalf, because we all transition into Him. 

The carnal minded see dimly through the mirror as from bottom (as The Son) to the top (as The Father).  Whereas it's quite the opposite.

Yahusha became part of His own creation to be face to face with His creation to bring down His blessings. 

Jam1:15 Then after the desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And sin, when it is accomplished, brings forth death.

Jam1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

Jam1:17 ALL (Hebrew: Kol כל) good gift and every perfect gift is from above, comes down from the Father of lights, which is not transient (Greek: parallage G3883, Hebrew: chaluph) or shadow of turning.

The Greek word 'parallage' means 'transmutation' i.e. the action of changing or the state of being changed into another form. The Hebrew word 'chaluph חלופ' actually means 'surviving' as an orphan who survives. Proverbs 31:8 they have translated it as 'destruction' which is incorrect. Because the word 'chalap חלפ' means 'through/change/alter'

The KJV translation is misleading as the verse suggests the Father of lights is not changing, but it means that his good and perfect gifts are unchanging & the context is Him washing away our sins which is unchangeable. The Scripture it doesn't say He can't change His form. To those who understand these verses, we can understand in the Ruach that the Good and Perfect gifts related is to our Atonement & cannot change as his gifts and calling are irrevocable (Rom 11:29), but He Himself transitions to make this happen. 

Hebrews 6:17-20 Thus Alahym, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for Alahym to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

Yahusha said "I and My Father are one" & hence, the transitioned form and the eternal Alahym in His invisible form is ONE AND THE SAME for He transitioned (Col 1:19, 2:9) & the salutation just shows from where it all originated to the receiving end. 

Why do many of Hebrew legalistic mindset people many of whom are Unitarians see differently than us from Hebrew Covenant perspective? Why do they deny The Deity of Yahusha HaMashyach Who is our Alahym of the New Creation Order? It's simply because they read scriptures in a mirror effect where the reality is deliberately hidden by Yahusha as a testing program to separate wheat and tares. No matter how many times we witness to the Hebrew legalists they just can't see.

Let's look at some of the scriptures to understand this testing program where only the elect can understand through the spiritual discernment given to them. 

1Kings 8: 12 And Shelomoh said, *“יהוה has said He would dwell in the dark cloud. *

The dark cloud is opaque where it's not clear and needs discerning eyes to see.

It's also symbolized when the Kahan Ha Gadol (High Priest) would fill the Most Holy Place where the ark of the covenant was with the smoke of the incense so the presence of Yahuah on the Mercy Seat would be hidden from his viewpoint. This hidden mystery points to our Yahusha Ha Mashyach. 

1Cor 13:11 *When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child*. But when I became a man, I did away with childish matters.

12 *For now we see in a mirror, dimly*, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, as I also have been known.

The child sees everything dimly. If one remains as a child and not grow up as a man (not conformed to the image of The Son), he will always see dimly through the mirror and not beyond. We have to grow up in the Love and Humility of Yahusha HaMashyach to see that He is our only Alahym in the New Creation. We prepare ourselves while in earthy Bodies to see through discernment what's is ahead of us. Unless we see beyond the mirror effect our hearts will not be prepared to be face to face with Yahusha HaMashyach.

Rev 4:2  And immediately I came to be in the Spirit and saw a throne set in the heaven, and One sat on the throne.

3 And *He who sat there was like a jasper and a ruby stone in appearance*. And there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

6  *And before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal*. And in the midst of the fact throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and in back.

In an imagery Yahuchanan was seeing Yahusha as The Malchitsedeq Priest seated on the throne through the Sea of Glass like crystal (mirror) to be in appearance of Jasper and Ruby stone which make up the last and the first stone on the breast place of the Kahan HaGadol of the Old Testament.  The imagery is dimly seen through the mirror (sea of glass) so His identity is obscured to those of carnal mind. They see One seated on the Throne as just The Father and not as The High Priest after the order of Malchitsedeq .  They don't see that The One sitting on the throne and The Lamb in the midst of the throne are one and the same in the imagery.

Rev 1:1   Revelation of יהושע Messiah, which Elohim gave Him to show His servants what has to take place with speed. And He signified it by sending His messenger to His servant Yoḥanan,

Apart from the epistles and letters written by the emissaries/apostles there are books in the NT which don’t begin with a Salutation but a preface to the Mediation which we need to decipher in comparison with what is written later in the same book. For example, Rev 1:1 in a first blush meaning says the Revelation given is by Alahym about Yahusha to John by a Messenger Signification. The mirror or the sea of glass will show a distinction but the foresight from the Ruach shows us that the Alahym and Yahusha are the same.

If the ‘He’ who signified it by sending ‘His’ Messenger to John is Alahym in Rev 1:1 then He has to be Yahusha because in Rev 22:16 He says He is the One who sent His Messenger.

Rev 22:16  “I, יהושע, have sent My messenger to witness to you these matters in the assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of Dawiḏ, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Isn’t that clear that what came from above came in from the past/beyond time, being in the first estate into time through the Son who is the image of the invisible Alahym?

Heb 1:1 Elohim, having of old spoken in many portions and many ways to the fathers by the prophets, 

Heb 1:2 has in these last days spoken to us by the Son, whom He has appointed heir of all, through whom also He made the ages,

The opening of Hebrew says in time past/old Alahym spoke through the fathers through the prophets but in the last days spoken to us by the Son. While the first blush meaning shows the One is speaking through the other i.e. the Son but Shaul says in Hebrews 12 that the Speaker is ONE.

