Hebrews 1:1-14
Hebrews 1:1-4:
1:1God in many-parts and many-manners of-old
having uttered-forth to the fathers in the prophets, .2on
(the) last of these days
uttered-forth to us in (His)
son, whom He put inheritor of all-things, by means of whom He made
the ages, .3who – being
(the) lightness of the
glory and character of the substance of Him, and carrying all-things
by the spoken-matter of the ability, having made-for-himself a
cleaning of the sins by means of himself – sat-down in
(the) right-side of the
Greatness in high (places)
.4having become so-much stronger-than angels by
as-much-as he inherited2 a name more-different beside
them.
God (the only true God)…
- in
many parts (a lot of portions) and many manners (a lot of methods,
modes) for a period of time that has now become old
-
having uttered-forth (spoken)
-
to
the fathers (forefathers, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob)
-
in
the prophets (within the sphere of action of the prophecies spoken by
the prophets, the people who spoke God's words being revealed to them
concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, in front of a
person or people; many of these prophecies were written down and
recorded in the old covenant writings),
- on
the last of these days (during the more remote, uttermost, final or
extreme span of time of these days)
-
uttered-forth (God spoke)
-
to
us
-
in the son (within the sphere of action of His own son).
It is God’s son…
- whom
God put inheritor of all-things (He placed, set him into the position of
being the heir of all, the one who has the inheritance, the assigned
lot, the allotted portion which is all things in God’s kingdom),
- by
means of whom He made the ages (through His son God produced the
life-times, the durations of life; these ages relevant to mankind began
in Genesis 3:15-24; refer to also Titus 1:2),
- who
–
-
being (is
presently and actively being) the
-
lightness of the glory (shining light, effulgence, brightness, radiance
of the importance, splendor, renown) and
-
character of the substance (active characteristic, having the
distinctive quality being the mark, the impress of that-which is
standing-under, underlying, what is arranged underneath everything else,
the substructure, the subject, the essence in contrast to what may
manifestly appear)
-
of
Him (of God, his Father),
-
and
included in this is that God’s son is
-
carrying all-things (bringing, bearing, moving all things forward)
-
by
the spoken-matter of the ability (by/with the portion of the whole of
God's Word that contains the specific discourse which has the quality
and consistency of the able-power, the capability),
-
having made for himself a cleaning of the sins (a cleansing of/from the
sins, free from all mixture, a catharsis from sins, not mixed with the
aberrations from God’s Word, from what God says) – how? –
-
by
means of (through) himself
- –
sat-down in the right-side of the Greatness in high places (God’s son
sat down within the right-hand side of the Majesty, the One Who is in
the condition or state of being great, large in magnitude, quality,
rank, importance, depth, measure, etc, the One in Whom greatness is
evidenced and exemplified, Who is within the realm of elevated places,
exalted areas)
-
having become so-much stronger-than angels (God’s son has come to have
comparatively such an amount more force with exerted-power than angels)
-
by
as much as he inherited and continues inherited a name more-different
beside them (he has already become heir and he remains the heir of the
allotted portion, see verse 1 above, which is that he now has a name
that carries comparatively a more various way, it varies more-from and
thus excels more-than the angels when compared side by side).
An angel is a spirit-being whose office and character is one of a
messenger in official service via words and/or actions. The word "angel"
comes from the Greek word
aggello which means to
tell or deliver a message and therefore an angel could be called a
"messenger." Those angels who have continued to take their instructions
from the only true God are also now under the command of the Lord Jesus
Christ. But those angels who have refused to take their instructions
from God and have instead decided to follow the devil are known as
devils (devil-spirits, demons, evil, unclean or unholy spirits). The
devil (satan, the snake/serpent, etc) was once one of God's angels, but
he rebelled against God wanting to take God's place and he continues
attempting to do so. We should also note that the Bible shows us that no
human-being was or is or will be a spirit-being angel!
God’s son sat down in His right-side. The phrases "in/at/by/with/to the
right-side" and “out-from the right-sides” are sometimes used literally,
as being at the right-hand side or the right hand of someone or
something. They can also be used metaphorically referring to a place or
position of authority, power, honor, blessing, grace, approval, and
excellence; being an extension of the power, etc, of the one whose side
he/she is at. Additionally, they may refer to the agency whereby someone
is placed into such a position, or is given one or all of these. Christ
is presently seated within the sphere of action of, and continuing at,
God's right-hand side because this is where God placed him when He
raised him up from among the dead-people.
