“And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Timothy 4:18).
While human beings sought to end Paul the Apostle’s life on several occasions, God graciously preserved him until the time of his entry into eternity. God’s agenda for Paul’s life and death thus provides us with another opportunity to consider Jesus’ teaching from Luke 12:4-5…
“I tell you, as friends of mine, that you need not be afraid of those who can kill the body, but afterwards cannot do anything more. I will show you the only one you need to fear—the one who, after he has killed, has the power to throw you into destruction! Yes, I tell you, it is right to stand in awe of him” (Phillips).
As we saw earlier in this chapter, it is wise to take precautionary measures to protect against those who may seek to harm us. Nevertheless, it is important to maintain a vertical focus in such instances, for as we’re told in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, “Fearing the Lord leads to life, and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity” (Proverbs 19:23 NET).
Paul’s confidence in the Lord thus prompted him to express his praise and appreciation: “To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” This word “glory” carries several meanings depending on the context of its use. For instance, this word often serves to communicate the qualities of excellence, preeminence, and dignity. (1) It is also used to convey the idea of weightiness or substance. (2)
In the New Testament, “glory” is frequently used to signify one’s praise, honor, or acclamation for another. This usage is similar to the definition of this word in a modern-day context: “very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown.” (3)
One author provides us with an overview of “glory” from a Biblical perspective…
“The word glory in Hebrew, kabod, derives from a root word meaning ‘weight.’ For example, the value of a gold coin was determined by its weight. To have weight, therefore, is to have value or worth.
The Greek word for glory, doxa, originally meant ‘opinion.’ This word refers to the worth or value which we, in our opinion, assign to someone or something. The Hebrew idea speaks of what is inherent in God—His intrinsic value or worth; the Greek idea speaks of the response of intelligent and moral beings to the value or worth they see manifested by God’s Word and works.” (4)
(1) G1391 doxa Vine’s Expository Dictionary https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1391&t=NKJV
(2) See Sproul, R.C. Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow [pg. 79-80] © 2008 by R.C. Sproul. Published by Reformation Trust Publishing a division of Ligonier Ministries. See also H3513 – kabad https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3513
(3) “Glory” Dictionary.com, Retrieved 1 June 2020 from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/glory
(4) Joel R. Beeke, Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism [pg 146-147] © 2008 Published by Reformation Trust Publishing a division of Ligonier Ministries