exchange the majesty of God

δόξα, ης, ἡ (s. δοξάζω; in var. mngs. Hom.+; in Ath. ‘meaning’). In many of the passages in our lit. the OT and Gr-Rom. perceptions of dependence of fame and honor on extraordinary performance deserve further exploration. SIG 456, 15 is typical: concern for others leads to enhancement of one’s δόξα or reputation. The Common Gk. usage of δ. in sense of ‘notion, opinion’ is not found in the NT.

① the condition of being bright or shining, brightness, splendor, radiance (a distinctive aspect of Hb. כָּבוֹד).

ⓐ of physical phenomena (PGM 13, 189 τὴν δόξαν τοῦ φωτός, cp. 298ff. On this Rtzst., Mysterienrel.³ 357ff, also 314 δόξα ἐκ τ. πυρός [cp. Just., D. 128]; 315 φῶς κ. δόξαν θεῖαν [=Cleopatra 150]; LXX; TestJob 43:6 τῆ λαμπάδα αὐτοῦ) οὐκ ἐνέβλεπον ἀπὸ τῆς δ. τοῦ φωτός I could not see because of the brightness of the light Ac 22:11; ὁρᾶν τὴν δ. see the radiance Lk 9:32; cp. vs. 31. Everything in heaven has this radiance: the radiant bodies in the sky 1 Cor 15:40f (cp. PGM 13, 64 σὺ ἔδωκας ἡλίῳ τὴν δόξαν κ. δύναμιν; 448; Sir 43:9, 12; 50:7).

ⓑ of humans involved in transcendent circumstances, and also transcendent beings: cherubim (Sir 49:8; Ezk 10:4) Hb 9:5; angels Lk 2:9; Rv 18:1. Esp. of God’s self (Ex 24:17; 40:34; Num 14:10; Bar 5:9 τὸ φῶς τῆς δόξης αὐτου; Tob 12:15; 13:16 BA; 2 Macc 2:8; SibOr 5, 427) ὁ θεὸς τῆς δ. (En 25:7) Ac 7:2 (Ps 28:3); cp. J 12:41 (Is 6:1); Ac 7:55; 2 Th 1:9; 2 Pt 1:17b; Rv 15:8; 19:1; 21:11, 23. ὁ πατὴρ τῆς δ. Eph 1:17; βασιλεὺς τῆς δ. AcPl BMM verso 24 and 26. But also of those who appear before God: Moses 2 Cor 3:7–11, 18 (Just., D. 127, 3; cp. Ἀδὰμ τῆς δ. θεοῦ ἐγυμνώθη GrBar 4:16); Christians in the next life 1 Cor 15:43; Col 3:4. The δόξα τοῦ θεοῦ as it relates to the final judgment Ro 3:23; 5:2 (but s. 3); Jesus himself has a σῶμα τῆς δ. radiant, glorious body Phil 3:21; cp. 2 Cl 17:5. Christ is the κύριος τ. δόξης 1 Cor 2:8 (cp. En 22:14; 27:3, 5; 36:4; 40:3 of God; PGM 7, 713 κύριοι δόξης of deities).—The concept has been widened to denote the glory, majesty, sublimity of God in general (PGM 4, 1202 ἐφώνησά σου τ. ἀνυπέρβλητον δόξαν; Orig., C. Cels. 4, 1, 24 οἰκοδομεῖν … ναὸν δόξης θεοῦ) ἀλλάσσειν τὴν δ. τοῦ θεοῦ exchange the majesty of God Ro 1:23; κατενώπιον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ Jd 24 (cp. En 104:1)=before himself. Christ was raised fr. the dead διὰ τῆς δ. τοῦ πατρός by the majesty (here, as in J 2:11, the thought of power, might is also present; cp. Rtzst., Mysterienrel.³ 344, 359 and PGM 4, 1650 δὸς δόξαν καὶ χάριν τῷ φυλακτηρίῳ τούτῳ; Wsd 9:11 φυλάξει με ἐν τ. δόξῃ; Philo, Spec. Leg. 1, 45.—JVogel, Het sanscrit woord tejas [=gloedvuur] in de beteekenis van magische Kracht 1930) of the Father Ro 6:4; cp. Mt 16:27; Mk 8:38; AcPl Ha 10, 9; ὄψῃ τὴν δ. τοῦ θεοῦ J 11:40; κράτος τῆς δ. majestic power Col 1:11; πλοῦτος τῆς δ. the wealth of his glory Ro 9:23; Eph 1:18; cp. Eph 3:16; Phil 4:19; Col 1:27; δ. τῆς χάριτος (PGM 4, 1650, s. above) Eph 1:6; w. ἀρετή 2 Pt 1:3 (τῆς ἐπʼ ἀρετῇ καὶ δόξῃ διαλήψεως, ins at Aphrodisias II, 14: ZPE 8, ’71, 186); ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δ. Hb 1:3; τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς δ. τοῦ μεγάλου θεοῦ Tit 2:13. Some would classify Ro 2:7, 10 here, but these and related pass. w. the formulation δόξα καὶ τιμή prob. are better placed in 3 below because of their focus on honor and prestige. Doxol. σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ δ. εἰς τ. αἰῶνας, ἀμήν (Odes 12:15 [Prayer of Manasseh]) Mt 6:13 v.l.; AcPl Ha 2, 33; εἰς ἔπαινον τῆς δ. αὐτοῦ Eph 1:12, 14; cp. 1:6.—1 Th 2:12; 1 Pt 5:10. Pl. Hv 1, 3, 3. κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς δ. τοῦ μακαρίου θεοῦ 1 Ti 1:11. Transferred to Christ: Mt 19:28; 24:30; 25:31; Mk 10:37; 13:26; Lk 9:26; 21:27; J 1:14; 2:11; Js 2:1 (AMeyer, D. Rätsel d. Js 1930, 118ff); B 12:7; AcPl Ha 7:7. τὸν φωτισμὸν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τῆς δ. τοῦ χριστοῦ the news that shines with the greatness of Christ 2 Cor 4:4; cp. 4:6 (cp. Just., A I, 51, 8 παραγίνεσθαι μετὰ δόξης μέλλει). Of Christ’s prestige promoted by Paul’s associates 2 Cor 8:23 (but s. d and 3 below).