A
name
is a word or phrase given to a person, etc, to be called and known-by,
in order to designate and describe the distinguishing and distinctive
constitution, character, quality, workings, etc. Regarding the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, it includes all that the name of "Lord" and the name
of "Jesus" and the name of "Christ" represent and stand for – such as
all the authoritative-power, and ability, etc, that God gave to Jesus
when he raised him up out-from the dead-people, and gave him the name
that is above every other name, designating the resurrected Jesus being
Lord and Christ (refer to Acts 2:21 and 38, 3:6 and 16, 4:7-12 and 30;
Romans 1:3 and 4; Ephesians 1:19-23; Philippians 2:9 and 10; II
Thessalonians 3:6).
Here in Hebrews, emphasis is given to the truth that when God resurrected
Jesus He also included the name – SON – God’s son who inherits
everything that the firstborn son should inherit from his Father, the
only true God. The word ‘son’ emphasizes origin, quality, and essence.
It is interesting to notice that the usage of the Greek word translated
“stronger” in verse 4 is also used in Hebrews 6:9, 7:7, 19, 22, 8:6,
9:23, 10:34, 11:16, 35, 40, and 12:24.
[Reference: Psalm 110:1; Matthew 5:35; Acts 2:17 and 34, 13:33 and 40,
17:29, 24:14; Romans 1:4, 4:13 and 14, chapter 8 specifically verses 17
and 34, 10:13, 12:6; I Corinthians 1:2 and 9, 5:4, 15:28; II Corinthians
1:19, 4:3-6, 9:4, 11:17; Galatians 1:16, 2:20, 3:17-29, 4:7; Ephesians
1:19-23, 3:11, 4:13; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:13-20, 3:1; I
Thessalonians 1:10; Titus 2:13 and 14, 3:7; Hebrews 6:17, 8:1, 9:26,
10:12, 11:7, 12:2; I Peter 3:22; Jude 1:25.]
Verses 5-14:
.5For to which of the angels did He say
at-some-time, “You are My son, I have begotten2
you today” and again “I will be to him for a Father,
and he will be to Me for a son”? .6But again
whenever He may lead the firstborn into the inhabited-area He says,
“And all angels of God must worship him.” .7And towards
indeed the angels He says, “The
(One) making His angels –
spirits, even His official-servants – flame of fire.” .8But
towards the son, “Your throne (which is) God
(is) into the age of the age and the rod of the straightness
(is the) rod of His
kingdom. .9You loved1 righteousness and
hated lawlessness, because-of-this God, your God anointed
you ‘olive-oil of exultation’ beside the sharers of you”
and .10“You according to beginnings, Lord, founded
the earth and the heavens are works of Your hands; .11they
will destroy-themselves but You throughly-remain, and all as
an outer-garment will be caused-to-be-old .12and
as-though clothing You will roll them up, as an outer-garment
also they will be changed but You are the same and Your
years will not fail.”
.13But towards which of the angels did He say2
at-some-time, “You must sit-down out-from My right-sides
until ever I may put your enemies
(the) footstool of your
feet”? .14All are official-serving spirits being apostled
into (the) ministry
because-of the (people)
being about to inherit salvation, aren’t they? -
(yes.)
In truth, to which one of the angels did God say at any time…
- “You
(singular ‘you’ with emphasis) are My son, I have begotten and continue
begotten you today (‘I’ with emphasis; I have brought you forth, I gave
birth to you today and you remain My son)….”
This truth is written in the Book of Psalms:
Psalm 2:7:
I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto
me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psalm 2:7 is a prophecy of God speaking to Jesus on the day of his
resurrection, which is the context in that section of the Book of Psalms
(also in Acts 13:33). God has begotten the resurrected Jesus and this
truth will not change – he is God's son. Jesus Christ is the first
human-being who completely-died and whom God has completely-resurrected
never to die again! The Lord Jesus Christ is the first of mankind
brought-forth (given-birth-to) in his new spiritual body out-from the
rest of the dead-people. God brought him forth, not a woman or a man.
Refer also to Romans 1:4 and First Corinthians 15:45.
…And again (in addition further)…
- “I
will be to him for a Father (‘I’ with emphasis; I will be to him into or
resulting in being his Father),
- and
he will be to Me for a son (‘he’ with emphasis; he will be to Me into or
resulting in being My son)”?
For to which of the angels did He say at any time, “You are My
son, I have begotten and continue begotten you today” and
again “I will be to him for a Father, and he will be to Me
for a son”?
There is no answer written down to this two-part question because the
answer should be known and obvious to all who read and/or heard what the
prophets including Jesus spoke – God did not at any time say these words
to or regarding any one of the angels. Refer to II Samuel 7:14 and I
Chronicles 17:13.
But again whenever God may lead the firstborn…. The word translated
"firstborn" means that God’s son, the resurrected Christ, is the first one
born, given-birth-to, indicating that at least one more is/will-be born
after this first one. This word emphasizes birth, being brought-forth.
See Roman 8:29; Colossians 1:15 and 18.
