Reflections on 2 Corinthians 3 - Part 2

Glory!

In this seminal chapter, Paul says that both the old and the new covenant ministries 'came with glory'. He then goes on to state that the glory of the latter 'surpasses that of the former. Much of his illustration is concerned with this 'glory'. So it will benefit if we arrive at an understanding of what he means by the word.

It is evident that'glory' is not an object in and of itself. Rather, it is a quality which each of the two ministries 'came with'. The Greek word 'doxa' means judgement or opinion, and this gets extended to express 'good reputation' or 'honour' or 'majesty'. The Hebrew word behind it carries the meaning of 'weight' or 'importance'.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul demonstrates the foolishness of disparaging the resurrection body because it will be different to our current mortal bodies - inconceivable to his sneering opponents. 

"But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish!" (vs 13)

He states that all kinds of created, astronomical structures have different kinds of bodies. And that each has its own type of 'doxa' - glory:

" There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor." (vs 40, 41)

'Glory', then, is not a purely spiritual thing. Natural things can have 'glory'. It can be considered as the way that human senses are impacted by or impressed by the object - it is the 'shining'; that which gives us the 'wow' factor. We look at a sunset and we describe it as 'glorious. Or the magnificence of a splendid horse in full stride. Or even a distinguished human ruler or leader.

The Glory of God

When it comes to God, His glory can either be revealed or concealed. Jesus refers to the glory which He shared with the Father before the worlds were made (John 17 vs 5):

"Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed." (John 17 vs 5)

He says that He has 'glorified' and will glorify His Father, and that the Father will 'glorified' Him:

" I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do." (John 17 vs 4)

" Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you" (John 17 vs 1)

He also speaks of glory brought to Him by His disciples:

"All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them." (John 17 vs 10)

...the glory given to His disciples by Him:

"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one" (John 17 vs 22)

... and, stunningly, He speaks of the cross in terms of His glorification:

"Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." (John 12 vs 23)

... and finally, the glory He desires His followers to eventually see, in His presence:

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." (John 17 vs 24)

So, without exaggeration, all that the Father has done and will do in and through His Son is pervaded by glory, and suffused with mutual glorifying. In conclusion, then, we can say of the glory of God, that:

• It is shared between Father and Son before creation
• It spills from heaven itself at the incarnation (Luke 2 vs 9, 14)
• It manifests in the person and work of the Son throughout His earthly life (John 1 vs 14)
• It is displayed in the cross, where the love of God is declared
• It floods from the empty tomb  (Matthew 28 vs 2,3)
• It will fill all of heaven for eternity

And then, we must not bypass this:

"... so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5 vs 26,27)

The purpose of Christ is invested in the glory of those who are His. The church which bears His name.