Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Glorification

The final stage of salvation at Christ's return — the resurrection of the body 'like his glorious body', the removal of all remaining sin, and the unmediated vision of God.

Latin glorificatio; from Romans 8:30, 'those whom he justified he also glorified'.

Romans 8:17–23, 30; 1 Corinthians 15:42–57; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:17; Philippians 3:20–21; Colossians 3:4; 1 John 3:2 ('we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is'); 1 Corinthians 13:12 ('then face to face').

The consummation of union with Christ and the goal of sanctification; the 'already' of transformation 'from one degree of glory to another' (2 Cor 3:18) reaches its 'not yet' at the parousia. Includes, in the Eastern and increasingly the Western account, full participation in the divine life (theosis) and the beatific vision.

Romans 8:30 puts it in the past tense ('glorified') — so certain in God's purpose that it is spoken of as done; the resurrection body is continuous with the present body, gloriously transformed.

The nature of the beatific vision; the degree of continuity of the resurrection body; whether 'partaking of the divine nature' means a strong theosis or a more modest sharing in God's holiness and immortality.

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