Whenever God may lead the firstborn into the inhabited-area (at whatever
time that God would convey, direct, conduct the first one born into the
dwelled-in part of the world, here referring to the still-future time
when Christ will come again on earth, see Hebrews 2:5) He says…
- “And
all angels of God must worship him (every one of God’s angels must pay
homage to him, be obeisant towards him).” See Deuteronomy 32:43 and
Psalm 97:7 in the Greek translation called the Septuagint.
And towards (with a purposed reference to) indeed the angels God says…
- “The
One making (producing)
-
His
angels - spirits (the angels belonging to Him – into being
spirit-beings; this is what God makes them, and once an angel is made
God will not change his consistency, his make-up; an angel remains a
spirit being, angels will not be changed by God into some other kind of
being, once an angel is made it is a completed action)
-
even
His official-servants - flame of fire (emphatically those angels
belonging to God have/hold the office of service, they carry-out their
work and official-duty pertaining to public service attending to their
superior, the only true God – into being flame of fire, bright and
burning fire, blazing, flaming fire, indicating God's purification and
righteous judgment in action, being implemented and carried-out; refer
to Psalm 104:4).”
But towards (with a purposed reference to) the son…
- “Your throne which is God (a ‘throne’ is the high seat designated for a
king and so includes all the regal authority associated with that
position; the throne of you, your throne which is God,
Elohim, the God of you, your God)
-
is
into the age of the age (continuing into the duration of lifetime for or
throughout the age, referring to the specific age that will not end
because God has placed His son on His throne and God will not change His
son’s position; the son will remain there),
- and
the rod of the straightness (a ‘rod’ is the staff for training and the
scepter of authority and office; the rod of directness, being
right-on-course, a level purpose, the correct direction)
-
is the rod of His kingdom (God’s kingdom, all that is contained within
God's sovereignty, His kingly or royal dominion and government and rule
and territory and power, etc).
- You
loved1 righteousness (the word "loved1" comes from
the Greek word agape which is God's kind of love - you loved
justness, justice, the attributes of justification, the quality of being
and doing what is just/right from God's point of view, with God’s kind
of love) and hated lawlessness (you had active ill-will towards lack of
God's law, the state of being without, in violation of, non-observance
of, transgression of the law of God which is God's Word, what God says),
-
because-of-this (on this account) God, emphatically and specifically the
God of you, your God, anointed you ‘olive-oil of exultation’ (your God
anointed you to be the olive oil of elation, as though dancing and much
leaping and springing about) beside the sharers of you (aside from them,
when compared against your partners, those who are partakers in
association with one-another of the object which is you).” See Psalm
45:6 sand 7.
It is interesting to note that the word "anoint" comes from the same
Greek word translated "Christ" which means "the Anointed-one." The Greek
verb chrio translated "to anoint" literally means to touch the
surface of a body slightly, to graze or rub something over with
something else. God anointed His son for a specific purpose. In the
lands and during the time-period of the writing of the Bible, holy oil
was poured on the high priest of God to begin his ministry for God and
it was also used to anoint kings. Many people and things were anointed
with holy oil to signify their making holy, sanctified for a specific
purpose, etc, which can be read about in many scriptures in the Bible.
References: Exodus 29:7; Numbers 6:5, and 7:1; I Samuel 9:16; Isaiah
61:1-3; Luke 4:18 and 19; Acts 4:27, and 10:38; II Corinthians 1:21.
God’s son is the Anointed-one of God, the Christ, the
Messiah, who poured-out the gift of holy spirit
on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2. This spirit is the
spirit of Christ himself within which a person is baptized when he/she
believes what God says as recorded in Romans 10:8-13, Colossians 1:27,
etc.
In Hebrews 1:8, some Greek texts read “your kingdom” which would refer to
the truth that God has placed His son on the same throne in His
right-hand side ruling the same kingdom. We should also note that the
word “God” in Hebrews 1:8 is not in the vocative mood. Psalm 45 is
regarding a king and a royal wedding.
The emphasis here in Hebrews is that the Lord Jesus Christ is the SON of
God. God is his Father.
And…
- “You, according to beginnings, Lord, founded the earth (emphatically
You, throughout the original ruling parts of the process, Master,
referring to God, put, placed, set the earth being fundamental, laid the
earth as laying the foundations of a building) and the heavens are works
of Your hands (all that is contained within the heavens are the things
that are wrought, the deeds, the effects-produced with/by You having
acted expending Your energy; “hands” is used figuratively here
emphasizing the Lord God’s authority and power, His handiwork);
-
they
will destroy themselves (emphatically they will at a future time cause
themselves to be destroyed, to be utterly ruined, completely lost away
from God)
- but
You throughly-remain (emphatically You God continue to remain
thoroughly, stay through and through, you permanently and fully continue
unchanged),
-
and
all as an outer-garment will be caused to be old (worn out after a long
time of wearing)
- and
as-though clothing You will roll them up (You God will roll, fold, turn
them back up into themselves as if they were a vesture as a veil or
covering thrown/cast around someone but when taken off the person folds
them up),
-
as
an outer-garment also they will be changed (in addition, they will be
altered one thing for another)
- but
You are the same (emphatically You God are Yourself, the same One, You
do-not and will-not change) and Your years will not fail (will not leave
from You, as not having anymore time left).” See Psalm 102:25-27.
