Letters to the Churches

In many parts, and many ways, God of old having spoken to the fathers in the prophets,

in these last days did speak to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages;

who being the brightness of the glory, and the impress of His subsistence, bearing up also the all things by the saying of his might--through himself having made a cleansing of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the greatness in the highest,

having become so much better than the messengers, as he did inherit a more excellent name than they.

For to which of the messengers said He ever, `My Son thou art--I to-day have begotten thee?' and again, `I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to Me for a son?'

and when again He may bring in the first-born to the world, He saith, `And let them bow before him--all messengers of God;'

and unto the messengers, indeed, He saith, `Who is making His messengers spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire;'

and unto the Son: `Thy throne, O God, is to the age of the age; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy reign;

thou didst love righteousness, and didst hate lawlessness; because of this did He anoint thee--God, thy God--with oil of gladness above thy partners;'

and, `Thou, at the beginning, Lord, the earth didst found, and a work of thy hands are the heavens;

these shall perish, and Thou dost remain, and all, as a garment, shall become old,

and as a mantle Thou shall roll them together, and they shall be changed, and Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.'

And unto which of the messengers said He ever, `Sit at My right hand, till I may make thine enemies thy footstool?'

are they not all spirits of service--for ministration being sent forth because of those about to inherit salvation?

Because of this it behoveth us more abundantly to take heed to the things heard, lest we may glide aside,

for if the word being spoken through messengers did become stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience did receive a just recompense,

how shall we escape, having neglected so great salvation? which a beginning receiving--to be spoken through the Lord--by those having heard was confirmed to us,

God also bearing joint-witness both with signs and wonders, and manifold powers, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His will.

For not to messengers did He subject the coming world, concerning which we speak,

and one in a certain place did testify fully, saying, `What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or a son of man, that Thou dost look after him?

Thou didst make him some little less than messengers, with glory and honour Thou didst crown him, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands,

all things Thou didst put in subjection under his feet,' for in the subjecting to him the all things, nothing did He leave to him unsubjected, and now not yet do we see the all things subjected to him,

and him who was made some little less than messengers we see--Jesus--because of the suffering of the death, with glory and honour having been crowned, that by the grace of God for every one he might taste of death.

For it was becoming to Him, because of whom are the all things, and through whom are the all things, many sons to glory bringing, the author of their salvation through sufferings to make perfect,

for both he who is sanctifying and those sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,