What is the hope of the glory of God?

Explanation:

When Paul writes that we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, we can detect what he means by considering other New Testament passages. For example, in Romans 8:29–30 he writes that those whom God foreknew, he predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, and those he justified he also glorified. So there is a connection between being conformed to the likeness of his Son and being glorified. Further, in Philippians 3:20–21 we read that Jesus will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body. Now, while Paul does not say it directly, to be conformed to the likeness of the Son and to be transformed into the Son’s glorious body are to share in the glory of God. ³

Counterargument:

The problem here is that it does not seem possible for humans to share the glory of God. For God is unique, alone having immortality proper to his own being, and alone living in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). So if God is uniquely God, how could anyone share in his glory? Further, one reason we worship God is because of God’s glory. But if humans share God’s glory, this seems to imply that humans ought to be worshipped. Of course, humans should not be worshipped, so it is not likely that humans will share God glory.

Response to counterargument:

The contention here is not that humans will have the same glory that is unique to God that makes God worthy of worship. Rather, the contention is that God will grant humans to share in his glory in some mysterious sense.⁴ Now, the fact that humans will share something of God’s character should not be ruled out quickly. For we know from Genesis 1:27 that humans were created after the image and likeness of God. So humans already share something of God’s unique character. Now, what Paul is explaining is that in some mysterious way, humans will also share in God’s glory in the sense that humans will conform to the image of the Son, and be transformed in the likeness of his glorious body. None of this implies that humans will have all of the glory of God, or that humans will be worthy of worship. Rather, it means that humans have hope that we will one day share in not only God’s image but also his glory.

Explanation:

Paul says that believers rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. What he means is that believers have hope that they will one day experience the incorruptible state of glory in which God dwells. We can deduce that this is what Paul means because he has already mentioned God’s glory, and glory generally, earlier in this letter.⁵ For example, in Romans 1:21–23 Paul explains that humans did not honour God, but exchanged his glory for images resembling mortal man. Further, in Romans 2:7 Paul writes that those who seek for glory will receive eternal life. So, when Paul says that believers rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, he means that believers will dwell in the same incorruptible state of glory in which God dwells.

Counterargument:

The conclusion of this argument does not follow from the premise. The premise of this argument is that Paul mentions God’s glory, and glory generally, earlier in this letter. Next, this argument contends that because God’s glory, and glory generally, is mentioned earlier in this letter, when Paul refers to the hope of God’s glory, he has in mind the hope of sharing in the same glory in which God dwells. The conclusion does not follow from the premise. For the mere mention of God’s glory, and glory generally, does not imply that when Paul refers to the hope of Glod’s glory, he means the hope of sharing in God’s glory. So we cannot conclude from the mention of God’s glory, and glory generally, to the notion that Paul is saying our hope is in sharing in the glory in which God dwells.

The weakness of this view is that Paul does not write that we will share in the same glory as God. Rather, he writes that we have hope in the glory of God. In other words, on the face of it, our hope is in God’s glory, not our sharing in God’s glory.

Explanation:

Paul writes that because we stand in God’s grace through the work of Jesus Christ, we boast in the hope of the glory of God. At first it is not clear what it means to hope in the glory of God, but when we continue reading, we get a hint as to Paul’s meaning. For when we reach Romans 5:12, Paul will introduce Adam into the discussion. In particular, he will explain that death came through the sin of Adam (Romans 5:12), while justification comes through Christ Jesus (Romans 5:15). Now, by introducing Adam into the discussion, we can see what Paul means when he says that we hope in the glory of God. For Paul likely writes this, anticipating that he will introduce Adam into the discussion, so Adam and his original sin is on Paul’s mind. What is also likely on Paul’s mind is the fact that before the fall into sin, Adam was in a state of moral perfection and glory. Thus, what Paul likely has in mind when he refers to the hope of the glory of God is the hope of being restored by God back to the original state of moral perfection and glory had by Adam. ⁹

Counterargument:

The problem with this argument is that Paul does not simply refer to hope of glory. Rather, he has in mind the hope of the glory of God. In other words, our hope is not in our own glory, or the glory we had before the fall, but in the glory of God. Now, the glory of God might include God’s radiant holiness and transcendent power.¹⁰ So Paul is saying that our hope is in coming face to face with God’s radiant holiness and power, not our being restored to the glory of Adam.

Explanation:

By the time we reach Romans 8:1–39, Paul clarifies what he means that believers hope in the glory of God. In particular, he clarifies that to have hope in the glory of God means to have hope in being restored to the God-like-ness had by Adam before the fall. For when we reach Romans 8:17 we read that we are fellow heirs with Christ provided with suffer with him, in order that we may be glorified with him.¹¹ In other words, we have hope in the fact that, if we suffer as Christ did, we will be restored to the God-like glory Adam possessed before the fall.

Counterargument:

The conclusion of this argument does not follow from the premises. According to this argument, we can use Romans 8:17 to clarify Romans 5:2 which implies that the hope of the glory of God is the hope of being restored to Adam’s original state. While it is the case that we can use Romans 8:17 to clarify the meaning of Romans 5:2, Romans 8:17 says nothing about being restored to the glory of Adam. Rather, it says that if we suffer as Christ suffers, we will be glorified with Christ. Now, Christ’s glory is not the same God-like-ness that Adam shared with God before the fall. Rather, Christ’s glory is a new and better glory, with an incorruptible resurrection body and an impossibility of sinning. So, that we will be glorified with Christ does not imply that we will be restored to Adam’s glory. Rather, it implies that we will share in Christ’s glory. And if we use Romans 8:17 to inform Romans 5:2, then what Paul says in Romans 5:2 is that the hope of God’s glory is the hope of sharing in Christ’s glory.

The weakness of this view is that it equates the glory of God with the state of Adam in the garden. Scripture never equates Adam’s state in the garden with the glory of God, but simply says that God created after his image.