Think Wink.

I was reading through Ephesians 3 the other night and I came across Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” It is a doxology. Doxologies are very interesting because of what they are in nature.

Doxology is comprised of two Greek words doxa and logos. Doxa is the Greek word that we translate glory. It, like its Hebrew conterpart kavowd, means weightiness. Logos is the Greek word from which we get logic and is usually translated “word.” Literally it means glory-word. It is used to ascribe glory to God for something he has done. It is giving a word of glory to God in Jesus Christ. They are a device in the New Testament to bring the writing to a climax. What I’d like to do is to look at some of the New Testament doxologies and see what causes the biblical writers to glorify God.

The first is Romans 11:33-36, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Here we see that Paul gives glory to God for being a God that is big. Paul glorfies God for his unsearchable ways and judgements. Paul glorifies God here because God is so big that no one can make God their debtor. To that God be all glory.

The second is Romans 16:25-26, “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” Here it is because of the fact that God strengthens our faith in the gospel that Paul gives glory to God. God gives us strength and gets glory through it. God gives us strength through the preaching of Christ crucified not just to Jews but to Gentiles as well; thus all of God’s people are strengthened.

The third is Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Here glory is given to God for being able. He is able to do more than we could possibly ask, think or imagine. It is the glory of God to go beyond mere natural ability and to provide for his people in ways that they cannot comprehend.

The fourth doxology is 1 Peter 4:10-11, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Here God is being ascribed glory by Peter because of the gifts of God’s grace. God gifts us according to his grace to speak or to serve. We must serve him by the strength he gives. In serving in God’s strength, God is glorified in us. “To him be the glory forever and ever Amen!”

The final doxology that I want to examine is that of Jude 24-25, “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Here Jude says that God gets glory because in Christ we are being kept from sin and presented to God the Father blameless on the last day to enjoy his glory forever. Praise God for his sanctifying power! To him be glory forever and ever.

I could write for some time on these doxologies. They are so very deep and unfathomable that days could be poured over each word to understand what these men were trying to say. God is so very glorious. Paul, Peter, and Jude really pack into their words of glory to God deep and profound meanings. I want to take time to commend to you, the reader, to make a study of the doxologies in the Holy Scriptures. You life would be blessed by it greatly to see just how glorious Jesus Christ, the only true God, really is.

Related posts:

Reflections from Hebrews 1-2

Golgotha

Making Sense of a Cruel World.