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Essential Studies in Biblical Theology
The Earth Will Be Filled: A Biblical Theology of the Glory of God
Discover the Beauty, Depth, and Awe-Inspiring Magnitude of God’s Glory
The glory of God is a central theme that runs throughout Scripture. But what is God’s glory? And what does it mean to glorify God? These are perhaps the most important questions we could ever ask. To answer them, it is crucial to see how God’s glory is at the heart of the gospel and of the entire story of the Bible.
According to biblical scholar Donnie Berry, glory refers to all the things the triune God is full of—his wisdom, love, creativity, beauty, strength, compassion, justice, life, joy—made manifest for us to see, to experience, to respond to, and, perhaps most surprisingly, to participate in. From beginning to end, God’s plan has always been to reveal his glory to his people and through his people, so that his glory will fill the earth. This volume provides a rich study into the meaning of God’s glory in the story of the Bible and what it means for your life today.
The Earth Will Be Filled Features
An Exploration of the Biblical Theme of Glory: Trace the theme of glory throughout Scripture, gaining insight on its significance for understanding God and the Bible. Visual Aids for Clarity: Use helpful figures to easily grasp the deep connection between the Bible and the theme of glory. Accessible Biblical Theology: Enjoy an engaging, accessible resource perfect for pastors, students, or anyone interested in Biblical theology. Through accessible insights and compelling visuals, The Earth Will Be Filled explores how the theme of glory can deepen your understanding of Scripture, offering you a meaningful way to reflect on God’s majesty and presence. This book is an invitation to immerse yourself in the awe of God’s glory and respond to it with wonder, worship, and joy. Step into the richness and wonder of God’s glory with The Earth Will Be Filled, and discover how glory permeates Scripture and invites us into a life-transforming response.
About the Series
Essential Studies in Biblical Theology (ESBT), edited by L. Michael Morales, explore the central or essential themes of the Bible's grand storyline. Taking cues from Genesis 1–3, authors trace the presence of these themes throughout the entire sweep of redemptive history. Written for students, church leaders, and laypeople, the series offers an introduction to biblical theology.
The glory of God is a central theme that runs throughout Scripture. But what is God’s glory? And what does it mean to glorify God? These are perhaps the most important questions we could ever ask. To answer them, it is crucial to see how God’s glory is at the heart of the gospel and of the entire story of the Bible.
According to biblical scholar Donnie Berry, glory refers to all the things the triune God is full of—his wisdom, love, creativity, beauty, strength, compassion, justice, life, joy—made manifest for us to see, to experience, to respond to, and, perhaps most surprisingly, to participate in. From beginning to end, God’s plan has always been to reveal his glory to his people and through his people, so that his glory will fill the earth. This volume provides a rich study into the meaning of God’s glory in the story of the Bible and what it means for your life today.
The Earth Will Be Filled Features
An Exploration of the Biblical Theme of Glory: Trace the theme of glory throughout Scripture, gaining insight on its significance for understanding God and the Bible. Visual Aids for Clarity: Use helpful figures to easily grasp the deep connection between the Bible and the theme of glory. Accessible Biblical Theology: Enjoy an engaging, accessible resource perfect for pastors, students, or anyone interested in Biblical theology. Through accessible insights and compelling visuals, The Earth Will Be Filled explores how the theme of glory can deepen your understanding of Scripture, offering you a meaningful way to reflect on God’s majesty and presence. This book is an invitation to immerse yourself in the awe of God’s glory and respond to it with wonder, worship, and joy. Step into the richness and wonder of God’s glory with The Earth Will Be Filled, and discover how glory permeates Scripture and invites us into a life-transforming response.
About the Series
Essential Studies in Biblical Theology (ESBT), edited by L. Michael Morales, explore the central or essential themes of the Bible's grand storyline. Taking cues from Genesis 1–3, authors trace the presence of these themes throughout the entire sweep of redemptive history. Written for students, church leaders, and laypeople, the series offers an introduction to biblical theology.
- GenresAudiobook
192 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 18, 2026
Very helpful treatment of the subject. This work was so accessible and clear in the way the glory of God filling the earth was traced through the canon. This is essentially what my doctoral project is on and this book will prove to be a great resource for that.
