Solomon in All His Glory: A WORD Study of ΔΟΞΑ In The New Testament
Glory is a devalued concept in our secular world. Sunrises and sunsets are described as glorious, one can cover oneself in glory, bask in glory or even go out in a blaze of glory but the use of the term itself has been pretty much diminished to propping up hackneyed phrases.
Things were not always thus. The term δόξα (glory) and its numerous cognates are used over 300 times in the New Testament and the Old Testament’s concern with the glory of God, man and the natural world is palpable. It is an important Biblical concept.
The word δόξα, ης, ἡ appears first in Homer, albeit only twice. It is cognate with the verb “to seem” (δοκέω), and is glossed by Cunliffe as “What one expects”. The two occurrences are used in a negative sense to refer to something or someone that falls short of or disappoints expectations.
After Homer it goes on to mean a judgment or opinion of someone or something whether well founded or not and then the estimation or repute that a person enjoys. This is mostly a good repute, a repute that brings honour and glory to its bearer.
ΔΟΞΑ In The New Testament
ΔΟΞΑ As Splendour
Δόξα can be earthly splendour or greatness. This is the meaning of the term in the title of this post (from Mat 6:29). A little earlier on in that same Gospel, Satan takes Jesus to a very high mountain and shows him all the kingdoms of the world καὶ τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν (and their glory).
ΔΟΞΑ As Honour
Δόξα can denote the honour or renown of a person or persons.
In Luke 14:10 Jesus tells a parable of where one should sit when invited to a wedding feast. One should not sit in the place of honour but in the lowest place so that your host may say to you “move up higher” and “then there will be δόξα (honour) for you” in front of the other guests.
In John 7:18 Jesus states that the one speaking of himself seeks his own δόξαν (honour or glory) and a little further on in 8:54 Jesus answers the Jews who accuse him of self aggrandisement “ If I glorify myself, my δόξα (glory) is nothing”.
A Technical Interlude
Δόξα, ης, ἡ is a first declension noun with a stem ending in α and a genitive in ης.
It is declined as below.
ΔΟΞΑ As Radiance
Δόξα can brightness or radiance.
At its lowest ebb, this radiance can be τῆς δόξης τοῦ φωτὸς (the brightness of the light) that blinded Paul on the road to Damascus or the light of the sun and the moon and the stars that this same apostle talks about in 1 Corinthians 15:41.
This radiance can then transcend earthly or celestial bounds to transform humans, angels and cherubims into transcendent beings.
At the birth of Jesus, the shepherds “tending their flock by night” were filled with great fear when an angel of the Lord stood near them and the δόξα (glory) of the Lord shone around them and the author of Hebrews talks of the Χερουβὶν δόξης (Cherubim of glory) overshadowing the mercy seat.
Paul describes Jesus in Philippians 3:21 as having τῷ σώματι τῆς δόξης (a radiant body) and in 2 Corinthians 3:7 the Israelites could not gaze upon Moses’ face because of its δόξαν (radiance).
ΔΟΞΑ As God’s Due
Finally, δόξα is what is due to God. In a way, this gets back to the Homeric sense of the word. It is what God expects.
In John 1:14 the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” and we see his glory, his δόξαν as the only begotten from the Father.
God is mighty and those who do not know God will suffer eternal destruction ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης (away from the glory) of his might.
God is to be glorified and whoever is ashamed of the words of Jesus, Jesus himself will be ashamed of when he comes ἑν τῇ δόξῃ (in the glory) of his Father with his holy angels.
Cognate Words
The two most important cognates of δόξα are:
not surprisingly, the ancient verb from which it derives: δοκέω I think, seem, have a reputation
δοξάζω: I praise, honour, glorify
These occur 62 and 61 times respectively in the New Testament.
In Conclusion
Δόξα is an idea with aspects that face east, north, west and south. It is hoped that this post will open up these word vistas for you in a way that will make you pause and weigh carefully this word and its cognates when you encounter them in your reading of the New Testament in Greek.
