Tried to post this earlier, but it was lost in the virtual void of the interthing.
In most of Plato's dialogues where it lodges, δόξα signifies opinion, nothing more. An opinion is groundless; an opinion is easily acquired; everybody has an opinion about everything; and everyone thinks they're entitled to these opinions. [They aren't, by the bye, but that's for another hour.]
Consider the changes rung on this simple sign by the time it becomes embedded in our Christian orthodoxy. Here, δόξα signifies not opinion, but praise, teaching, proclamation, confession. This is crucial because it's yoked to such a word that makes it the right praise, teaching, proclamation, confession. This opposes heterodoxy, which is 'other', 'split away', 'divided from', the right praise, teaching, proclamation, confession. [Many nowadays refuse to accept that there is, within the Christian Church, such a thing as heterodoxy. They are wrong.] Thus does a simple term of abusive art become honorable and multivalent when yoked aright.
I just like that.
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