Heb 12:25 Therefore, take heed lest you refuse to hear Him that speaks. For if those did not escape when they refused to hear Him who spoke with them on the earth, how much less if we turn away to hear from the voice of Him who speaks from the heavens, 

The one who spoke from the earth and the one who speaks from the heavens is summed up as "lest you refuse to hear Him that speaks".

Doxology in the New Testament:

Mat 26:30  And having sung a song, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 

Mrk 14:26  And having sung a song, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 

We have NT recording Yahusha was with His disciples before His death and sung a hymn along with them. The Greek word translated as hymn is the word ὑμνέω humneo G5214 which means sing praise. 

The same word relation of G5215 ὕμνος humnos is used twice in the New Testament which means hymn.

Eph 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns/G5215 humnos and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Master/ADON

This verse is followed by the doxology attribution which is misunderstood by Christianity and Hebrew roots movement and they use it as a mantra of going to a bigger Deity through a demi god for them who is Yahusha. Such deception is seen in assemblies. 

Eph 5:20  giving thanks always for all to Elohim the Father, in the Name of our Master יהושע Messiah, 

Such ignorance is childish and looking dimly through a mirror because everything that comes from above and that goes from beneath to above is through the Son. All we need to do is see beyond the sea of glass to identify that it pleased the Divinity to dwell bodily (Col 1:19, 2:9) and hence the doxology attributed to the Son is an attribution to His first estate from where everything originated and He Himself came forth to be part of His creation and be face to face with us.

Hence He is the full portion of any doxology sung and hence, Shaul the emissary says singing Psalms, Hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in your heart to the ADON. He is the Adon.

If He sung a praise before His death, it was to fulfill as written as per decree. 

Heb 2:11  For both He who sets apart and those who are being set apart are all of One, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers, 

Heb 2:12  saying, “I shall announce Your Name to My brothers, in the midst of the congregation I shall sing praise/G5214 ὑμνέω humneo to You.” Psa 22:22.

Psa 22:22  I make known Your Name to My brothers; In the midst of the assembly I praise/הלל H1984 halal You. 

Psa 45:17  I cause Your Name to be remembered/zakar H2142 זכר in all generations; Therefore the people praise You forever and ever. 

He is part of the Halal when we say HalaluYah and the remembrance as the same word zakar זכר means man child.

Until He was glorified (doxo) He being the Sanctifier and we the sanctified are one (Heb 2:11) . Hence, the praise had to be perfected in Him to be fulfilled as the Chief Musician through whom the doxology was attributed and attached.

The 2nd place the word humnos ὕμνος G5215 is used in Col 3:16 

Col 3:15  And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one Body, and be filled with thanks. 

Col 3:16  Let the Word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing with pleasure in your hearts to the Master in psalms and hymns /ὕμνος G5215 humnos and spiritual songs.

Col 3:17  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Master יהושע, giving thanks to Elohim the Father through Him.

The carnal mind will take verse 17 in isolation and quote what they see in a sea of glass saying “giving thanks to Alahym the Father through Him”. The Doxology is best understood when we read it in context from verse 15 which says you were called in One BODY and be filled with thanks. Whose Body are we called into? Mashiyach Yahusha’s. Verse 16 says we need to have the Word of Mashiyach dwelling in us richly teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing one another with pleasure in our hearts to the Master/ADON in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs. The doxology is to the Son as the Divinity dwells in Him BODILY.

Doxology in the Psalms: 

Psa 4:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O Alahym of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 

Many of the Psalms attribute a doxology through a mediator titled chief musician who held the Psalms repository to be sung on feast days, Shabbaths and other days of gatherings during the temple era. While the chief musician filled in for a ministration to ensure it’s a perfected praise, Asaph, Yeduthun etc were custodians of the Psalms, Hymns and Songs to play skilfully in the intended tune through which Yahuah would be glorified (doxa). The external instruments used can never replace the yanah/oppression of the circumcised heart and that’s why Shaul says making melody in your heart unto the ADON. 

The ADON Yahusha fills in both ministrations ie. Of the chief musician where the word natsach נצח H5329 translated as ‘chief musician’ has a same family word H5332 נצח which also means ‘continually’ as flowing of blood. Someone who as an overseer continues /perpetual.

No earthly priest could continue perpetually but Mashiyach Yahusha continues forever 

Heb 7:23  And indeed, those that became priests were many, because they were prevented by death from continuing, 

Heb 7:24  but He, because He remains forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

And Yahusha fills in perfecting praise in Himself and those not understanding this only see everything through the sea of glass without realising that it is He who rolls the heavens as a scroll.

Heb 1:10  And, “You, Master, did found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

Heb 1:11  “They shall perish, but You remain. And they shall all grow old like a garment,

Heb 1:12  and like a mantle You shall fold them up, and they shall be changed. But You are the same, and Your years shall not fail.”

You change them like a coat, And they are changed. As stated in Psalms 102:26 shows that the veil of the sea of glass is only unveiled by Him. 

2Co 3:11  For if that which is passing away was esteemed, much more that which remains in esteem. 

2Co 3:12  Having then such expectation, we use much boldness of speech, 

2Co 3:13  and not like Mosheh, who put a veil over his facea so that the children of Yisra’ěl should not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were hardened, for to this day, when the old covenant is being read, that same veil remains, not lifted, because in Messiah it is taken away.

The heavens rolling away is a picture of the direct view of His Revelation which enables the viewer to see Him face to face. 

Not all will understand the salutations and the doxology as they will interpret what they see through the sea of glass and the veil remains for them. The remnant will see the heavens as the earth as it says the earth and the heavens (physical) fled away from Him .

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne and Him who was sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.