Linguistically the response you cite translates the Latin Benedictus Deus in saecula. The benedictus in Latin, literally means to speak well or favorably about someone or something (bene = well + dictus = say or speak). Hence what we mean by “blessed” and the phrase “Blessed be God forever” is that “It is well that God should be forever praised.” We are not claiming to confer some sort of grace or favor upon God, as is often the meaning of the word “blessing” in English.
Theologically though we can distinguish between God’s intrinsic glory and his external glory. As you point out, there is not one thing we can add or take from God’s intrinsic glory. God is glorious and blessed all by Himself and has no need of our praise. However, we can help to spread God’s external glory by our praise and acknowledgment of him before others, as well as by reflecting his glory through lives of holiness, generosity and conformity to the truth. In this sense we can also understand the phrase "Blessed be God forever" to mean, "May God's external glory and blessedness be extended and experienced in all places and times. May God be blessed (praised) everywhere, and unto the age of ages." |
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