“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3 ESV).
If our concept of God is shaped by the societal and cultural influences we encounter online and in the media, we are likely to end up with a God who bears little or no resemblance to the one revealed in the Biblical Scriptures. For example, this reference to “…him who called us to his own glory” offers some important insight into God’s true character and nature.
This reference to “glory” is derived from the word doxa in the original language of this passage. Broadly speaking, this relates to the value we attribute to a person or an object. The corresponding Old Testament term is kabod, a word that conveys a sense of weight, substance, or heaviness. While these words may be unfamiliar, we often make use of those concepts in our modern world.
For instance, let’s consider the example of a person who exerts minimal effort to assist other members of a team. We might describe that person as someone who “doesn’t carry his or her own weight.” There is no glory for such a person, for other team members devalue his or her performance. Or let’s take the example of a group of scholars who view another scholar as an academic “lightweight.” In that scenario, the word “lightweight” conveys the lack of substance behind that person’s scholarship.
In contrast to those examples, this passage links God’s glory with the characteristic qualities of excellence (ESV), goodness (CSB), integrity (GW), and virtue (KJV). Those qualities define Jesus’ life and ministry, and they attract others to Him in a world that is often lacking in them. Thus, if we are looking for genuine substance and value in a world that is often devoid of both, we will discover them in Christ.
One source explains how these concepts should shape and influence our lives…
“God has a glory that surpasses the glory of anything else in existence because He is of infinite value and worth. So, when we are ascribing glory to God, we are ascribing worth to Him. We are telling others of His value and unsurpassed worth. This, in turn, should shape what we do in and for Him. Our worship should evidence great beauty and reverence, for the most worthy being deserves that kind of worship.” (1)
(1) Ligonier Ministries, The Eternal Weight of Glory. ©2024 Ligonier Ministries. Accessed 20 May 2024 from https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/eternal-weight-of-glory