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by _Steve » Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:44 am
I have long been fascinated by the concept of the glory of God, and taught on the subject a great deal in my younger years. My curiosity was first aroused on the subject by noticing the many places in the New Testament that indicate that we have been called to obtain the glory of God (1 Thes.2:12/ 1 Pet.5:10), and that our destiny is to have the glory of God revealed in us (Rom.8:18/ 2 Cor.4:17). The eschatological hope of the believer is everywhere associated with this glory of God, or of Christ (Rom.5:2/ Col.1:27/Tit.2:13 [see the Greek]). Many passages indicate that this glory is obtained through suffering (Luke 24:26/ Rom.8:17-18/ 2 Cor.4:17/ 1 Pet.1:7; 5:10).
In researching the matter in the scriptures, I discovered several related uses of the word.
In the KJV, the term "to glory" is often used as a verb, meaning "to boast" or "to take pride in" something. But it is the noun usages that are particularly interesting.
First, there is the obvious meaning, being synonymous with "honor," "esteem," "fame," "exaltation," "respect," "credit," etc. In this sense, we speak of God receiving "all the glory." All Christian activity is to be done to the end "that God in all things may be glorified" (1 Pet.4:10-11). It is in this sense that Calvinists, like Piper, emphasize the glory of God. Their primary concern is that God should have all the glory, or credit, for man's salvation, and that not credit should go to man in any degree.
Another usage of the term "glory" speaks of the simple idea of "spendor" or "magnificence" (Matt. 4:8; 6:29). It is probably in this sense that "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Ps.19:1).
Often "glory" is used as a synonym of "radiance," "brilliance" or "light" (Acts 22:11). Thus we read of the glory of the Lord shining around the shepherds when the angels appeared (Luke 2:9), as also the glory shone on Moses' face (2 Cor.3:7). It is in this sense that Paul can speak of there being "one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory" (1 Cor.15:41). The New Jerusalem has no need of sun or moon, because the glory of God is its light (Rev.21:23). Christ is said to be "the brightness of [God's] glory" (Heb.1:3).
The third use of the word "glory" is that which places it in close connection with, if not indentification with, the concept of "image." In the last verse mentioned, Christ is said to be both "the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person" (Heb.1:3). This close connection is also seen in Paul's statement that "man is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man" (1 Cor.11:7).
The connection of these concepts is hinted at when Moses says, "Please, show me your glory!" and God replies, "You cannot see my face" (Ex.33:18, 20). See also the juxtaposition of these concepts in Romans 1:23 and 2 Corinthians 4:6.
There seems to be an interchangability of the terms "glory" and "image" in the statement, "we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory..."(2 Cor.3:18).
This final example seems to indicate that the glory to which we have been called, which is our hope, and which will be manifest in us as the end result of our suffering, is nothing else but the image of Christ in us. That we are "predestined to be conformed into the image of His Son" (Rom.8:29) seems to be a parallel thought (see context) to God's "bringing many sons to glory" (Heb.2:10).
I have given references, above, which say that our hope is "glory." That hope is elsewhere said to be tantamount to being brought forth in Christ's likeness, or image (1 John 3:2-3). Exploring what this means is another study in itself.
This answer has taken this discussion a different direction from that which is Piper's emphasis. I certainly agree with Him that the glory of God is to be our eternal obsession (and probably God's as well), but I see the New Testament saying a great deal about the glory of God in connection with our destiny. I understand this teaching to be essentially the promise of our being transformed into the likeness of Christ.
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Reason: In Jesus,
Steve