Glory as Power in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

Abstract

The subject of “glory”, used to translate the Greek term δόξα, has been relatively neglected in Pauline scholarship. Due to the wide semantic range of δόξα, the few studies on glory in Paul’s epistles have focused on certain aspects of it, such as its association with honour, effulgence or immortality. Although the association of glory with power has been noted by classical and biblical scholars, it has not been explored in detail within the Pauline corpus, particularly Romans where the connection is immediately evident in Romans 1:18-21 and 6:4.

This study attempts to address this lacuna by exploring the relationship between glory and power in Romans by: (1) focusing on the concept of glory through paying attention to δόξα and other terms that are closely related to it, in particular honour and shame language, and (2) examining it from both Jewish and Graeco-Roman backgrounds since both traditions were probably influential on Paul’s Roman audience.

Our exploration of the correlations of glory with power in the Graeco-Roman and Jewish traditions demonstrates the centrality of glory/honour in the ancient Mediterranean world, with glory/honour often denoting or connoting power. Glory is often a function of power, and power a function of glory/honour, such that the two mutually reinforce each other. This provides insights into the ways in which they could have shaped Paul’s understanding of their relationship. Our journey of glory through Romans traces the variegated connections between glory and power, under the categories of divine, human, eschatological and communal glory/power, and across a wide range of Pauline theological themes, providing fresh insights into Paul’s theology of glory and his arguments in Romans.