It meant the admiration of
men. The Greek word, as every scholar knows, is derived from a root
signifying to seem, and expresses that which a man seems, and appears to
his fellow men. The Latin word glory is expressly defined by Cicero to
mean the love, trust, and admiration of the multitude; and a consequent
opinion that the man is worthy of honour. Glory, in fact, is a relative
word, and can be only used of any being in relation to other rational
beings, and their opinion of him.
The glory of God, therefore, in Scripture, must needs mean that
admiration which men feel, or ought to feel for God. There is a deeper,
an altogether abysmal meaning for that word: "And now, O Father, glorify
thou me with thy own self, with the glory which I had with thee before
the world was." But on that text, speaking of the majesty of the ever-
blessed Trinity, I dare not attempt to comment; though, could I explain
it, I should. When St. John says that Christ manifested forth His glory,
and His disciples believed on Him, it is plain that He means by His glory
that which produced admiration and satisfaction, not alone in the mind of
God the Father, but in the minds of men.
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