The Narrow Path Ministries

2Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.

If we are being transformed does the first glory apply to us? If so does the original greek/hebrew allow for the passage to read something like the following:

"un-glory to glory" or "glory-less to glory" or at least "unshinny to glory"

how best do you understand the first glory?

There seem to be two possible meanings.

The first would be that it describes the progressive transformation of the believer from one degree of likeness to Christ to another degree—that is, from one degree of glory to greater and greater degrees of glory—throughout his/her lifetime.

The second would be to notice, in the context (earlier in the chapter) between the one glory of the Old Covenant (which faded) and the greater glory of the New Covenant (which does not fade, but increases), and to see it as meaning the exchange of one glory (that associated with the Old Covenant) with another, greater glory (that of the New Covenant).

I tend to believe the first of these to be Paul's meaning.

Thanks Steve

If this is of any help to you, the phrase in Greek would be literally translated as "from glory into glory". In Greek the word "eis" (into) usually means that the word or expression following "eis" is the goal or destination.

Murf,

I agree with Steve's post as fiting the context better, but I see another 3rd option albeit probably not as good as the 2 Steve mentioned in the context...

From the ‘glory of man’ to ‘His glory,’ which would reflect God’s restorative work recreating Christians into His image (2 Cor 5:17)

in Him,
Les[/code]