How many times is glory mentioned in the Bible? (What does the Bible say about glory, Examples of glory in the bible + bible verses about glory)

As a Christian, I consider glory to be the splendor of our God. Recently, during our weekly Bible study, we found that each of us had different perspectives and understandings of glory and while there’s no definitive or incorrect definition, it relies on our interpretation of Scripture. This curiosity led us to explore the occurrences of the word “glory” in the Bible, thus, we embarked on our study with the question, “How many times is glory mentioned in the Bible?”

In this post, I invite you to join me as we delve into this discussion and learn about glory according to the Bible. To also uncover some examples of glory in the Bible and the meaning of the popular phrase “glory to glory”, read on.

What is glory according to the bible?

Glory, according to the Bible, refers to the manifestation of God’s greatness, splendor, and majesty. The Hebrew word for “glory” is “kavod,” while the Greek word used in the New Testament is “doxa,” both of which convey the idea of honor, weightiness, brightness, or magnificence. The Bible also suggests that glory can also refer to the reflection of God’s attributes in His creation and the transformation of believers as they reflect His image.

What does the Bible say about glory?

In Exodus 16:7, the Bible also portrays the glory of the Lord as a visible manifestation of His presence, where God’s glory appeared as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, symbolizing His guidance, protection, and divine presence among His people.

Additionally, in Psalm 19:1, the Bible suggests that God’s glory is evident in the beauty, order, and grandeur of the natural world, and creation itself bears witness to God’s power, wisdom, and creative work. The Bible also implies that God’s holiness represents His absolute purity and separateness from sin, and His glory is intimately connected to His holiness, as speculated in Isaiah 6:3. The Bible also recognizes Jesus’ divine glory as suggested in John 1:14, where the scriptures imply that Jesus embodied the divine glory and revealed the nature of God through His teachings, miracles, and ultimately His sacrificial death and resurrection.

Examples of glory in the Bible

One example of glory in the Bible is the glory of God’s presence as implied in verses like Exodus 40:34, 1 Kings 8:11, and Revelation 21:23, which describe instances where the glory of God’s presence fills a physical space, such as the Tabernacle in the wilderness or the temple in Jerusalem, signifying the visible manifestation of God’s majesty and divine presence. Another example of glory in the Bible is the glory of God’s creation as suggested in scriptures like Psalm 8:1 and Romans 1:20, which highlight how God’s glory is revealed in the wonders of creation, the intricacy, beauty, and order of the natural world. The glory of Jesus Christ is another great example as implied in verses like 2 Corinthians 4:6, where the Bible suggests that Jesus displayed the fullness of God’s glory through His life, and in Him, God’s glory is made known and brings illumination and transformation to believers. Another example of glory is the believer’s future glory promised in Romans 8:18 and 2 Corinthians 3:18, where the Bible refers to the ultimate state of transformation and glorification that believers will experience in eternity, where they’ll share in the fullness of God’s glory. In Romans 8:30 the Bible speaks of the future glorification of believers, emphasizing that those who are justified by faith in Christ will ultimately be fully transformed and glorified. Revelation 4:11 describes part of the heavenly worship scene, where creatures acknowledge God’s worthiness to receive glory, honor, and power.

Also, Isaiah 43:7 suggests that God created people to bring Him glory, emphasizing that those who are called by God’s name have a purpose to reflect His glory in their lives and actions. Psalm 73:24, encourages us to trust in God’s guidance throughout life’s journey and the hope of a glorious future in His presence. Finally, Matthew 24:30 This verse refers to the second coming of Jesus Christ, speaking of a future event where Jesus will return in power and glory, and it’ll be a visible and impactful event that all people will witness.

Ultimately, glory belongs to God alone, and the Bible invites us to recognize, ascribe, and reflect His glory in our lives.

How many types of glory are there in the Bible?

Although not explicitly discussed, the Bible suggests that there are three types of glory including the intrinsic glory of God, as implied in Exodus 33:18-19, which refers to the inherent glory that belongs to God alone, and encompasses His divine attributes, such as His holiness, righteousness, omnipotence, omniscience, and eternal nature. The intrinsic glory of God is beyond human comprehension and serves as the foundation for all other types of glory mentioned in the Bible.

Another type of glory in the Bible is the manifestation of God’s glory which involves the visible or experiential display of God’s presence, power, and attributes, and includes instances where God’s glory is tangibly manifested, such as the pillar of cloud and fire in the wilderness to reveal and communicate God’s greatness to humanity.

Reflective glory is another type of glory that refers to the reflection or representation of God’s glory in His creation, encompassing the idea that creation, including humanity, is designed to reflect and mirror God’s attributes and character. Theologians imply that these different types of glory are interconnected and complementary and highlight various dimensions of God’s glory and its significance in human experience and salvation.

What is the meaning of “from glory to glory” in 2 Corinthians 3?

In this phrase, the apostle Paul contrasts the old covenant’s glory with the new covenant’s glory in Christ. In this scripture, Paul compares the ministry of the old covenant with the ministry of the new covenant in Christ and explains that the glory of the old covenant was temporary and veiled, while the glory of the new covenant is surpassingly greater, permanent, and transformative. The phrase “from glory to glory” conveys the ongoing process of transformation that believers experience in the new covenant, and this transformation is made possible through the work of the Holy Spirit, as suggested in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.

Why will God not give His glory to another mentioned in Isaiah 42:8?

The Bible consistently affirms that God is the only true and sovereign God, the Creator of all things and the source of all glory, therefore giving His glory to another would undermine His uniqueness, authority, and preeminence. God’s refusal to share His glory is rooted in His supreme nature and position as the one true God. Also, throughout Scripture, God expresses His jealousy for His glory and warns against the worship of idols or false gods. This jealousy stems from His rightful claim to glory as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, so, idolatry, which involves attributing glory to created things, is an affront to God’s glory and a violation of His commandments.