Glory
Old Testament – usually Heb ‘kabod’ = ‘heaviness’; ‘weight’; (cf. 2 Cor 4:17) ‘worthiness’. Used of men to describe wealth, splendour or reputation (honour). God shows his glory by displaying his excellence and praiseworthiness, Isa 44:23 Jn 12:28 13:31f. God also glorifies his Son, Jn 13:31-32 17:5 Acts 3:13. We give glory to God when we respond by honouring and adoring him, Jn 17:4 21:19 Rom 4:20 15:6,9 1 Cor 6:20 10:31 1 Pet 4:12-16.
The glory of the Lord shows in the reality of his active presence, sometimes accompanied by physical manifestations, such as lightning, Ps 29:3; and cloud, Ex 16:7,10 40:34-38. Cf also the annunciation to the shepherds, Lk 2:9, and Paul’s conversion, Acts 7:55.
The prophetical and poetical books lean both towards more physical conceptions of God’s glory, Eze 1:28 Ps 18 29, and towards more spiritual ideas, Isa 40:4-5 60:1-3 Ps 57:11 96:3. Isaiah’s vision contains both ideas, Isa 6:1-4.
New Testament – Gk ‘doxa’ = opinion; reputation. Sometimes refers to human honour, Mt 4:8 6:29, usually describes the revelation of the character and presence of God in Christ, as in Jn 1:14 Heb 1:3.