Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 20:1 (Spring 2016)
Article: “The Glory Of God”—The Character Of God’s Being And Way In The World: Some Reflections On A Key Biblical Theology Theme
Author: Peter J. Gentry

SBJT 20:1 (Spring 2016) p. 149

“The Glory Of God”—The Character Of God’s Being And Way In The World: Some Reflections On A Key Biblical Theology Theme

Peter J. Gentry

Peter J. Gentry is Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and Director of the Hexapla Institute at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served on the faculty of Toronto Baptist Seminary and Bible College and also taught at the University of Toronto, Heritage Theological Seminary, and Tyndale Seminary. Dr. Gentry is the author of many articles and book reviews, the co-author of Kingdom through Covenant (Crossway, 2012), and is currently preparing a critical text of Proverbs and Ecclesiates for the Göttingen Septuagint.

Exodus 34 is a key passage in biblical theology, but the meaning of the glory of God as revealed to Moses is not understood very well by the Christian church, at least the church in North America.1 I plan on developing this reflection on a key biblical theme in four steps. First, I will briefly expound how the glory of Yahweh is revealed to Moses at Sinai (Exodus 33-34). Second, I will relate the exposition of Exodus 33-34 to David’s supplication in Psalm 86. Third, I will turn to two NT texts which confirm the exegesis of Exodus 34, namely John 1:14, 17-18 and 2 Corinthians 4:4-6. Fourth, I will offer one theological reflection from the exposition of the theme from the Old and New Testament texts.

SBJT 20:1 (Spring 2016) p. 150

The Glory Of God In Exodus 34

The Context Of Exodus 34

Before turning to Exodus 34, we must briefly review the narrative sequence that leads up to the revelation of the divine glory in Exodus 34. Exodus 1-18 describes how an enslaved Israel is released from Egypt and travels through the desert towards Canaan, the Promised Land. At Mount Sinai, Yahweh and Israel are bound together by a covenant specified in Exodus 19-23 and then ratified in Exodus 24. Afterwards, Moses ascends the mountain to receive further instructions concerning the building of a place of worship. When Moses is gone for a long time, the people urge Aaron to make alternative arrangements which leads to the C...