Hebrew - Chapter 1

Vít Šmajstrla

Hebrew - Chapter 1

JIf what you are looking for is really God, then you will also find God. Francis Frangipane

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

  • Czech Study Translation note: The adverbs polymerós ("many times" / "in many parts") and polytropós ("in many ways") occur only here in the NS. This is a very impressive introduction in terms of rhetoric. The first four verses form a single sentence in the ordinary text
  • the author does not introduce himself and does not specify the addressees
  • Paul is thought to be the author, but this is supposedly not consistent with the "high" Greek that Paul did not usually use
  • (Is it possible that he usually wrote "in the people language" with his audience in mind? We speak differently in a college lecture, differently in an "ordinary" home Bible study group. The recipients were obviously theologically educated Jews, and the author is addressing high Jewish theology with them)
  • God has tried to reach the Jews many times and in many ways throughout history - there is no doubt about it.God is creative and reacts to current situations. He does not use the same or stereotypical methods. Different situations and different historical periods require different solutions
  • there is a varied mix of major and minor prophetic books in the Bible, and the prophets included David and Abraham
  • to call ancestors fathers is certainly common in Jewish culture

2 but in these last days to he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. . .

  • it's clear that we're in for a "heavy diet" in the letter. The author begins with a sentence packed with information
  • the prophets took turns, speaking one way or another - however, when the time was ripe, something quite extraordinary and qualitatively different happened - God has spoken to us by his Son. The word came into the world, the word became incarnate on the earth. We read more about this at the beginning of John's Gospel
  • now follows more information about the Son: God appointed the Son the heir of all things - The Father decided who would take over the goverment from Him. He delegated all authority regarding how to deal with the universe and people to the Son.
  • the Father left nothing in his power, to the Son he entrusted everything1. It shows the Father's great confidence in the Son - that he will do his task, that he will not "mess up", he will not fail.
  • On the contrary, we know that the Son, after he has brought everything to a successful conclusion, after the Father has subjected everything to him, the Son in turn surrenders everything to the Father: 1K 15 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. 
  • The course is thus as follows: The Son is sent on a rescue mission to earth ... after successfully completing it, he returns to the Father ... there he waits until the Father submits everything to his (the Son's) authority ... after all authority is given to the Son, the Son returns it to the Father ... God is all in all
  • through whom he also created the world: The son is from the beginning. The Son was at creation, actively participating in it. Perhaps creation took place not only through the Son, but also because of Him. In any case, the Son's participation in creation is essential
  • what exactly are the worldsis not clear. Is it about the creation of time? Perhaps it is rather the whole history of creation and salvation in which the Son plays a fundamental role.
  • something along the lines of: for the Son's sake and through the Son the world was created. The Son "saved it for himself" at some point and at the end of history the redeemed one He returns it to the Father

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature , and he upholds the universe (by the word of his power. ..)[After making] purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 

  • gr.: apaugasma meaning either "radiance" or in the sense of "glare". In the Book of Wisdom, this term is used to describe the wisdom of God,
  • or.: by expression; gr. character-i.e., that which is engraved/embossed;
  • Gr. hypostasis, which was later an important concept in theology, is associated with God only here in NT; cf. Heb 11:1 and 2Co 11:17 (meaning certainty)]
  • Gr.: by the word of his power (Hebraism);
  • so "piece by piece": Him (Jesus) is the radiance of the glory .. God radiates glory, and His greatest radiated glory is His Son Jesus. There is nothing more glorious that we can admire in God or about God. Creation is certainly glorious, but what is it compared to God's incarnate Son;
  • Jesus is also the exact imprint of his nature Jesus perfectly expresses the essence of God. As Jesus is, so is God. John 14:9 Jesus said to him: "How long have I been with you, Philip, and you have not known me? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak of myself; the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; if not, believe at least because of the works.

This was the thing that brought me to Christianity. After some time of searching, as an originally atheistic teenager, I came to the conclusion that there must be a God. I subsequently began to address what God actually is, or which God is the true God. When I read Jesus' answer to Philip's question in John's Gospel, it suddenly " made sense" to me: if I wanted to know what God was like, I had to look to Jesus. That got me, because I loved the stories about Jesus. I said to myself at the time: If God is really like Jesus, that's the kind of God I want to follow in my life. I was willing to "lay down" my life for that..

