SEARCH Journal

Nuances of Glory

GLORY . . . The wow factor of God, or at least the wow that surrounds Him. A human attempt to describe the indescribable, the impossible beauty, the transcendent goodness, the ultimate wonder that is the impact of God. Like all descriptive language, there is here a great deal of metaphor, of analogy, an understandable wish to ascribe all that is best to God – “ascribe to the Lord glory and strength” (Psalms 29:1,2 and 96:7,8). The same process can be seen in the New Testament, where its writers plunder contemporary culture to find titles big enough for Jesus.

GLORY . . . The wow factor of God, or at least the wow that surrounds Him. A human attempt to describe the indescribable, the impossible beauty, the transcendent goodness, the ultimate wonder that is the impact of God. Like all descriptive language, there is here a great deal of metaphor, of analogy, an understandable wish to ascribe all that is best to God – “ascribe to the Lord glory and strength” (Psalms 29:1,2 and 96:7,8). The same process can be seen in the New Testament, where its writers plunder contemporary culture to find titles big enough for Jesus.

* Full article available in printed copies.

Timothy Kinahan

Was until recently rector of Helen’s Bay in the diocese of Down and Dromore. He is a canon of St. Anne’s Cathedral and a noted theological writer.