March 29, 2026
Very accessible study of Glory throughout the whole story of the Bible. Based on reading this book, it seems like this series would be a great resource for different key themes in scripture. Definitely giving Bible project vibes with the format.
May 29, 2026
Berry, Donnie. The Earth Will Be Filled: A Biblical Theology of the Glory of God. ESBT.
Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2025.
Both in judgment and salvation all the nations will know the Lord. One day the earth will be filled with the knowledge and glory of the King of kings and Lord of lords. One day every knee shall bow before his glory and every tongue confess that glory (Phil 2:9-11). On that day ransomed men, women, and children from every tribe, language, people, and nation shall sing with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Rev 5:12). On that day the glory of the Lord shall fill all creation.
It is this good news of God’s triumphant glory that we must encourage one another with even now in the midst of a world that longs for such glory but remains wandering in darkness. For followers of Christ, God’s glory fully displayed through a suffering, but resurrected Christ offers us the very words of hope to encourage one another (1 Thess 5:9-11). And it is this transformative good news that offers hopefulness to those lost in darkness. The glory of the risen Christ cuts through the darkness and offers new life, hope, peace, and joy forevermore for all who behold the glory of God through Christ.
Donnie Berry’s The Earth Will Be Filled offers us such a framework to understand the stunning and inexplicable glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. “In the grand, sweeping narrative of the Bible, the end of all things for all eternity is the glory of God” (3). God’s glory is his goal, his aim, and his ambition. And therefore, glory weaves itself through the tapestry of Scripture offering a unified purpose through redemptive history (4).
Berry defines glory, “all the fullness of the triune God – the fullness of his wisdom, love, creativity, beauty, strength, compassion, justice, life, joy – all that makes him weighty and wonderful, made manifest for us to see, experience, respond to, and, perhaps most surprisingly, participate in” (7, emphasis his). Glory describes God. God is glorious. His very nature, attributes, and existence are all glorious. “Glory is the revelation of his nature. And glory is the honor given him in response to the revelation of his nature” (7).
As God makes himself known and reveals himself to creation his internal glory of his character and nature become externally revealed so that his glory may be put on display – that the earth may be filled. Such revelational glory commands attention. God’s glory is never just an end in itself, but as God reveals his glory whether through creation, his Word, or the consummate revelation of his glory through the Son, God’s glory demands response. The only right response is worship.
And that must be the goal of such a study. As Berry works through Scripture’s unfolding history of redemption the progressive revelation of God’s glory confronts us on every page and the only right response to the weight of this glory is to fall down in worship. God’s glory transforms all who behold it in faith, worship, and submission. Such transformation, as Berry concludes, brings delight in the Glory of God that works both inwardly and then outwardly through us to reflect and display that glory. God has “created us to be like him, displaying his glory in all we do and causing everything in creation to bear the imprint of his glory” (156).
We are created to delight in and display God’s glory. “God, out of his infinite fullness, created the world to fill it with his glory. And he created humans to see his glory and to delight in it, to share in his glory and to display it. All this so that we and all creation might participate in God’s eternal joy” (13). God’s glory echoes and reverberates throughout all creation.
And as the glory of God and power of his Word work to transform us by recreating our hearts and renewing our minds we become more and more conformed into the image of the glorious Son (Rom 8:29). But such transformation comes through following in the footsteps of the suffering Servant. As Berry acknowledges, “Sharing in Christ’s suffering is in fact the pathway to sharing in his glory (Rom 8:17), and the pathway is marked by groaning” (133). If we desire to share in Christ’s glory, then we must first share in his suffering. For it is only through the path of suffering and death whereby we receive resurrection and glorification.
Yet, with hopeful expectation, as we delight in and display God’s glory, joy swells up within us through the work of God’s Spirit. Berry connects God’s glory to our joy:
"Joy is born in the heart of God, who is intrinsically glorious and supremely weighty. We long for joy because we were made for God, and joy is the natural and appropriate response to knowing him and beholding his glory. When we long for joy, we are longing for God. We are longing to see his glory and to be drawn into it. We are longing to be captivated by his glory and to give expression to it. This is bedrock. This is what the story of the Bible is all about" (10).
