Philippians 4:20 - Exposition

Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever . Amen ; rather, with R.V., unto our God and Father be the glory. The thought of God's present mercies, and the hope of glory to come mentioned in the last verse, suggest the doxology. Observe, St. Paul says , "our God and Father" here. He said, "my God" in Philippians 4:19 , where he was speaking of the reward which God would give for kindness shown to himself; but now "our God," as the one Object of praise and worship from the universal Church. The glory; the article is commonly used with δόξα in these doxologies—the glory which is God's peculiar possession, which is essentially his (comp. John 17:5 ). Bishop Lightfoot says, in his note on Galatians 1:5 , "It is probable that we should supply ἐστὶν in such cases rather than ἔστω . It is an affirmation rather than a wish. Glory is the essential attribute of God. See 1 Peter 4:11 , ᾧ ἐστὶν ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος , and the doxology added to the Lord's Prayer ( Matthew 6:13 )." For ever and ever ; literally, for the ages of ages ; for the ages which consist, not of years, but of ages, for the countless ages of eternity (comp. Galatians 1:5 and Galatians 1:1 timothy Galatians 1:17 ).