Hebrews – 1

1:1  πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐντοῖς προφήταις

It’s Greek to me…

multifariam et multis modis olim Deus loquens patribus in prophetis

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hebrews 1:1 KJV

In our עִבְרִי Hebrews Intro I suggested that we will explore some translation back to the Greek and Hebrew. Follow links to secure sources.

Translations of Hebrews 1 above, from the original Greek, to the Latin Vulgate,  to Hebrew do not seem to exist. Greek was the common language of Jews and Romans of the first century empire. Even early English translations include unfamiliar words and terms, like “sundry times.” indicating a portion of time.

So what is the connection of the book of Hebrews to Hebrew descendants, Jews who became the Messianic followers of The Way?

The opening of the book makes the connection. Its purpose is to explain the connection of the Messiah Iēsous to GOD, θεός theos in the Greek,in Hebrew, אֱלֹהִים ‘elohiym.

Hebrews 1:

The Nature of the Son

Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man, a specific messianic reference to the Messiah, only Son of God, born as a man.

Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.

Hebrews 1:1-2a CSB

An immediate mention of God speaking through recognized prophets of the Jews. These include Abraham, Israel, Moses, David, Isaiah and many others. The voice of ‘his Son’ speaks with a first-person authority of the LORD speaking directly.

God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.

The Son of Man, Jesus, is heir of all creation, much as a human son receives the inheritance of his father’s work. Yet the author of Hebrews points out even more of the Image of the Son to the Father.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Hebrews 1:3 CSB

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Jesus is of the same glory and exactly like God the Father and assumed the Throne of Majesty after making the Perfect Sacrifice for our sins on the Cross. The action of God Himself on the Cross purged our sins!

So he [Jesus] became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Angels and messengers of God

The writer of Hebrews states that the man Jesus is much more than a prophet, then proceeds by comparing Jesus to the glory of God the Father. After briefly considering the Son of Man, now the writer of Hebrews proceeds to compare Jesus to unseen messengers .

Angels are spirit messengers of God. Jesus emphasized the importance of the unseen spirit of man – soul, if you will – in its role of communication with God.

Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:5-6 CSB

The water of baptism or purification is not enough. Repentance is not enough. Good works of the flesh are not enough. No one is justified by God without receiving the Spirit of God, messenger to your soul. The writer of Hebrews quotes scripture about angels, holding up Jesus as the Highest Messenger.

The Son [Jesus] Superior to Angels

5 For to which of the angels did he ever say,

• Psalm 2:7 אֲסַפְּרָה אֶֽל חֹק יְֽהוָה אָמַר אֵלַי בְּנִי אַתָּה אֲנִי הַיֹּום יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃
• or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son?”
• Hebrews 1:6 Again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
• Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX (Septuagint) εὐφράνθητε, οὐρανοί, ἅμα αὐτῷ, καὶ προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι Θεοῦ· εὐφράνθητε, ἔθνη μετὰ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνισχυσάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες υἱοὶ Θεοῦ· ὅτι τὸ αἷμα τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκδικᾶται, καὶ ἐκδικήσει καὶ ἀνταποδώσει δίκην τοῖς ἐχθροῖς καὶ τοῖς μισοῦσιν ἀνταποδώσει, καὶ ἐκκαθαριεῖ Κύριος τὴν γῆν τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ.
• Psalm 97:7 LXX (Septuagint) σαλευθήτω ἡ θάλασσα καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς, ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ.
• All the gods must worship him. [97:7 LXX, Syr read All his angels]
• Hebrews 1:7 7 And about the angels he says:
• Psalm 104:4 עֹשֶׂה מַלְאָכָיו רוּחֹות מְשָׁרְתָיו אֵשׁ לֹהֵֽט׃
• NKJV Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.

“Rejoice with him, you heavens,
and let all of God’s angels worship him.

Deu.32:43a NLT As in Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version; Masoretic Text lacks the first two lines.

The writer of Hebrews makes clear that Jesus is superior to the angels, using scripture from the Old Testament to do so.

but about the Son

Hebrews 1:8-12 is glorification of the Son of God. Like his opening, the author quotes scriptures known to the Jews.

Quotes from Psalms often glorify God and glorify the king. The inference here is that Jesus, the Messiah, is a King forever.

Psalm 45

יָפְיָפִיתָ מִבְּנֵי אָדָם הוּצַק חֵן בְּשְׂפְתֹותֶיךָ עַל־כֵּן בֵּֽרַכְךָ אֱלֹהִים לְעֹולָֽם׃

Psalm 45:2

2 You are fairer than the sons of men;
 Grace is poured upon Your lips;
 Therefore God has blessed You forever.
 3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One,
 With Your glory and Your majesty.

6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

This reference by the writer of Hebrews to the Son being higher than the angels comes directly from this song of love in Psalm 45. The Messiah is an answer to prayer – centuries of prayers by faithful Jews. Hebrews continues by quoting another Psalm.

Psalm 102 – The Lord’s Eternal Love

Hear my prayer, O Lord,
And let my cry come to You.

12 But You, O Lord, shall endure forever,
And the remembrance of Your name to all generations.

18 This will be written for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.

25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 They will perish, but You will endure;
Yes, they will all grow old like a garment;
Like a cloak You will change them,
And they will be changed.
27 But You are the same,
And Your years will have no end.

You are the same

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

The revelation of Jesus Christ to John 22:13

Hebrews 1 closes reaffirming that the Son IS the creative Word of the Lord.

13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said:

Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool?

Once again, quoting a Psalm announcement of the Messiah’s reign.

14 [NIV} Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Yes. Angels are ministering spirits of the LORD.

Yet the Son of Man, God Incarnate: was, and IS, and will be higher than the angels; the righteous King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

To be continued...