Abbreviated Word Study, G1392, doxazo

Glorified

Many times an oft used word in scripture is not well understood. But by doing a word study where we consider all the verses where the underlying Hebrew or Greek word appears in scripture, or as used by a particular author, we can arrive at a better understanding of the message being conveyed by the inspired writer.

G1392, doxazō is found over 50 times in scripture, with Paul using it about a dozen times. The basic idea is to increase the shine or luster or brightness of something so it stands out from all the rest. Mentally, if we honor or worship someone, making them the brightest entity in our world, we glorify it.

Thus, “glorified”has a range of meanings, but if we narrow down to how the Greek word is used by Paul, we can boil it down to two meanings:

1) To cause the dignity and worth of someone (God or a person) or something (i.e. the Word of the Lord) to become manifest and acknowledged. Thus in this sense, it is something we do, by word or by deed. For example, if we follow God and strive to live righteously and avoid sin, we “glorify God.”
2) To be exalted to the same glory to which Jesus has been raised. Thus, in this sense, it is something God does to us. Another word, meaning glorified together is used in this same sense at Romans 8:17.​

So just how have we been, past tense, glorified by God as taught at Romans 8:30? We all expect to be clothed in glorified, immortal bodies, at Christ’s second coming, our adoption as sons, so the past tense glorification appears to refer to our spiritual condition in Christ as born anew creations.

1) Christ rose from the dead, so He was made alive physically. We were made alive spiritually when God put us in Christ, Ephesians 2:5
2) Christ lived a sinless physical life. We have been made holy and blameless in Christ.
3) We who are spiritually in Christ have been predestined to be raised (or changed in the twinkling of an eye) in glorified bodies.​

Paul taught all this in Romans 8, referring to us becoming brethren of our first born Christ, who have been called, justified, and glorified.

Our word can be found in Paul’s writings in these verses, Romans 1:21, 8:30, 11:13, 15:6; 1 Cor. 6:20, 12:26; 2 Cor. 3:10, 9:13; Galatians 1:24 and 2 Thessalonians 3:1.

 

Based on the actual range of word meanings, magnify is a mistranslation, yet many modern translations follow tradition and render it magnified. But did microscopes or telescopes even exist when God chose "doxazo?"

What is the actual idea of Romans 11:13? Paul's ministry is to the Gentiles, but if his ministry moves Jews to jealousy, then Paul's ministry is expanded or it scope is enlarged. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 also uses our word in this manner, i.e. the gospel's glory (worth, and splendor) makes it attractive even when viewed with dim eyes or from afar.

If the Jews embrace the gospel of Christ, then Paul's ministry (the gospel of Christ) is glorified. Thus "honored" seems better than "glorified" or magnified.

Here the NASB translators think the message is the added impact of Paul's ministry, but that ignores the inherent word meaning. So, the last part of the verse could be rendered, "..., I bring honoring to my ministry,"

For a more contextual view, here is the NET modified by use of the actual word meaning, "Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I bring honoring to my ministry, if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.

Is this the best understanding, or closest to God's intended message? I do not know. But it certainly provides food for thought, and provides an alternate view of the text.

 

Did God intend the message to be "magnify" as in an optic instrument? Is there a Koine Greek word that means magnify? Take a gander at Philippians 1:20. If Paul had meant "enlarge" why did he not use G3170, megalynō?

 

My point, exactly, the very same English words are being used to translate two very different Greek words, totally obliterating the distinction intended by the Holy Spirit.

 

When translators translate two different Greek words, with different meanings, into just one and the same English word, they obliterate the distinction intended by the Holy Spirit.

 

I think it was a botch to translate 6 to 8 different Greek words into one English word, i.e. sin.

Why is it that any view that differs from Mr. Rippon proclaims that ..."it is right." Never mind such a statement is never made, Rippon seems to be the pretended spokesperson for anyone who disagrees.

When translators translate two different Greek words, with different meanings, into just one and the same English word, they obliterate the distinction intended by the Holy Spirit.

 

More Van bashing, more mind reading, and more argument from personal incredulity. What happened to the topic of God glorifying believers and believers glorifying God?