Hebrews 1
1
God’s final word: his Son
1In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
The Son superior to angels
5For to which of the angels did God ever say,
‘You are my Son;
today I have become your Father’#1:5 Psalm 2:7?
Or again,
‘I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son’#1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13?
6And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’#1:6 Deut. 32:43 (see Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint)
7In speaking of the angels he says,
‘He makes his angels spirits,
and his servants flames of fire.’#1:7 Psalm 104:4
8But about the Son he says,
‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom.
9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.’#1:9 Psalm 45:6,7
10He also says,
‘In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.’#1:12 Psalm 102:25-27
13To which of the angels did God ever say,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet’#1:13 Psalm 110:1?
14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
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Hebrews 1
1
1In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; 2in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe,#Is 2:2; Jer 23:20; Ez 38:16; Dn 10:14 / Jn 3:17; Rom 8:3; Gal 4:4 / Prv 8:30; Wis 7:22; Jn 1:3; 1 Cor 8:6; Col 1:16.
3who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,#Wis 7:26; 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15 / Heb 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; Mk 16:19; Acts 2:33; 7:55–56; Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; 1 Pt 3:22.
4as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.#Eph 1:21; Phil 2:9–11.
II. THE SON HIGHER THAN THE ANGELS
Messianic Enthronement.#Jesus’ superiority to the angels is now demonstrated by a series of seven Old Testament texts. Some scholars see in the stages of Jesus’ exaltation an order corresponding to that of enthronement ceremonies in the ancient Near East, especially in Egypt, namely, elevation to divine status (Heb 1:5–6); presentation to the angels and proclamation of everlasting lordship (Heb 1:7–12); enthronement and conferral of royal power (Heb 1:13). The citations from the Psalms in Heb 1:5, 13 were traditionally used of Jesus’ messianic sonship (cf. Acts 13:33) through his resurrection and exaltation (cf. Acts 2:33–35); those in Heb 1:8, 10–12 are concerned with his divine kingship and his creative function. The central quotation in Heb 1:7 serves to contrast the angels with the Son. The author quotes it according to the Septuagint translation, which is quite different in meaning from that of the Hebrew (“You make the winds your messengers, and flaming fire your ministers”). The angels are only sent to serve…those who are to inherit salvation (Heb 1:14). 5For to which of the angels did God ever say:
“You are my son; this day I have begotten you”?#Ps 2:7 / 2 Sm 7:14.
Or again:
“I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me”?
6And again, when he leads#And again, when he leads: the Greek could also be translated “And when he again leads” in reference to the parousia. the first-born into the world, he says:
“Let all the angels of God worship him.”#Dt 32:43 LXX; Ps 97:7.
7Of the angels he says:
“He makes his angels winds
and his ministers a fiery flame”;#Ps 104:4 LXX.
8but of the Son:
“Your throne, O God,#O God: the application of the name “God” to the Son derives from the preexistence mentioned in Heb 1:2–3; the psalmist had already used it of the Hebrew king in the court style of the original. See note on Ps 45:7. It is also important for the author’s christology that in Heb 1:10–12 an Old Testament passage addressed to God is redirected to Jesus. stands forever and ever;
and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.#Ps 45:7–8.
9You loved justice and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your companions”;
10and:
“At the beginning, O Lord, you established the earth,#Ps 102:26–28.
and the heavens are the works of your hands.
11They will perish, but you remain;
and they will all grow old like a garment.
12You will roll them up like a cloak,
and like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
13But to which of the angels has he ever said:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool”?#Ps 110:1.
14Are they not all ministering spirits sent to serve, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?#Ps 91:11; Dn 7:10.
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