GLORY ROAD

                                                                                    Part One  

Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4:11

The first three questions of the Westminster Shorter Catechism of A.D.1647, along with the answers to those questions read as follows:

Question  1. What is the chief end of man?

Answer.  Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Question  2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy               him?

Answer. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New           Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Question 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

Answer. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

These questions are a part of the complete Westminster Confession of Faith which includes the larger and shorter catechisms. They have helped me to focus on the truly important and chief duty that we have in life, i.e. to glorify our God.

It was while we were doing an exercise in I Peter chapter five during the 2000 winter semester at Scullville Bible Institute in the course on “Bible Study Methods” that my interest in the Bible concept of Glory was stirred anew. If you were not in attendance at this class so ably taught by Pastor James McCartney, you missed something rich and valuable. 

Peter uses one form or another of the word “glory” 16 times in this short epistle, and in the fifth chapter he talks about Glory four times. He speaks in verse one about being a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.  In verse four he promises the Elders that are faithfully feeding the Flock of God that they shall eventually receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  In verse 10 he informs us that The God of all grace, … hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus. And finally in verse 11 Peter breaks out in a doxology of praise to God in Christ to Whom is the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Notice doxology is from the Greek DOXA + LOGOS, lit. “A glory word”)

Peter informs us that he was a partaker of the Glory that shall be revealed!  As glorious as things may be now, there is coming a day when the saints in Christ shall see the revelation of the full Glory of God.  The Apostle was referring to that same day when he, John and James were privileged to be present when our Lord Jesus was transfigured before their very eyes.  Peter again makes reference to this event in II Peter 1:18; And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.  We shall return to these verses in one of the upcoming articles for the Trumpeter as we take a walk along “Glory Road” over the next few months. But our first step along the path is to look at two of the inspired words that the Spirit of God used most frequently in Scripture to express the Glory of God.

In the Old Testament our word “Glory” is generally representative of the word  KABOD. This Hebrew word is not strange to you, because you have heard it many times when reference is made to Phinehas’ wife giving birth to Ichabod, a compound word meaning “No Glory”, or perhaps “Where is the Glory?” The second half of the name being KABOD, and it properly means “Weight” or “Heavy”, and then such derived meanings as “Abundance”, “Wealth”, “Honor” and of course “Glory”. (see #3513 in Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary at the back of his exhaustive concordance.)

The story about Phinehas’ wife in I Samuel chapter four is also of interest to us in defining KABOD because in verse 18, where the death of Eli is recorded, we are informed that he died when he fell backwards from his seat and broke his neck … and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. The word “heavy” in this verse is none other than KABAD, from the same root found in the name ICHABOD. This is a sad story, because not only does Eli die, but his son Phinehas also dies, the Ark is stolen, and the wife dies giving birth. And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. I Sam. 4:21

In the New Testament the word most frequently translated “Glory” is the Greek word  DOXA, (see Strong’s #1394 in the Greek portion of his dictionary). When the Jews translated the Hebrew O.T. into Greek, in the book we call the Septuagint, they used DOXA to represent about 25 different Hebrew words. But most of the time it is synonymous with KABOD. This is important to our understanding because its main use in the N.T. is shaped by the O.T. meanings. “It thus becomes a Biblical term rather than a Greek one” (Kittel: Theological Dictionary of The N.T.)

Meanings range from the more passive and descriptive words such as “Dignity”, “Glory”, “Glorious” and “Honor” to the more active ideas such as “Praise” and “Worship”, depending of course upon the context in which it is used and the choice of the English word chosen to represent DOXA in our modern versions.

Giving God the glory is not looked upon in the Bible as something we grant to Him. It is always and everywhere presumed to be an inherent reality of His Person. All man can do is recognize His Glory and give Him praise for it.  The N.T. also relates this DOXA to Christ in the same way it does to the O.T. revelation of God and so reflects the relationship between God and Christ and the certain deity of Jesus. Christ is raised by the Glory of the Father Rom. 6:4 (see end notes for Bible quotes). He is taken up into Glory I Tim. 3:16. He is at the right hand of Glory Acts 7:55. Glory is ascribed to Him as to God Lk. 2:14, Heb. 13:21 He is the Lord of Glory I Cor. 2:8, James 2:1.  The hope for an end time return of Jesus is termed the appearing of the Glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ Titus 2:13, cf Isaiah 40:5. This Glory that pertains to our Lord Jesus is already declared at His birth. Luke 2:9, John 1:14. 

One additional step in the progressive revelation of God in Scripture is the connecting in the N.T. of DOXA to the believer. The O.T. stressed the Divine Glory.  In the N.T. we are introduced to the idea of participation in this glory. The righteous will shine Mt. 13:43. The body will be transformed in the resurrection Phil. 3:21.  We are glorified together with Christ Rom. 8:17, Col. 1:27, 3:4.  We participate in God’s glory by our participation in Christ. Eternal glory is the goal of our calling I Pet. 5:10. Glory is to be revealed in us, and we are to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God Rom. 8:18, 21. What is sown in dishonor is raised in Glory I Cor. 15:43. The Spirit of God dwelling in us is the pledge of this new declaration of joint glorification. 2 Cor. 3:7-11. 

There is so much more valuable information that could be shared about the word groups used for “Glory”. And much of it will be included in future articles. In the meanwhile you are certainly urged to spend some additional time in personal study to gain this knowledge. At a minimum, you should examine articles on Glory in a good Study Bible and Bible Dictionary. Much of this background material was taken from the Holman Bible Dictionary

Next month Part Two of the Glory Road.

Hayden

Romans 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

1 Tim. 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Acts 7:55               But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Luke 2:14            Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Heb. 13:21            Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I Cor. 2:8            Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

James 2:1            My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Titus 2:13            Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Isaiah 40:5            And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Luke 2:9            And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

John 1:14            And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Mt. 13:43            Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Phil. 3:21            Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Rom. 8:17            And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Rom. 8:18             For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Rom. 8:21            Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Col. 1:27            To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Col. 3:4            When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

I Pet. 5:10            But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

I Cor. 15:43            It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: