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Hebrews 1

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The Son Superior to Angels 1–4

1
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, ​
2
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; ​
3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; ​
4
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained 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 again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten 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 spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. ​
8
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. ​
9
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. ​
10
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: ​
11
They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12
And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. ​
13
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? ​
14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · 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 and not all at once.

Verse 2

these last days — 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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — 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.