John 12:43 - Exposition

The generalization is given as a reason, For they loved the glory ( δόξα , very nearly in the original Greek use of the word," opinion," "good reputation") of men, very much more than the glory of God . The form of the expressions, "of God' and "of men," is different from the παρὰ τοῦ μόνου θεοῦ and παρὰ ἀλλήλων of John 5:44 , and the statement is apparently inconsistent with the declaration that those in such a state of mind "could not believe." Moulton suggests that the glory here thought of by the apostle was the "glory" of John 5:41 —the glory of the union of the Redeemer with his people, the glory of suffering and death. The reference to Isaiah 6:1-13 . appears to be the true solution. The glory of God himself in his awful holiness was of less interest than the glory of the Sanhedrin and the approval of the world. Alas! this glory is nearer, more obvious and has more to do with tangible, sensuous, advantages, than the Divine approval.