Glory

Author:

GLORY — Uses Across Scripture

A) God’s own glory (being, presence, name, works)

  1. Intrinsic, exclusive divine majesty — God’s own, not shared with idols (Isa 42:8).

  2. Theophanic manifestation (cloud/fire filling sanctuary) — Ex 40:34–35; 1 Kgs 8:10–11.

  3. Appearance like devouring fire — Ex 24:17.

  4. “God of glory” (title) — Acts 7:2; Ps 29:3 (“God of glory thunders”).

  5. “King of glory” — Ps 24:7–10.

  6. Name/reputation for which He acts — Ps 79:9; Ezek 36:22 [“for the sake of my holy name”].

  7. Creation declares God’s glory — Ps 19:1.

  8. Earth filled with His glory (promise/oath) — Num 14:21; cf. Isa 6:3.

  9. God glorifies Himself in judgment — Ex 14:4 (“I will get glory over Pharaoh”).

  10. God glorified in mercy/salvation — Rom 15:9; Eph 1:6, 12, 14 (“to the praise of his glory”).

  11. Ultimate end of all things — Rom 11:36; 1 Cor 10:31.

B) Christological glory (past, present, future)

  1. Pre-incarnate glory with the Father (eternity past) — John 17:5.

  2. Incarnate revelation of glory — John 1:14.

  3. Transfiguration radiance — Luke 9:32 (cf. Matt 17:2).

  4. The cross as the “hour” of glorification (paradox) — John 12:23; 13:31–32.

  5. Resurrection/ascension exaltation — 1 Pet 1:21; Phil 2:9–11 (“to the glory of God the Father”).

  6. Christ, “the Lord of glory” — 1 Cor 2:8.

  7. Revelation of God’s glory in the face of Christ (knowledge/illumination) — 2 Cor 4:6.

  8. Second Coming in glory — Matt 25:31; Titus 2:13.

C) Spirit-related glory

  1. Transformation “from glory to glory” by the Spirit — 2 Cor 3:18.

  2. “The Spirit of glory” resting on sufferers — 1 Pet 4:14.

D) Salvation blessings for believers (now and future)

  1. Hope of glory (present hope) — Col 1:27.

  2. Glorification (future consummation) — Rom 8:30; Col 3:4.

  3. Conformity to Christ’s glorious body — Phil 3:21.

  4. “Weight of glory” produced through affliction — 2 Cor 4:17.

  5. Suffering with Christ → being glorified with Him — Rom 8:17–18; 1 Pet 5:10.

  6. Reward imagery: “crown of glory” — 1 Pet 5:4; Isa 62:3.

E) Ethical & doxological uses (human response)

  1. Give/attribute glory to God (praise, confession, repentance) — Josh 7:19; Rev 14:7; 16:9 (neg.).

  2. Glorify God by obedient lives/worship — 1 Pet 2:12; Heb 12:28–29.

  3. Glory in the church and in Christ forever (doxology) — Eph 3:21.

  4. Living for God’s glory in ordinary acts — 1 Cor 10:31.

F) Human “glory” (honor, status, beauty)—proper and improper

  1. Human honor/renown (positive) — Prov 16:31 (“crown of glory” = gray hair).

  2. Household/wealth “glory” — Ps 49:16–17; [Gen 31:1, ESV “wealth,” Heb. kābôd].

  3. Rulers/nations’ splendor — Isa 13:19 (“glory of kingdoms”); cf. Dan 11:20–21.

  4. Floral/creational beauty called “glory” — Isa 40:6; 35:2 (“glory of Lebanon”).

  5. Astral/created bodies differ in glory — 1 Cor 15:40–41.

  6. A woman’s hair as her “glory” — 1 Cor 11:15.

  7. Human glory is fleeting/grasslike — 1 Pet 1:24 (quoting Isa 40:6–8).

  8. Seeking/receiving glory from people (sinful) — John 12:43; cf. 5:44.

  9. Glory turned to shame (perverse values) — Phil 3:19.

G) Zion/Temple/Jerusalem motifs (place & people)

  1. Tabernacle/Temple filled with the glory of the LORD — Ex 40:34–35; 1 Kgs 8:10–11.

  2. Departure and promised return of the glory (Ezekiel) — Ezek 10:18–19 (departure); 43:2–5 (return).

  3. “Ichabod”—glory departed (covenant judgment) — 1 Sam 4:21.

  4. Restoration: “Arise, shine… the glory of the LORD has risen upon you” — Isa 60:1.

  5. Nations bring their glory into the New Jerusalem — Rev 21:24, 26.

  6. “That glory may dwell in our land” (revival/shalom) — Ps 85:9.

H) Glory & revelation/epiphany experiences

  1. Angelic epiphany—glory shining — Luke 2:9.

  2. Prophetic visions of God’s glory — Ezek 1:28; Isa 6:1–3.

I) “Glory” in redemptive logic & mission

  1. All sinned and fall short of the glory of God (standard/goal) — Rom 3:23.

  2. Vessels of mercy prepared beforehand for glory (telos of election/mercy) — Rom 9:23.

  3. Mission to the nations → God’s glory praised — Rom 15:9; Ps 96:3.

J) Christ’s glory and paradox of the cross

  1. Glory revealed precisely through suffering obedience — John 12:23–24; Heb 2:9–10 (cf. “crowned with glory… through suffering”).

  2. Glory disclosed in the weakness of gospel ministers — 2 Cor 4:7 (treasure in jars of clay, cf. 4:17).

K) Time orientation (snapshot)

  • Past manifestations: Ex 40:34–35; 1 Kgs 8:10–11; Isa 6:3.

  • Present participation: 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 3:21; 1 Pet 4:14.

  • Future revelation/consummation: Rom 8:18, 30; Matt 25:31; Rev 21:24–26.

Notes on wording and translation

  • Hebrew kābôd began with “weight/weightiness” (substance, worth) and extends to reputation, honor, and visible splendor.

  • Greek dóxa ranges from “repute/opinion” to honor and radiance.

  • ESV sometimes renders the same roots with honor/splendor/beauty; these are still glory-family uses (e.g., Ps 49:16–17; Isa 35:2).

  • The post-biblical term Shekinah is not in the Bible, though the phenomenon it names is (e.g., Ex 40; 1 Kgs 8).

Synthesis: What ties all the uses together?

  1. Godward center. Whether as intrinsic majesty, manifest presence, or outcome of His works, glory is who God eternally is and what He displays.

  2. Human calling. We are made to recognize, reflect, and return that glory (Rom 3:23; 1 Cor 10:31; 2 Cor 3:18).

  3. Cruciform path. In this age, suffering → glory is the divinely appointed pattern for Christ and His people (Rom 8:17–18; 2 Cor 4:17; 1 Pet 5:10).

  4. Consummation. The future is the universal revelation and participation in glory when Christ appears (Matt 25:31; Rom 8:30; Rev 21–22).

Categories: Word & Topic Studies