What is Soli Deo Gloria?

Soli Deo Gloria–what does that term mean?

It’s Latin, so no worries if you can’t quite grasp it.

But it turns up often enough among Christians, that it might be worth taking a look at it.

Soli Deo Gloria–the definition

“Glory to God alone.”

Simple. To the point. Definitive.

For people who worship God, it means that any praise belongs to Him, not to us.

It’s a humble, yet usually honest, response to work–whether artistic, musical, literary, or anyone’s task.

Since it’s Latin, the term obviously came into usage long ago.

Bach and music

Johann Sebastian Bach left us the best-known examples.

As a church organist and musician, Bach believed his musical talent came from God alone.

As a result, he signed all 1000+ compositions “soli deo gloria,” and finally just initialed them “SDG!”

RC Sproul believed the concept came out of the Protestant tradition, so Bach wrote

SDG at the bottom of each manuscript to communicate the idea that it is God and God alone who is to receive the glory for the wonders of His work of creation and of redemption. [This happened] at the heart of the sixteenth-century controversy over salvation was the issue of grace.

To God Alone Be the Glory

Bach, of course, worked for a Lutheran Church.

It bears mentioning Georg Frideric Handel often noted “Soli Deo Gloria,” on his manuscripts as well.

Isn’t The Messiah just an oratorio call to give God glory?

SoliDeoGloria8555 sponsors a YouTube Channel that plays Bach’s works.

Why should God get all the glory?

Other than the fact He’s the Creator of the Universe?

The Bible records verse upon verse calling believers to give God glory.

Here’s just a few:

• “Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever, Amen.” Philippians 4:20
• “To him [Jesus] who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood; and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6
• ” Blessed be his glorious name forever;     may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!” Psalm 72:19
• ” I am the Lord; that is my name;     my glory I give to no other,    nor my praise to carved idols.” Isaiah 42:8

In three of the four verses, God receiving glory is followed by “Amen.” There’s no need to say anything else!

In writing

I may be partial to this concept because I’ve ended two biographies with the words “Soli Deo Gloria.”

In both cases, I wrote biographies of women devoted to God.

I got a lot of help writing the book–whether from people who knew the women, archivists, other authors, or friends.

I felt, very much, that the writing of the books was a personal gift from God–to me and from me to Him.

How could I not recommend the glory to Him?

Tweetables

What does soli deo gloria mean? Click to Tweet

Bach, Handel, choirs, and me celebrate soli deo gloria! Click to Tweet