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Hebrews 1

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The Son Superior to Angels 1–4

1
God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, ​
2
hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; ​
3
who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; ​
4
having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they. ​

The Son is Superior to Angels 5–14

5
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son? ​
6
And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. ​
7
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels winds, And his ministers a flame of fire: ​
8
but of the Sonhe saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. ​
9
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows. ​
10
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of thy hands: ​
11
They shall perish; but thou continuest: And they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12
And as a mantle shalt thou roll them up, As a garment, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, And thy years shall not fail. ​
13
But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet? ​
14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation? ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Hebrews 1

Verse 1

at sundry times and in divers manners — Two Greek adverbs: polymeros, in many portions, and polytropos, in many ways. God spoke 'by the prophets' in visions, dreams and plain speech (Num 12:6–8), a word given piece by piece.

Verse 2

these last days — These days are the age of the Son's coming (1 Pet 1:20, 'manifest in these last times'). He is 'heir of all things' and also the one 'by whom also he made the worlds'; the Greek for 'worlds' is aion, 'ages'. John 1:3 and Col 1:16 likewise say that all things were made through him.

Verse 3

the express image of his person — Charakter, an exact impression, like a die's stamp; 'person' is hypostasis, underlying being. 'Brightness' (apaugasma) is radiance from a source. Compare 'he that hath seen me hath seen the Father' (John 14:9), and 'purged our sins' before he 'sat down' (Heb 10:12).

Verse 4

a more excellent name — The 'name' is Son, as vv.5–6 show; he 'hath by inheritance obtained' it, as the Son and heir (v.2). 'Being made' speaks of his place as the exalted man (Phil 2:9, 'a name which is above every name'), the comparison with angels reappearing in Heb 2:9.

Verse 5

Thou art my Son — Two quotations: Ps 2:7, applied to Christ also in Acts 13:33 and Heb 5:5, and 2 Sam 7:14, 'I will be his father, and he shall be my son'. No angel is singled out so: 'unto which of the angels said he at any time'.

Verse 6

the firstbegotten — Prototokos, firstborn: a title of rank and inheritance, as in 'I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth' (Ps 89:27) and Col 1:15, 'the firstborn of every creature'. The angels are commanded to 'worship' (proskuneo) him, an act owed to God alone.

Verse 7

a flame of fire — This is quoted from Ps 104:4, 'Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire'. The verb 'maketh' (poieo) marks angels as made things, and 'ministers' (leitourgos) as servants in office, set against the Son's enduring throne in v.8.

Verse 8

Thy throne, O God — This is quoted from Ps 45:6. The Father addresses the Son as 'God' (theos), with a throne 'for ever and ever' (aion, age). The 'sceptre of righteousness' (euthytes, rectitude) is the rule of a king who does not deviate; angels hold no sceptre.

Verse 9

oil of gladness — Ps 45:7 continues the quotation. 'Hated iniquity' (anomia, lawlessness) pairs with 'loved righteousness' as the reason for the anointing (chrio, the root of 'Christ'). 'Fellows' is metochos, partners or sharers, whom he surpasses in anointing.

Verse 10

Thou, Lord, in the beginning — This is quoted from Ps 102:25, 'Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth'. The Psalm addresses the LORD; Hebrews applies it to the Son as kyrios, Lord. 'In the beginning' recalls Gen 1:1 and John 1:1–3, where all things were made by him.

Verse 12

thou art the same — This continues Ps 102:26–27. Creation is folded like a peribolaion, a mantle, and 'changed' (allasso), but he is unchanged, and 'thy years shall not fail'. The same truth is stated of Christ in Heb 13:8, 'the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever'.

Verse 13

Sit on my right hand — This is quoted from Ps 110:1, the verse Christ himself cites (Matt 22:44). 'Until I make thine enemies thy footstool' looks to full victory (1 Cor 15:25). Angels stand and serve; the Son is seated, as after his 'one sacrifice for sins' (Heb 10:12–13).

Verse 14

ministering spirits — Leitourgika pneumata, spirits of service, the Ps 104:4 'ministers' of v.7, now sent (apostello) on errands. They serve 'for them who shall be heirs of salvation' (kleronomeo, to inherit), the verb of 'by inheritance obtained' in v.4, kin to 'heir' in v.2.