Tag: Glory

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1 Timothy 1:17g – Perspective

 … for ever and ever. Amen.

Summary: This is a good point to step back from our detailed examination of the text and regain a bit of perspective.   

Paul’s letter, so far, consists of a greeting (vs 1-2), Paul’s command against false teaching (vs 3-7), and a discussion of the proper use of the law (vs 8-11). In the last section (vs 12-17), Paul has given Timothy a brief review of his personal testimony. 

Paul’s story is not really that unusual. He is grateful for being chosen to serve the Lord, even though he was formerly disrespectful, accusatory, and violent. He remembers how God showed him mercy and how now he realizes he was ignorant of God’s true nature. Can we relate? I can!

At this point, he begins to wax poetic, visualizing God’s grace being “poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (v 14). 

He pauses for a moment to give Timothy a “trustworthy saying.” At first, it sounds like “I am the worst” is part of his personal testimony, but on reflection, we realized that it applies to all believers. Then he continues describing how God not only showed mercy on him, but also how he used Paul as an example for others so they might be encouraged and believe as well. 

Finally, we are at the climax of Paul’s praise. 

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory…”

How should he finish?

Is it enough to ascribe honor and glory to the King eternal for only a moment? 

No. 

Paul wants Timothy (and you and me) to know that God, the King eternal, deserves glory and honor for … ever and ever. 

There. 

If you could praise God only “for ever,” that would not be enough. Praise him “for ever and ever,” and you are beginning to get a perspective on how much praise God deserves from us. 

Finally, Paul adds, “Amen.” 

“Amen” is a word that can mean “So be it!”* To say “Amen” at the end of a sentence like this is to join with the one who spoke the words and agree with them. 

Before closing, we should add a historical note. 

The Greek word for “glory” is “dóxa.”† If we put “dóxa” together with the Greek word for “something said,” “lógos,” we have our modern word, “doxology.” Several centuries after Paul wrote his letter to Timothy, the church decided to start calling passages like this, passages that glorify God as Paul has here, doxologies. 

Application: Praise God for ever and ever.  

Food for Thought: If you were to write a doxology, that is, a sentence or two praising God, what would you include in it? 

*”G281 – amēn – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 17 Feb, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g281/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.

†”G1391 – doxa – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 17 Feb, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1391/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.

**”G3056 – logos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 17 Feb, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3056/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.

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1 Timothy 1:17f – Glory

A picture of King Solomon sitting next to the statue of David. (Grok)
Screenshot

Now to the King [be] … glory…

Summary: Understanding Paul’s meaning requires digging into the language he used. While not the same as an exhaustive study, this meditation gives us a peek at what Paul might have been thinking.   

It is unfortunate, and a little confusing, when Greek and English word meanings don’t exactly line up. It is kind of like trying to mix real LEGO™ blocks with generic lego-like ones. They look the same, but they don’t quite fit together. 

In our last meditation,* we looked at the Greek word “timḗ” and why the Bible uses the English word “honor” for it. In this meditation, we look at the Greek word “dóxa” (dox’-ah) and wonder if it should be used for “honor,” too. 

Sometimes it is! 

But, most of the time, “dóxa” is translated as “glory.” 

Why?

The concept of honor, both in the Greek “timḗ” and the English, has to do with how someone is valued. Just like we “pay” respect, we “pay” honor, too. When we honor God, we acknowledge his infinite value and worth because he is the source of our lives and all that is good. 

Glory is a bit different. 

We can give glory to God in the same way we give honor, but with the word “glory,” there is a sense that the value is within the person or being. 

Consider the statue “David,” by Michelangelo. If you have ever seen it, you know that it is an enormous marble statue standing seventeen feet high. It is on display at Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence, Italy. If you ever take the time to travel to Italy and make your way to the Galleria dell’Accademia, then pay the admission fee and endure the wait and the crowds to catch a view of the famous statue, you are paying the statue honor by coming to see it. 

The glory you see is different than the honor you pay. 

There is a certain glory to the statue because of its history, the artist, and its amazing size and faithful rendering of the human body. That glory exists whether anyone is looking at the statue or not. At night, when the museum is closed and all is dark, the statue remains the same. 

The glory of God is similar but on an infinitely grander scale. 

When the Queen of Sheba came to see Solomon, and was confronted with all his glory, the Bible says that there was “no more breath in her” (2 Chronicles 9:3-6, ESV). 

God is like that, but more, far more. Confronted with the living God, John says, “When I saw him, I fell at this feet as though dead” (Revelation 1:17), and that is what it is like to be in the presence of God’s glory. 

Application: Take time to appreciate God’s glory!  

Food for Thought: How does paying attention to God’s glory change our relationship with him? 

*”1 Timothy 1:17e – Paying Honor”

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Philippians 4:20a – Glory and Honor

Conversion of St Paul on the Road to Damascus. Acts 9. From Gustave Dore Bible 1865-1866. Wood Engraving.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. 

Summary: Our God and Father is worthy of all honor and glory — always.   

It has been a long journey through Paul’s letter to the Philippians! Each meditation has explored only one facet of the passage or word it focuses on. God’s Word is amazing in its depth and breadth of meaning (Isaiah 55:9). I am reminded of John’s words at the end of his Gospel:

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Philippians 3:3c – Something to Boast About

AI image showing Christ standing at the foot of a large glowing cross (Pixabay)

[We] … who boast in Christ Jesus…

Summary: Sometimes, to appreciate what we have, we need to look at what we wouldn’t have if we didn’t have what we have.   

As we read ahead in this chapter, we find that Paul is about to give us a masterclass on the art of boasting in Christ Jesus. But for now, before we get into the details, it might be good to take a minute and consider what boasting in Christ means. 

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