Hebrews 1

Hebrews 1

God spoke of old by the prophets, but now by his Son, who is incomparably greater than the angels.

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G od, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all, *

1.1 'God, who at sundry times and in divers manners'—revelation was partial and progressive in the Old Testament, through prophets, theophanies, and types.

1.2 The contrast: many times, many ways (OT) versus once and perfectly (Christ).

2 In these days, hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world. *

2.1 'In these last days hath spoken to us by his Son'—the definitive, final revelation is not a book or a doctrine but a Person.

2.2 'By whom also he made the world'—the Son is the agent of creation (cf. John 1:3, Col 1:16). He is not a creature but Creator.

3 Who being the brightness of his glory and the figure of his substance and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high: The figure ... that is, the express image, and most perfect resemblance. Making purgation.... That is, having purged away our sins by his passion. *

3.1 'The radiance of his glory' (apaugasma tēs doxēs)—Christ is the effulgence of the Father's glory, eternally emanating from Him like light from the sun.

3.2 'The exact imprint of his being' (charaktēr tēs hypostaseōs)—the Son perfectly expresses the Father's very substance. He is homoousios (same substance) with the Father.

3.3 'Upholding all things by the word of his power'—Christ sustains the universe in existence moment by moment. Creation depends on His continuous will.

3.4 'Purgation of sins... sat down on the right hand'—the priestly and kingly offices united. Having completed His sacrifice, He reigns forever.

4 Being made so much better than the angels as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels hath he said at any time: Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee? And again: I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
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6 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith: And let all the angels of God adore him. *

6.1 'Let all the angels of God adore him'—quoting Deuteronomy 32:43 (LXX). Angels worship the Son, proving He is not an angel but God. Worship belongs to God alone.

7 And to the angels indeed he saith: He that maketh his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of justice is the sceptre of thy kingdom. *

8.1 'Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever'—the Father addresses the Son as 'God' (ho theos). A direct scriptural assertion of Christ's divinity from Psalm 45:6-7.

9 Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
10 And: Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst found the earth: and the works of thy hands are the heavens. *

10.1 'Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst found the earth'—quoting Psalm 102:25-27, which speaks of Yahweh, and applying it to Christ. The Son is Yahweh.

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11 They shall perish: but thou shalt continue: and they shall all grow old as a garment.
12 And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. But thou art the selfsame: 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 thy enemies thy footstool?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?