ⓒ The state of being in the next life is thus described as participation in the radiance or glory

α. w. ref. to Christ: εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν δ. αὐτοῦ enter into his glory Lk 24:26 (βασιλείαν P⁷⁵ first hand); ἀνελήμφθη ἐν δ. 1 Ti 3:16; cp. τὰς μετὰ ταῦτα δ.1 Pt 1:11 (but s. β below; pl. because of the παθήματα; cp. also Wsd 18:24; Isocr. 4, 51; POslo 85, 13 [III A.D.]), 21. ἐν τῇ ἀποκαλύψει τῆς δ. αὐτοῦ 4:13. Also of Christ’s preëxistence: J 17:5, 22, 24.

β. w. ref. to his followers (cp. Da 12:13; Herm. Wr. 10, 7): Ro 8:18, 21; 1 Cor 2:7; 2 Cor 4:17; 1 Th 2:12; 2 Th 2:14; 2 Ti 2:10; Hb 2:10; 1 Pt 5:1, 4 (στέφανος τ. δόξης; on this expr. cp. Jer 13:18; TestBenj 4:1); εἰς … δ. καὶ τιμὴν ἐν ἀποκαλύψει Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ 1 Pt 1:7 (perh. 1:11 belongs here, in ref. to sufferings that are endured in behalf of Christ). πνεῦμα τῆς δ. w. πν. τοῦ θεοῦ 4:14. ἵνα πνευματικὴν καὶ ἄφθαρτον τῆς δικαιοσύνης δόξαν κληρονομήσωσιν ending of Mk 16:14 v.l. (Freer ms. ln. 11f) (Cleopatra 146f ἐνέδυσεν αὐτοὺς θείαν δόξαν πνευματικήν); ἥτις ἐστὶν δ. ὑμῶν (my troubles) promote your glory Eph 3:13 (s. MDibelius, comm. on Col 1:24ff) τόπος τῆς δ.=the hereafter 1 Cl 5:4.

