Glory to God, Peace to Men

Advent, Angelic Hymns, & Redemption

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! -Luke 2:14

The advent of Christ brings glory to God and peace to man. Heaven gets glory, and Earth rejoices. Earth has felt the burden of sin, and now she begins to feel the blessing of Heaven. She groaned under the feet of the children of wrath; now she feels the beautiful feet of those who bring good news, who publish peace¹.

The Annunciation to the Shepherds, Adam Pynacker

Angelic Hymnody

I was reading Luke this week, and was struck by the simplicity and beauty of this short song that the heavenly host sings. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. The shepherds of Bethlehem heard the beginning of a song that will be heard for the rest of time. They heard the beginnings of the “new song” predicted by David when God will make known his salvation².

The Greek here is beautiful:

δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ, 
καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς 
εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας.

Translators have gone back and forth on how to split up the lines here. I like this three line break-up because it has a chiastic structure, where καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς, “and on earth…” splits up the main phrases, “glory in the highest to God” and, “peace among the men of [God’s] favor.” 

The ESV translates ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας, “among those with whom he is pleased”, which is a pretty good translation of the sense of the phrase. A more literal translation is “among the people of favor.” Word Biblical Commentary has noted that the Greek phrase seems to be a Semitic expression that has parallels in Hebrew and Aramaic, showing that it has “overtones of election and God’s active initiative in extending his favor³”. Favor. Blessing. Good will to men.

This short angelic hymn enumerates these two truths: Glory to God, and peace to men. On these two pegs rest the joy surrounding the coming of Christ. Only glory to God is great, but we are far from Him because of sin. Only peace to men is just a godless daydream of the World Economic Forum. But Christ, the God-Man, brings these truths together. Righteousness and peace kiss⁴.

Glory to God 

God is glorified because the long enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent is coming to a head. Indeed, it is coming to a head: for the feet of the Son of David will crush the serpent’s head, though he strike His heel. 

God is glorified because He has not forgotten his promise to Eve, or to Noah, or Abraham, or Isaac, or Jacob, or Judah, or David. 

He is glorified because He has not left the world in darkness, but He has lit the candle that lights the path of the nations back to God. He will teach the nations his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.⁵ He will guide our feet into the way of peace.⁶

Christmas glorifies God. That is the message the shepherds heard, but could only begin to understand. The Eternal Word, even in His condescension, even as He emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant⁷, does not cease from His glorious Godhood. This Baby would later pray to His Father in heaven, “Glorify Your name”, and we hear the voice from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The Triune God is glorified.

The Incarnation is one of the most glorious things man can contemplate. Sweet and fitting it is that the Magi worshiped the baby Christ, who had fixed the stars that they studied. More glorious than the rise and fall of every empire before or since; Christ is born in Bethlehem. It is glorious beyond comprehension that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us⁸.

Peace to Men

There is peace unto men because the Prince of Peace⁹ is born. This is not the peace that Klaus Schwab wants, or the UN wants. This is not the peace represented in the COEXIST bumper sticker. Those are the self-appointed prophets, crying, “Peace, peace! when there is no peace.¹⁰” This is peace in mankind’s most terrible war. This is peace with God.

The false prophets say, “Peace, peace!”, when there is no peace. But the gospel says,

He Himself is our peace. -Ephesians 2:14

The wrath of God is satisfied; the sin of man is removed. The children of wrath are now the ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας: The men of His favor. God is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Christ¹¹. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ¹².

God is glorified because man is reconciled. God is the Master of the feast, who is glorified to invite the undeserving. The Lord is glorified to give for the starving world His own Self for heavenly food¹³. He invites us: “call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.¹⁴” He delights in steadfast love¹⁵. Highest heaven gets glory, and the lowest of men may have peace.

Conclusion

Glory to God, and peace to men. Christ the Lord has come to walk among you. To live a sinless life. To bind the strong man, and plunder his goods¹⁶. To give His life as a ransom for many. To be pierced for our transgressions. To rise again. To ascend. To demand our full homage, and to sit at the right hand of the Father, for ever and ever. A branch has sprung up for Jesse¹⁷.

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven … and became man. -Nicene Creed

So, “let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”¹⁸

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Thank you for reading! More Christmas stuff below.

1. Isaiah 52:7

2. Psalm 98

3. John Nolland’s V. 35A of Word Biblical Commentary, p. 109

4. Psalm 85:10

5. Isaiah 2:3

6. Luke 1:79

7. Philippians 2:7

8. John 1:14

9. Isaiah 9:6

10. Jeremiah 6:14

11. Romans 3:26

12. Romans 5:1

13. This is a line in the incredible advent hymn, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. That link is a powerful animation with the song from Full of Eyes, who I mentioned in this post.

14. Psalm 50:15

15. Micah 7:18-19. Also, see this post here.

16. Mark 3:27

17. Isaiah 11:1

18. Luke 2:15