For those who seek after joy it is found in beholding and displaying the glory of God. Such joy is ultimately found in being confronted with the resplendent glory of the suffering and resurrected Christ. Berry’s The Earth Will Be Filled briefly but beautifully traces God’s glory throughout Scripture so that we may rightly see, behold, and in turn display the glory that one day all the earth may be filled with the majestic splendor of God and his glory.
May the glory of God resound throughout our lives so that the earth may be filled with God’s glory as it is in heaven. And “may the glory of the Lord endure forever” (Ps 104:31).
Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2025.
Both in judgment and salvation all the nations will know the Lord. One day the earth will be filled with the knowledge and glory of the King of kings and Lord of lords. One day every knee shall bow before his glory and every tongue confess that glory (Phil 2:9-11). On that day ransomed men, women, and children from every tribe, language, people, and nation shall sing with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Rev 5:12). On that day the glory of the Lord shall fill all creation.
It is this good news of God’s triumphant glory that we must encourage one another with even now in the midst of a world that longs for such glory but remains wandering in darkness. For followers of Christ, God’s glory fully displayed through a suffering, but resurrected Christ offers us the very words of hope to encourage one another (1 Thess 5:9-11). And it is this transformative good news that offers hopefulness to those lost in darkness. The glory of the risen Christ cuts through the darkness and offers new life, hope, peace, and joy forevermore for all who behold the glory of God through Christ.
Donnie Berry’s The Earth Will Be Filled offers us such a framework to understand the stunning and inexplicable glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. “In the grand, sweeping narrative of the Bible, the end of all things for all eternity is the glory of God” (3). God’s glory is his goal, his aim, and his ambition. And therefore, glory weaves itself through the tapestry of Scripture offering a unified purpose through redemptive history (4).
Berry defines glory, “all the fullness of the triune God – the fullness of his wisdom, love, creativity, beauty, strength, compassion, justice, life, joy – all that makes him weighty and wonderful, made manifest for us to see, experience, respond to, and, perhaps most surprisingly, participate in” (7, emphasis his). Glory describes God. God is glorious. His very nature, attributes, and existence are all glorious. “Glory is the revelation of his nature. And glory is the honor given him in response to the revelation of his nature” (7).
As God makes himself known and reveals himself to creation his internal glory of his character and nature become externally revealed so that his glory may be put on display – that the earth may be filled. Such revelational glory commands attention. God’s glory is never just an end in itself, but as God reveals his glory whether through creation, his Word, or the consummate revelation of his glory through the Son, God’s glory demands response. The only right response is worship.
And that must be the goal of such a study. As Berry works through Scripture’s unfolding history of redemption the progressive revelation of God’s glory confronts us on every page and the only right response to the weight of this glory is to fall down in worship. God’s glory transforms all who behold it in faith, worship, and submission. Such transformation, as Berry concludes, brings delight in the Glory of God that works both inwardly and then outwardly through us to reflect and display that glory. God has “created us to be like him, displaying his glory in all we do and causing everything in creation to bear the imprint of his glory” (156).
We are created to delight in and display God’s glory. “God, out of his infinite fullness, created the world to fill it with his glory. And he created humans to see his glory and to delight in it, to share in his glory and to display it. All this so that we and all creation might participate in God’s eternal joy” (13). God’s glory echoes and reverberates throughout all creation.
And as the glory of God and power of his Word work to transform us by recreating our hearts and renewing our minds we become more and more conformed into the image of the glorious Son (Rom 8:29). But such transformation comes through following in the footsteps of the suffering Servant. As Berry acknowledges, “Sharing in Christ’s suffering is in fact the pathway to sharing in his glory (Rom 8:17), and the pathway is marked by groaning” (133). If we desire to share in Christ’s glory, then we must first share in his suffering. For it is only through the path of suffering and death whereby we receive resurrection and glorification.
Yet, with hopeful expectation, as we delight in and display God’s glory, joy swells up within us through the work of God’s Spirit. Berry connects God’s glory to our joy:
"Joy is born in the heart of God, who is intrinsically glorious and supremely weighty. We long for joy because we were made for God, and joy is the natural and appropriate response to knowing him and beholding his glory. When we long for joy, we are longing for God. We are longing to see his glory and to be drawn into it. We are longing to be captivated by his glory and to give expression to it. This is bedrock. This is what the story of the Bible is all about" (10).
