SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (DOXA)

SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (doxa)

The biblical concept of "glory" is difficult to define. The LXX used doxa to translate over 25 Hebrew words. It is used many times throughout the NT in a variety of ways. It is applied to God, Jesus, humans, and the Messianic Kingdom.

In the OT the most common Hebrew word for "glory" (kabod, BDB 458, KB 455-458) was originally a commercial term relating to a pair of scales ("to be heavy," KB 455). That which was heavy was valuable or had intrinsic worth. Often the concept of brightness was added to the word to express God's majesty (cf. Exod. 19:16-18; 24:17; 33:18; Isa. 60:1-2). He alone is worthy and honorable (cf. Ps. 24:7-10; 66:2; 79:9). He is too brilliant for fallen mankind to behold, so He clothes Himself in cloud, hand, or smoke (cf. Exod 16:7,10; 33:17-23; Isa. 6:5). YHWH can only be truly known through Christ (cf. John 1:18; 6:46; 12:45; 14:8-11; Col.1:15; 1 Tim. 6:16; Heb. 1:3; 1 John 4:12).

Believers' glory is that they understand the gospel and glory in God, not in themselves (cf. 1 Cor. 1:29-31; Jer. 9:23-24). For a detailed discussion, see NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 577-587.

There are many different connotations of this word in John.

divine glory (cf. John 1:14; 12:16,41; 17:5,24)
the revelation of the Father by Jesus' signs, teachings, and Passion Week works (cf. John 1:14; 2:11; 7:18; 11:4,40; 17:4,10,22)
specifically the cross (cf. John 7:39; 12:23; 13:31-32; 17:1,4)

There is obviously some fluidity between these usages. The central truth is that the invisible God is revealed in a human (i.e., Jesus Christ, cf. Col. 1:15) by His words and acts.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (OT, kabod)