But towards (with a purposed reference to) which one of the angels did
God say at any time, and continuing to be applicable, effective and in
force…
- “You
must sit-down out-from My right-sides until ever I may put your enemies
the footstool of your feet (you must sit down at My right-hand side
continuing up-to whenever I God would place/set those who oppose and
exhibit enmity and hostility against you into the position of being the
footstool underneath your feet, in complete submission, subjection to
you)”?
The term “out-from” the right-sides is used because any person at the
immediate right-hand side is viewed as an extension of the parts/limbs
of the one whose side he/she is at. See also verses 3 and 4 above and
Psalm 110:1.
Towards which of the angels did God say and continues said sometime, “You
must sit-down out-from My right-sides until ever I may put your enemies
the footstool of your feet”? There is no answer written to this question
– it should be well known that God only spoke this to His son, the Lord
Jesus Christ. God put the resurrected Christ sitting-down at His
right-hand side carrying out all that God asks and needs him to
accomplish for Him.
Today, the Lord Jesus Christ does not replace God, but God has given him
all the authority, etc, he needs to carry out God’s intention/will – he
is the king in effect at this moment for a specific duration of time as
prophesied by David and Paul.
The above references to old covenant scriptures are not all exact
word-by-word quotations, but they do contain the complete essence of
what God spoke and which were written down for people to read and know.
The next question is constructed in Greek in such a manner that the
unwritten answer must be: “Yes.”
All are official-serving spirits (all the angels are spirit-beings
performing the office, work, official-duty pertaining to public service
attending to their superior; refer to verse 7 above)…
- being apostled into the ministry (presently being sent-forth on specific
mission(s) or assignment(s) directed-to, with a view to the day-to-day
ministerial duties or functions of serving others to benefit them, not
'being subject' to them but doing work to bring them profit from God’s
viewpoint)
-
because of the people being about to inherit salvation (on account of
those presently being on the point of inheriting, becoming heirs of the
assigned lot, the allotted portion which is salvation, the standing and
state of being saved, safety, made-safe to/with God and His son, the
Lord Jesus Christ who has already inherited his inheritance),
-
aren’t
they?
Yes, all the angels are official-serving spirits being apostled into the
ministry because-of the people being about to inherit salvation. God’s
angels continue to perform their assignments of benefiting the heirs of
salvation. Today’s heirs of salvation are holy-people (Christians, those
who have received the gift of holy spirit).
[Reference: Exodus 3:2, 20:11; Job 38:4; II Samuel 7:14; I Chronicles
17:13; Psalm 2:7, 9:8, 45:6-8; 97:7 Septuagint, 102:25-27, 103:21,
104:4, 110:1; Isaiah 34:4, 51:6, 61:1-3, 66:15; Matthew 4:11, 7:23,
13:41, 18:10, 19:28, 22:41-46, 23:28, 24:12 and 24, 25:31, 28:18-20;
Luke 1:32 and 33; Acts 2:30, 32-36, and 46, 4:12 and 27; 7:30, 13:2 and
33, 16:34, 17:31, 20:24; Romans 1:1-4 and 16, 4:7, 6:19, 8:29 and 34,
10:1, 10 and 18, 13:6 and 11, 15:16 and 27; I Corinthians 6:3, 12:5,
15:25-28; II Corinthians 1:21, 4:1, 5:18, 6:14, 9:12; Ephesians 4:12;
Philippians 2:17, 25 and 30; Colossians 1:13-27, 2:18 and 19, 3:1, 4:17;
I Thessalonians 1:10, 5:8 and 9; II Thessalonians 1:7 and 8, 2:3 and 7;
I Timothy 1:12; II Timothy 2:10, 4:1, 5, 11 and 18; Titus 2:14; Hebrews
2:5, 3:1 and 14, 6:4, 8:1, 9:28, 12:2; I Peter 3:22; II Peter 3:10-13;
Revelation 1:5 and 14, 2:18, 3:21, 19:12, 22:1 and 3, all of chapters
19-22 would be helpful to read. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2)
immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are
provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
You may
also like to view the chart giving relative times of events.
Chart
The
context of verses 1-14 continues in ‘chapter 2’…