For those who seek after joy it is found in beholding and displaying the glory of God. Such joy is ultimately found in being confronted with the resplendent glory of the suffering and resurrected Christ. Berry’s The Earth Will Be Filled briefly but beautifully traces God’s glory throughout Scripture so that we may rightly see, behold, and in turn display the glory that one day all the earth may be filled with the majestic splendor of God and his glory.
May the glory of God resound throughout our lives so that the earth may be filled with God’s glory as it is in heaven. And “may the glory of the Lord endure forever” (Ps 104:31).
July 21, 2026
Summary: The glory of God in scripture, that God reveals his glory to his people and through them, to fill the earth.
The glory of God is the bedrock of scripture. So maintains Donnie Berry who finds the glory of God wherever he turns in scripture. But what do we mean by the glory of God? Berry studies the words used and proposes this definition;
“Glory refers to all the fullness of the triune God–the fullness of his wisdom, love, creativity, beauty, strength, compassion, justice, life, joy–all that makes him weighty and wonderful, made manifest for us to see, experience, respond to, and, perhaps most surprisingly, participate in” (p. 7).
Berry argues that this is a worthwhile study. God made and redeemed us for Himself and to long for and behold God’s glory is the bedrock of joy in our lives. So what is the witness of scripture to God’s glory? Like other volumes in this series, Berry will trace the theme of glory from Genesis to Revelation. In the process he will formulate a biblical theology of the glory of God.
The narrative begins with creation. God fills the earth with the glory shared with God’s triune self. Not only that but God crowns humans with the special glory of dominion, bringing God’s goodness to all creation. But as a result of disobedience, humans cease to glorify God and spread his glory to all creation. Instead, they spread destruction and death. But even then, God clothes them and spares Noah and his creatures.
But God does not give up on his plan to spread his glory through his people. Beginning with Abraham, he calls out a people through whom he will bless the earth. He reveals that glory through Israel in the exodus and at Sinai. When they rebel, Moses not only pleads for God to go with them but asks to see God’s glory. God cannot do this. It would kill Moses. But he makes all his goodness pass before him. Moses sees what is glorious about God. Then he discloses Israel’s purpose–they are God’s treasured possession and a kingdom of priests. Furthermore, God makes his glory dwell among them through giving them both Torah and tabernacle. Eventually, the temple will replace the tabernacle at the height of Solomon’s rule. God’s glory will descend upon it.
Yet Israel, like Adam will rebel. The nation will fall and the glory will depart from the temple. But God doesn’t give up. God is present and preserves them through exile. Then he promises that his glory will not only return to Zion but fill the earth. Key to this will be “the servant of the Lord.”
Then John tells us “the Word became flesh” and glory came down among us. Signs of that glory fill the first part of John’s gospel. Then the hour of his glory comes when he is lifted up on the cross to draw all people unto him. God raises him and and he imparts the Spirit of glory, empowering his disciples for mission.
Paul, in Romans, speaks of our hope of sharing in God’s glory as God restore all creation. This is hope for both Jew and Greek, for all who hear God’s “no condemnation.” God’s glory in Christ extends to this redeemed humanity, and through them to the groaning creation.
Finally, in Revelation, we witness the final victory of God’s glory, centering on the slain Lamb, who is worthy of all praise. Though him, God brings all earth under his rule. And in the new creation, his people share his glory and rule.
How then shall we respond? The invitation is to behold, and by beholding, God transforms us from one degree of glory to another. Whereas our enemy subjects us to slavery, our redeeming Lord both reveals and shares his glory with us.
I wish Berry could have discussed the Synoptic gospels and Acts, and the witness of Hebrews, which would have enriched this study. However, there are plenty of riches in this “story of glory.” In addition, Berry uses various iterations of a very clear diagram to show the unfolding story. I felt Berry wrote in such a way as to not merely inform but to invite us to behold God’s glory and be transformed. This is biblical theology at its best.