ⓓ of reflected radiance reflection ἀνὴρ … εἰκὼν καὶ δόξα θεοῦ man (as distinguished from woman) is the image and reflection of God 1 Cor 11:7 (perh. this thought finds expression Ro 3:23; 5:2, but s. 3, below); also γυνὴ δόξα ἀνδρός ibid. (cp. the formal similarity but difft. mng. in the Jewish ins in Lietzmann comm. ad loc.: ἡ δόξα Σωφρονίου Λούκιλλα εὐλογημένη; s. also AFeuillet, RB 81, ’74, 161–82). Some interpret δ. Χριστοῦ 2 Cor 8:23 in ref. to Paul’s associates (but s. 1b).

② a state of being magnificent, greatness, splendor, anything that catches the eye (1 Esdr 6:9; 1 Macc 10:60, 86; 2 Macc 5:20): fine clothing (Sir 6:31; 27:8; 45:7; 50:11) of a king Mt 6:29; Lk 12:27; of royal splendor gener. (Bar 5:6; 1 Macc 10:58; Jos., Ant. 8, 166) Mt 4:8; Lk 4:6; Rv 21:24, 26. Gener. of human splendor of any sort 1 Pt 1:24 (Is 40:6).

③ honor as enhancement or recognition of status or performance, fame, recognition, renown, honor, prestige (s. s.v. ἀγαθός and δικαιο-entries; Diod S 15, 61, 5 abs. δόξα= good reputation; Appian, Bell. Civ. 2, 89 §376 δ. ἀγαθή good reputation, esteem; Polyaenus 8 Prooem. δόξα ἀθάνατος=eternal renown; Herm. Wr. 14, 7; PsSol 1:4; 17:6; Jos., Ant. 4, 14, Vi. 274; Just., A II, 10, 8 δόξης … καταφρονήσαντος) of public approbation (cp. Orig., C. Cels. 7, 24, 1; Did., Gen. 238, 25) ἐνώπιον πάντων τῶν συνανακειμένων σοι Lk 14:10; δ. λαμβάνειν (En 99:1; Diog. L. 9, 37 of Democr. οὐκ ἐκ τόπου δόξαν λαβεῖν βουλόμενος) J 5:41, 44a al.; sim. of God Rv 4:11 and the Lamb 5:12 receiving honor. J 8:54 (=make high claims for myself); 12:43a (cp. 8:50); Ro 9:4; 2 Cor 6:8 (opp. ἀτιμία); 1 Th 2:6; 1 Cl 3:1; B 19:3; Hv 1, 1, 8. Gener. γυνὴ … ἐὰν κομᾷ, δόξα αὐτῇ ἐστιν, i.e. she enjoys a favorable reputation 1 Cor 11:15 (opp. ἀτιμία). Oxymoron ὧν … ἡ δόξα ἐν τῇ αἰσχύνῃ αὐτῶν whose prestige is in their disgrace Phil 3:19. Of enhancement of divine prestige as an objective J 7:18; Lazarus’ illness redounds to God’s honor 11:4; Ro 15:7. Of divine approbation of pers. δ. τοῦ θεοῦ J 5:44b; 12:43b (cp. 1QH 17:15; 1QS 4:23); Ro 3:23; 5:2. Here also belong pass. w. the form δὸξα καὶ τιμή / τιμὴ καὶ δόξα (LXX; ins, e.g. OGI 223, 12; 244, 19f; 763, 37; Welles 42, 6; also PGM 4, 1616f δὸς δ. καὶ τιμὴν κ. χάριν; Just., D. 42, 1) Ro 2:7, 10; 1 Ti 1:17; Hb 2:7, 9 (Ps 8:6); cp. 3:3; 1 Pt 1:7; 2 Pt 1:17; Rv 4:9, 11; 5:12, 13; 21:26. Of pers. who bestow renown through their excellence: of Jesus Lk 2:32 (cp. Ro 9:4); of Paul’s epistolary recipients ὑμεῖς ἡ δ. ἡμῶν you bring us renown 1 Th 2:20 (cp. the Jewish ins in Lietzmann, 1d above: Loucilla brings renown to Sophronius).—Israel’s liturgy furnishes the pattern for the liturg. formula δ. θεῷ praise is (BWeiss; HHoltzmann; Harnack; Zahn; EKlostermann; ASchlatter; Rengstorf) or be (Weizsäcker; JWeiss; OHoltzmann) to God Lk 2:14. Cp. 19:38; Ro 11:36; 16:27; Gal 1:5; Eph 3:21; Phil 4:20; 2 Ti 4:18 (perh. Christ as referent); Hb 13:21; 1 Pt 4:11; 1 Cl 20:12; 50:7 al.; τιμὴ καὶ δ. 1 Ti 1:17 (s. also above as extra-biblical formulation, esp. OGI 223, 12; 244, 19f; 763, 37); cp. Jd 25 v.l.; Rv 5:13; 7:12. Doxologies to Christ 2 Pt 3:18; Rv 1:6; εἰς (τὴν) δ. (τοῦ) θεοῦ to the praise of God Ro 15:7; 1 Cor 10:31; 2 Cor 4:15; Phil 1:11; 2:11; cp. Ro 3:7. Also πρὸ δ. 2 Cor 1:20; πρὸ τὴν αὐτοῦ τοῦ κυρίου (Christ) δ. 8:19. Hence the expr. δ. διδόναι τῷ θεῷ praise God (Bar 2:17f; 1 Esdr 9:8; 4 Macc 1:12): in thanksgiving Lk 17:18; Rv 19:7; as a form of relig. devotion: Ac 12:23; Ro 4:20; Rv 4:9; 11:13; 14:7; 16:9; as an adjuration δὸς δ. τῷ θεῷ give God the praise by telling the truth J 9:24.—GBoobyer, ‘Thanksgiving’ and the ‘Glory of God’ in Paul, diss. Leipzig 1929; LChampion, Benedictions and Doxologies in the Epistles of Paul ’35; MPamment, The Meaning of δόξα in the Fourth Gospel: ZNW 74, ’83, 12–16, God’s glory is manifested through the gift of Jesus’ voluntary self-surrender on the cross.

