The Apostle Paul & God's Glory

Encountering page 240.

Pinterest: Edited

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.

The Pocket Dictionary explains that glory represents the unapproachable, mighty manifestation of the immediate presence of God. (55). This includes ideas of beauty and majesty. (55). God is viewed as holy (55), set apart from the sinfulness of humanity. (55).

Indeed, biblically and theologically, God is infinite, eternal, omnipotent and holy.

These connects in parallel to philosophical concepts of primary and first cause. Often mentioned on this website.

God's glory includes his sovereignty and righteousness, according to Browning. (151).

The sovereignty of God and the righteousness of God, and Jesus Christ as God and perfect man, certainly Pauline concepts (Romans, Galatians, Ephesians).

The 'Encountering' text reasons the Apostle Paul views God as infinitely wise, all-knowing and immortal. He made the heavens and the earth and everything in them. (240). God is eternal and immortal. (240).

Beginning with Paul's New Testament documented vision of the Lord, Jesus Christ in Acts 9, Paul's regeneration and conversion, this relationship between Paul and the triune God developed. The Apostle Paul combined this supernatural understanding, gospel teaching and his Hebrew Bible training to develop his theology which included a theology of the glory of God.

Contrary to the views of some critics; Paul's theology certainly was not developed in competition to the teachings of Jesus Christ and his first disciples. Paul's teaching amplified their work through theological explanation which makes sense as Paul was a Hebrew (Bible) scholar prior to (and after) his regeneration and conversion.

Bible Hub: Doxa

'Strong's Concordance doxa: opinion (always good in N.T.), hence praise, honor, glory Original Word: δόξα, ης, ἡ Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: doxa Phonetic Spelling: (dox'-ah) Short Definition: honor, renown, glory splendor Definition: honor, renown; glory, an especially divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, splendor.'