_____________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
The glory of God is the bedrock of scripture. So maintains Donnie Berry who finds the glory of God wherever he turns in scripture. But what do we mean by the glory of God? Berry studies the words used and proposes this definition;
“Glory refers to all the fullness of the triune God–the fullness of his wisdom, love, creativity, beauty, strength, compassion, justice, life, joy–all that makes him weighty and wonderful, made manifest for us to see, experience, respond to, and, perhaps most surprisingly, participate in” (p. 7).
Berry argues that this is a worthwhile study. God made and redeemed us for Himself and to long for and behold God’s glory is the bedrock of joy in our lives. So what is the witness of scripture to God’s glory? Like other volumes in this series, Berry will trace the theme of glory from Genesis to Revelation. In the process he will formulate a biblical theology of the glory of God.
The narrative begins with creation. God fills the earth with the glory shared with God’s triune self. Not only that but God crowns humans with the special glory of dominion, bringing God’s goodness to all creation. But as a result of disobedience, humans cease to glorify God and spread his glory to all creation. Instead, they spread destruction and death. But even then, God clothes them and spares Noah and his creatures.
But God does not give up on his plan to spread his glory through his people. Beginning with Abraham, he calls out a people through whom he will bless the earth. He reveals that glory through Israel in the exodus and at Sinai. When they rebel, Moses not only pleads for God to go with them but asks to see God’s glory. God cannot do this. It would kill Moses. But he makes all his goodness pass before him. Moses sees what is glorious about God. Then he discloses Israel’s purpose–they are God’s treasured possession and a kingdom of priests. Furthermore, God makes his glory dwell among them through giving them both Torah and tabernacle. Eventually, the temple will replace the tabernacle at the height of Solomon’s rule. God’s glory will descend upon it.
Yet Israel, like Adam will rebel. The nation will fall and the glory will depart from the temple. But God doesn’t give up. God is present and preserves them through exile. Then he promises that his glory will not only return to Zion but fill the earth. Key to this will be “the servant of the Lord.”
Then John tells us “the Word became flesh” and glory came down among us. Signs of that glory fill the first part of John’s gospel. Then the hour of his glory comes when he is lifted up on the cross to draw all people unto him. God raises him and and he imparts the Spirit of glory, empowering his disciples for mission.
Paul, in Romans, speaks of our hope of sharing in God’s glory as God restore all creation. This is hope for both Jew and Greek, for all who hear God’s “no condemnation.” God’s glory in Christ extends to this redeemed humanity, and through them to the groaning creation.
Finally, in Revelation, we witness the final victory of God’s glory, centering on the slain Lamb, who is worthy of all praise. Though him, God brings all earth under his rule. And in the new creation, his people share his glory and rule.
How then shall we respond? The invitation is to behold, and by beholding, God transforms us from one degree of glory to another. Whereas our enemy subjects us to slavery, our redeeming Lord both reveals and shares his glory with us.
I wish Berry could have discussed the Synoptic gospels and Acts, and the witness of Hebrews, which would have enriched this study. However, there are plenty of riches in this “story of glory.” In addition, Berry uses various iterations of a very clear diagram to show the unfolding story. I felt Berry wrote in such a way as to not merely inform but to invite us to behold God’s glory and be transformed. This is biblical theology at its best.
_____________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
June 14, 2026
I’m ashamed to say that I have never thought to do a deep dive into the idea of God’s glory. Now though, after this book, I feel like I have a greater sense of awe, love, and humble gratitude toward my Heavenly Father. This book gives such a clear and comprehensive view of God’s glory from Genesis through to Revelation. What a joy it was and I can truly say it has changed the way I will read the Word moving forward!
April 29, 2026
A powerful exegetical, faith-filled biblical theology on the Glory of God
Donnie Berry, has given us beautiful, scripture proclaiming, faith-filled exhortation and treatise on the marvelous, majestic, awesome Glory of God. I highly recommend this book.
Donnie Berry, has given us beautiful, scripture proclaiming, faith-filled exhortation and treatise on the marvelous, majestic, awesome Glory of God. I highly recommend this book.
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August 10, 2026The glory of God is his fullness - the fullness of his love, justice, grace, mercy, most beautifully displayed for us thru the death and resurrection of Jesus. Hallelujah!
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