We are required to learn new words all the time. One such word is the term “doxing,” which also can be spelled “doxxing.” Doxing evolved from “docs drop,” in which online hackers would attack one another by sending out injurious information about each other. The term has yet evolved to mean exposing too much information about others in order to harm them. This could include posting an adversary’s personal information, such as their street address, negative photos, etc, online.
Students of religion, as well as those who have attended a traditional church service, will be familiar with the short concluding hymn, The Doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”
The term “doxology” comes from two Greek terms: doxa, which means “glory,” and logos, which means “word” or “study of,” when spelled “logy.” (For example, biology is the study of living things.) Therefore, doxology is a statement of God’s glory and contemplation of His praise. Doxa is based on the Greek word dokeo—to think.
Doxa is a powerful biblical word, used 145 times in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul uses it four times in Ephesians 1 when he writes of the “glory of His grace” (v. 6), “the praise of His glory” (vv. 12, 14), and the “Father of glory” (v. 17).
In Islam, the religion in which I was raised, God is thought to be unapproachable, transcendent, and beyond human comprehension. In Islam, humans are not created in the image of Allah. For these reasons, Allah is, in many respects, unknowable. Humans must serve him through the guidance he has given through prophets and holy books. Yet, he has not given out too much information about himself.
In Jesus Christ, we observe the full manifestation of God. God has exposed himself fully in Christ, in a holy and glorious way. Hebrews 1 declares:
“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:1-3).
The Son is the radiance of the glory of God’s glory, His doxa.
Yes, God has doxed Himself in Christ! Yet, it is a glorious doxing. He has revealed a lot about himself. He has made himself vulnerable. Moreover, He has given us love. That love was best seen by Jesus’ passion on the cross. He did not injure himself, but allowed himself to be injured for our sakes. His glorious doxing came to fulfillment when Jesus rose triumphantly over death!
Though God has doxed himself in Christ, it was not a malicious act. He has doxed himself for our salvation. Glory to God! Doxa to Christ. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!