Editing Gloria in excelsis Deo (section)

==History==
{{lang|la|Gloria in excelsis Deo|italic=no}} is an example of  the ''psalmi idiotici'' ("private psalms", i.e., compositions by individuals in imitation of the biblical [[Psalter]]) that were popular in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Other surviving examples of this lyric poetry are the [[Te Deum]] and the [[Phos Hilaron]].<ref name=CE>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Gloria in Excelsis Deo}}</ref> In the 4th century it became part of morning prayers, and is still recited in the [[Byzantine Rite]] [[Matins|Orthros]] service.<ref name=ODCC/>

The [[Latin]] translation is traditionally attributed to [[Hilary of Poitiers]] ({{circa|300}}–368), who may have learned it while in the East (359–360); as such, it is part of a loose tradition of early Latin translations of the scripture known as the [[Vetus Latina]].<ref name=CE/> The [[Vulgate]] Latin translation of the [[Bible]] was commissioned only in 382.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9075790 |title=Encyclopædia Britannica Online, article ''Vulgate'' |publisher=Britannica.com |access-date=2012-03-11}}</ref> 

The Latin hymn thus uses the word ''excelsis'' to translate the Greek word ὑψίστοις – ''hypsístois'' (the highest) in {{bibleref2|Luke|2:14|DRA}}: [[Douay-Rheims Bible|Douay-Rheims]], not the word ''altissimis'', which [[Jerome]] preferred for his translation. However, this word is used near the end: ''tu solus Altissimus, Iesu Christe'' (you alone the Most High, Jesus Christ).