DOXA (Glory)

WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ

What is the Word?

Few words capture the essence of God. In fact, one might argue that no words can capture God’s essence, for he is unlike anything we can conceive of. However, a lot of currency has been attributed to the word glory. We speak of the glory of God quite often when we speak of everything from his power to the resurrection of Jesus. The word that the New Testament uses for “glory” is doxa. 

How does the Bible use this word?

The word doxa is a noun that is derived from the Greek word dokeo, which is a verb meaning to exercise personal value. Therefore, it refers to something’s infinite and intrinsic worth. It is quite literally the “Godness” of God – that which makes God what he is, the uniqueness of his essence. It is his unspoken honor, splendor, and manifestation. To speak of God’s glory is to speak of his transcendent qualities, the “heaviness” of his essence. 

Where in the Bible?

There is no shortage of Biblical references to God’s glory, both in the Old and New Testaments. However, a great summation can be found in the opening monologue of John’s gospel:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory (δόξαν), glory (δόξαν) as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

-John 1:14

Here is a great example of the utter weight and transcendence of the majesty of God. It is John’s way of trying to capture the utterly mind-blowing concept that the God of the universe should become man. God’s eternal power is not manifested through shock and awe theatrics, but is conveyed in the incarnation – becoming a child of man that we might become a child of God.

He Will Come Again

It is important to remember the counterintuitive nature of God’s glory. He is a God that shames the strong and uplifts the weak. His glory is demonstrated not by exercising power over people, but in coming under people to lift them up. His greatest display of love was not conquering for God, but being lifted up on the cross, so that all who look upon him might see God’s work and be healed.