④ a transcendent being deserving of honor, majestic being, by metonymy (cp. Diod S 15, 58, 1 of citizens who stood out from among all others in ἐξουσίαι καὶ δόξαι=offices and honors) of angelic beings (s. Philo, Spec. Leg. 1, 45; PGM 1, 199) δόξαι majestic (heavenly) beings Jd 8; 2 Pt 2:10 (s. also Ex 15:11 LXX; TestJud 25:2 αἱ δυνάμεις τ. δόξης. Also the magical text in Rtzst., Poim. p. 28 [VI 17] χαιρέτωσάν σου αἱ δόξαι (practically = δυνάμει) εἰς αἰῶνα, κύριε). Cp. JSickenberger, Engelsoder Teufelslästerer? Festschrift zur Jahrhundertfeier d. Univers. Breslau 1911, 621ff. The mng. majesties and by metonymy illustrious persons is also prob.—On the whole word Rtzst., Mysterienrel.³ 289; 314f; 344; 355ff; AvGall, D. Herrlichkeit Gottes 1900; IAbrahams, The Glory of God 1925.—AForster, The Mng. of Δόξα in the Greek Bible: ATR 12, 1929/1930, 311ff; EOwen, Δόξα and Cognate Words: JTS 33, ’32, 139–50; 265–79; CMohrmann, Note sur doxa: ADebrunner Festschr. ’54, 321–28; LBrockington, LXX Background to the NT Use of δ., Studies in the Gospels in memory of RLightfoot ’55, 1–8.—HBöhlig, D. Geisteskultur v. Tarsos 1913, 97ff; GWetter, D. Verherrlichung im Joh.-ev.: Beitr. z. Rel.-wiss. II 1915, 32–113, Phos 1915; RLloyd, The Word ‘Glory’ in the Fourth Gospel: ET 43, ’32, 546–48; BBotte, La gloire du Christ dans l’Evangile de S. Jean: Quest. liturgiques 12, 1927, 65ff; HPass, The Glory of the Father; a Study in St John 13–17, ’35; WThüsing, Die Erhöhung u. Verherrlichung Jesu im J, ’60.—GKittel, D. Rel. gesch. u. d. Urchristentum ’32, 82ff; JSchneider, Doxa ’32; HKittel, D. Herrlichkeit Gottes ’34; MGreindl, Κλεος, Κυδος, Ευχος, Τιμη, Φατις, Δοξα, diss. Munich ’38; AVermeulen, Semantic Development of Gloria in Early-Christian Latin ’56.—RAC IV 210–16; XI 196–225.—B. 1144f. DELG s.v. δοκάω etc. II p. 291. Schmidt, Syn. I 321–28, s. δοκέω. M-M. EDNT. TW. Spicq. Sv.