Radiance (541) (apaugasma from apaugázo = emit light or splendor in turn derived from apó = from + augázo = shine) literally means "off-flashing" and then the brightness beamed forth which describes the effulgence (from Latin effulgere = to shine forth and thus radiant splendor or brilliance emanating from an original light body), splendor or light emitted or issuing from a luminous body. It can mean either reflected brightness, refulgence (Calvin, Thayer) or effulgence as the Greek fathers hold. It is not preceded by the definite article, which makes the term highly descriptive of character or nature. The Pulpit Commentary writes that apaugasma is, so to speak, begotten of the source, and of one substance with it, and yet distinguishable from it; being that through which its glory is made manifest, and through which it enlightens all things. The Person of the Son is thus represented, not as of one apart from God, irradiated by His glory, but as Himself the sheen of his glory." (The Pulpit Commentary: New Testament; Old Testament; Ages Software or Logos) Wuest adds that The word apaugasma is not preceded by the definite article, which fact makes the term highly descriptive of character or nature." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos) Expositor's comments on radiance that "In the Arian controversy (Ed note: Arius taught that the Son was a created being, inferior to God the father in nature and dignity though the first and noblest of all created beings) this designation of the Son was appealed to as proving that He is eternally generated and exists not by an act of the Father’s will but essentially… As the sun cannot exist or a lamp burn without radiating light, so God is essentially Father and Son.” (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing) Glory (1391) (doxa from dokeo = to think) means to give a proper opinion or estimate of something and thus the glory of God expresses all that He is in His Being and in His nature, character, power and acts. Doxa is used repeatedly in the Greek Septuagint (LXX) to describe the (Shekinah) glory of God. For example at Mt Sinai the appearance of the glory (LXX = doxa) of Jehovah was like a consuming fire on the mountain top" (Ex 24:17) It was there that God showed them "His glory (LXX = doxa) and His greatness" (Dt 5:24). Moses records that upon completion of the tabernacle, the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory (LXX = doxa) of the LORD filled the tabernacle." (Ex 40:34 see also Nu 14:10, 16:19 16:42). The prophet Ezekiel described the departure (Ezekiel 10:4) and then foretold of the future return (Ezek 43:4, 43:5) of the glory (doxa) of Jehovah from the Temple in Jerusalem. In Exodus 33 Moses asks God "I pray Thee show me Thy glory (LXX = doxa)!" And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you...but..."You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen." (Ex 33:18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23) Jewish readers who would be very familiar with these OT descriptions of the glory (doxa) of Jehovah would have a clear understanding of the intent of the author's description of Jesus as the radiance of His glory but unlike Moses could look at the glorious face of God for "the glory of God" is "in the face of Christ." (2Cor 4:6) Jesus gives a correct opinion of all that God is, so that to see Jesus is to see God, for in Jesus Himself is the out shining of the majesty of the Father. The Son, being one with the Father (Jn 10:30), is in Himself, and ever was, the shining forth of the glory, manifesting in Himself all that God is and does. Jesus' Own testimony was that "he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me." (Jn 12:45) Phillip queried Jesus show us the Father and it is enough for us (Jn 14:8) Jesus replied that He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (Jn14:9) Explaining that "the Father is in Me" and "the words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works." (Jn 14:10) John gives us the marvelous description of Jesus as "the Word (Who) became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14). John went on to say that No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." (Jn 1:18) Comment: The Greek word for explained is exegeomai [ek = out + hegéomai = tell, lead forward] means that Jesus as the God Man leads out or provides detailed information in a systematic manner of the glory of the Father. This word exegeomai gives us our English word "exegesis" which describes the exposition of God's word, unfolding the interpretation through teaching. Jesus then is the preeminent "Expositor" declaring the Father's glory thoroughly and particularly. "O come let us adore Him" "fixing our eyes on Jesus" (Heb 12:2-note) Want to know what God says? Listen to Jesus. Want to know what God does? Watch Jesus. He is God incarnate in man. Let's give an analogy realizing that it will be imperfect and can even distort the truth of the radiance of His glory if pressed too far. Jesus relates to God the way the rays of sunlight relate to the sun. There is no time that the sun exists without the beams of radiance. They cannot be separated. If you put a solar-activated calculator in the sunlight, numbers appear on the face of the calculator. These are energized by the sun's radiance, but they are not what the sun is. The rays of the sun however are an extension of the sun. We see the sun by means of seeing the rays of the sun. So too we see God the Father by seeing Jesus for they are one God. AND THE EXACT REPRESENTATION OF HIS NATURE: kai charakter tes hupostaseos autou: (2Co 4:4; Col 1:15, 16) flawless expression of the nature of God (Phillips) the express image of His person (KJV, NKJV) the very image of His substance (ASV) the impress of His subsistence (YLT) [the] exact expression of His essence (ALT) the true image of his substance (BBE) He is an exact copy of God's nature. (ICB) the exact reproduction of His essence (Wuest) all that God’s Son is and does marks him as God (TLB) the very imprint of his being (NAB) the exact imprint of God’s very being (NRSV) everything about Him represents God exactly (NLT) He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature (Amp) stamped with God's Own character (Moffatt) the very image (impress) of His substance (Vincent) the very representation of the divine essence (Vine) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/hebrews_13.htm#radiance