Glory and New Creation
An interpretation of Romans 8.17-30
The concept of God's followers being glorified is a key them in this passage, starting with verse 17 which is the summary version of the message that is unpacked in 18-30: "and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ - if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him." Verse 18 continues "I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us (NRSV)/ in us (NIV)/ for us (NT Wright)." This passage ends in verse 30 with "and those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified." It is clearly worth some effort to understand what Paul means by this concept.
The word glory appears in 371 different verses in English translations the Bible and it can take different meanings in different contexts. Two primary uses of the word appear to be to express "praise for the Lord" or, later on, to describe the substance, or essence, of the Lord, which I take to be the sense that Paul is using it. The key reference would appear to be the passage describing when God's presence came to reside in Solomon's temple (2 Chronicles 7).
The concept of God's followers being glorified is a key them in this passage, starting with verse 17 which is the summary version of the message that is unpacked in 18-30: "and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ - if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him." Verse 18 continues "I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us (NRSV)/ in us (NIV)/ for us (NT Wright)." This passage ends in verse 30 with "and those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified." It is clearly worth some effort to understand what Paul means by this concept.
The word glory appears in 371 different verses in English translations the Bible and it can take different meanings in different contexts. Two primary uses of the word appear to be to express "praise for the Lord" or, later on, to describe the substance, or essence, of the Lord, which I take to be the sense that Paul is using it. The key reference would appear to be the passage describing when God's presence came to reside in Solomon's temple (2 Chronicles 7).
Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house.
However, due to the sins of Israel, God's Glory left the temple at the time of the exile as reported in Ezekiel 37:
4 And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain. 5 Then he said to me, "Son of man, look toward the north." So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy. 6 And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing--the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.“ …
3 Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side …
22 Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. 23 The glory of the LORD went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it.