Getting a Grip on Glory

[Some concepts are hard to explain and tough to comprehend. At least they are for me. In the interest of grasping the idea more clearly, this is a condensed version of a previous post]

When I was a kid we’d go to my grandma’s and grandpa’s home in Joshua Tree for Grubstake Days, where there would always be a greased pig contest, they’d grease up a pig and people would try to capture it. In the world of words Glory is like a greased pig; hard to get a handle on.

We use the word glory a lot in Christian circles. It’s sounds spiritual but what does it mean? If you can’t grasp it it means nothing to you; which would be tragic because it is an important Biblical word filled with meaning. In the OT glory comes from the Hebrew word kabod meaning weighty or heavy; related to a word meaning beautify; signifies how worthy God is of our praise. In the NT the Greek word for glory is doxa. When applied to people it focuses on the value people put on others based on accomplishments. The Greeks highest goal was to be honored and praised by others. In the Bible, glory based on human opinion was radically transformed into glory as the majesty associated with God’s revelation of Himself to mankind.

God's glory is not rooted in our evaluation of Him but in His very nature. By the Glory of Christ we mean His reputation, high position, excellence, greatness and the resulting praise, honor, glory that is due Him. Heb. 1:3 "He is the radiance of His glory, the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power".