The Epistle to the Hebrews

The drift and end of this Epistle, is to show that Jesus Christ the Son of God both God and man, is that true eternal and only Prophet, King, and high Priest, that was shadowed by the figures of the old Law, and is now indeed exhibited: of whom the whole Church ought to be taught, governed and sanctified.

2 To show that the doctrine which Christ brought, is most excellent, in that it is the knitting up of all prophecies, 4 he advanceth him above the Angels: 10 And proveth by divers testimonies of the Scripture, that he far passeth all others.

At [a]sundry times and in divers manners God spake in the old time to our fathers by the Prophets: in these [b]last days he hath spoken unto us by his [c]Son,

[d]Whom he hath made [e]heir of all things, by whom also he made the [f]worlds,

(A)Who being the [g]brightness of the glory, and the engraved form of his [h]person, and [i]bearing up all things by his mighty word: [j]hath by himself purged our sins: and [k]sitteth at the right hand of the Majesty in the highest places,

[l]And is made so much more excellent than the Angels, inasmuch as he hath obtained a more excellent [m]Name than they.

[n]For unto which of the Angels said he at any time, (B)Thou art my Son, [o]this day begat I thee? and again, I (C)will be his Father, and he shall be my Son:

And [p]again, when he bringeth in his first begotten Son into the world, he saith, (D)And let all the Angels of God worship him.

And of the Angels he saith, (E)He maketh the spirits his [q]messengers, and his ministers a flame [r]of fire.

But unto the Son he saith, (F)O God, thy [s]throne is forever [t]and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a [u]scepter of righteousness.

Thou hast loved righteousness and [v]hated iniquity. Wherefore God, even thy God, hath [w]anointed thee with the oil of gladness, above thy [x]fellows.

10 And, (G)Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast [y]established the earth, and the heavens are the works of thine hands.

11 They shall perish, but thou dost remain, 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 Unto which also of the Angels said he at any time, (H)Sit at my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all [z]ministering spirits, sent forth to minister, for their sakes which shall be heirs of salvation?

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:1 The first part of the general proposition of this Epistle: the Son of God is indeed that Prophet or teacher, which hath actually now performed that that God after a sort and in shadows signified by his Prophets, and hath fully opened his Father’s will to the world.
  2. Hebrews 1:1 So that the former declaration made by the Prophets was not full, and nothing must be added to this latter.
  3. Hebrews 1:1 Which one Son is God and man.
  4. Hebrews 1:2 The second part of the same proposition: The same Son is appointed by the Father to be our King and Lord, by whom also he made all things, and in whom only he setteth forth his glory, yea and himself also to be beholden of us, who beareth up and sustaineth all things by his will and pleasure.
  5. Hebrews 1:2 Possessor and equal compartner of all things with the Father.
  6. Hebrews 1:2 That is, whatsoever hath been at any time, is, or shall be.
  7. Hebrews 1:3 He in whom that glory and Majesty of the Father shineth, who is otherwise infinite, and cannot be beholden.
  8. Hebrews 1:3 His father’s person.
  9. Hebrews 1:3 Sustaineth, defendeth and cherisheth.
  10. Hebrews 1:3 The third part of the same proposition. The same Son executed the office of the high Priest in offering up himself, and is our only and most mighty Mediator in heaven.
  11. Hebrews 1:3 This showeth that the savor of that his sacrifice is not only most acceptable to the Father, but also is everlasting, and furthermore how far this high Priest passeth all the other high Priests.
  12. Hebrews 1:4 Before he cometh to declare the office of Christ, he setteth forth the excellency of his person, and first of all he showeth him so to be man, that therewithal he is God also.
  13. Hebrews 1:4 Dignity and honor.
  14. Hebrews 1:5 He proveth and confirmeth the dignity of Christ manifested in the flesh by these six evident testimonies, whereby it appeareth that he far passeth all Angels, insomuch that he is called both Son, and God, in verses 5, 6, 7, 10, 13.
  15. Hebrews 1:5 The Father begat the Son from everlasting, but that everlasting generation was made manifest and represented to the world in his time, and therefore he addeth this word (Today.)
  16. Hebrews 1:6 The Lord was not content to have spoken it once, but repeateth it in another place.
  17. Hebrews 1:7 Cherub, Ps 18:11.
  18. Hebrews 1:7 Seraph, Isa. 6:2.
  19. Hebrews 1:8 The throne is proper to the Prince, and not to the servant.
  20. Hebrews 1:8 For everlasting, for this doubling of the word increaseth the signification of it beyond all measure.
  21. Hebrews 1:8 The government of thy kingdom is righteous.
  22. Hebrews 1:9 This kind of rehearsing in which the Jews use contraries, hath great force in it.
  23. Hebrews 1:9 In that, that the word became flesh, by pouring the holy Ghost upon him without measure.
  24. Hebrews 1:9 For he is the head and we are his members.
  25. Hebrews 1:10 Madest the earth firm and sure.
  26. Hebrews 1:14 By that name by which we commonly call Princes’ messengers, he here calleth the spirits.

God’s Final Word: His Son

In the past God spoke(A) to our ancestors through the prophets(B) at many times and in various ways,(C) but in these last days(D) he has spoken to us by his Son,(E) whom he appointed heir(F) of all things, and through whom(G) also he made the universe.(H) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory(I) and the exact representation of his being,(J) sustaining all things(K) by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,(L) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.(M) So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.(N)

The Son Superior to Angels

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father”[a]?(O)

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son”[b]?(P)

And again, when God brings his firstborn(Q) into the world,(R) he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[c](S)

In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,
    and his servants flames of fire.”[d](T)

But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;(U)
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions(V)
    by anointing you with the oil(W) of joy.”[e](X)

10 He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.(Y)
11 They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.(Z)
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,(AA)
    and your years will never end.”[f](AB)

13 To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand(AC)
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool(AD) for your feet”[g]?(AE)

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits(AF) sent to serve those who will inherit(AG) salvation?(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7
  2. Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13
  3. Hebrews 1:6 Deut. 32:43 (see Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint)
  4. Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4
  5. Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6,7
  6. Hebrews 1:12 Psalm 102:25-27
  7. Hebrews 1:13 Psalm 110:1