  • , and he upholds the universe (by the word of his power.): God did not create the universe and leave it to its fate. He didn't wind the clock and let it run. He didn't start the big bang into which He programmed everything future;
  • No: God's (or Jesus') word continually sustains the universe;
  • [After making] purification for sins, : Jesus cleanses believers from their sins. His death on the cross made this possible. Jesus had a mission, and this was one of the main purposes of His mission. He fulfilled it perfectly;
  • he "completed" this mission with his own hands;
  • he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,: after completing his mission, he ended it and was taken back to where he belongs or where he came from;
  • He is also located there now;
  • one of the incredibly " loaded" verses. It contains many basic truths;
  • One could almost say that this one verse is enough to understand the world and attain salvation.

The universe still hangs over the abyss of non-existence. If God were to withdraw His sustaining word, everything would collapse into non-existence. We all live every moment by God's grace.
Below are places where God's work is stated as an ongoing agency.
Heb. 1:3 He carries all things by His mighty word
Co 1:17 He is before all things, and all things consist in him (according to Pavlik's translation: He holds together)
Acts 17:25 he gives life, breath and everything to all. 
Ps 104:29 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their spirit, they perish and return to dust.
Isa. 42:5 Thus saith God, the Lord, which made the heavens, and stretcheth them out, and spreadeth out the earth, and the things that spring up therein; which giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein




4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
  • after his resurrection and ascension, his majesty became even more extraordinary than it had been before
  • By having gone through such an extraordinary mission and by having proved himself so extraordinarily in it, his credit among the angels was further enhanced. Jesus, of course, was always highly "esteemed" in heaven, was a person above all others, always sat at the head in briefings, and his voice had extraordinary validity. He was recognized by all as noble and wise.
  • However, after returning from a mission so extraordinary and challenging, the sight of Him became even more admirable. The difficulties he had gone through, the experiences he had gained, the scars he had brought from his time on earth, had made him even more distant from others.
  • Jesus has inherited more excellent name than theirs.:
    • surely from God, no one else in heaven has the authority to give names
    • may be the new name of Jesus mentioned in Rev 3:12: He that overcometh, him will I make a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, and he shall never go out again. I will write on it the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from heaven from my God, and my own new name.
    • this may be an analogy of the new secret name written on the white stone given in heaven to believers according to Rev 2:17: 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone , with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’.‘
    • perhaps it is some sort of nickname or "Indian name" that one must first earn (as opposed to an inherited or given name) by one's bravery - something like "He killed the bear with a club" (King David) or "He built a boat on a hill" (Noah)
    • this new name given by Jesus is excellent - It is therefore a name that is absolutely exceptional, important and extraordinary. I can think of many distinguished names for our Savior, and the Old and New Testaments are full of others. "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" is one of the more "common ones. But perhaps also "He who by His blood redeemed a people for Himself," etc.,etc.
    • inherited can mean forever, permanently, but it can also mean the power to pass on the name on the others at one's discretion.
    • perhaps it could be illustrated that, like Michal Velíšek, his death gave rise to the Michal Velíšek Prize2, Jesus bestows the prize of his name on those who deserve it by their faithfulness during their earthly life.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?

  • the author demonstrates the incomparable extraordinariness of Jesus' giving name. God probably gave nice names to His ministering angels, too - but He didn't call any of them His son at all.
  • Jesus was the Son of God from the beginning of all things, and His being among men could hardly "improve" on that fact;
  • perhaps we can again help ourselves with an illustration: An old general welcomes home his son returning from an extreme combat mission in enemy territory. He returns victorious, his mission successfully accomplished. But the price was high - his son is full of scars on body and soul. The general looks at his son with pride - he awards him the highest possible honour and says to himself: Yes, that's him, that's my son.;
  • The father never doubted his son, but their relationship is undoubtedly taken to a new level with the completion of the mission.;
  • other soldiers, however battered by the many battles, acknowledge that this mission was extraordinary, beyond their capabilities, and unmatched by any other;3
  • according to the Czech sstudy translation it is a reference from Psalm 2:7 I will recite the ordinance of the Lord. He said to me: Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. [In Jewish literature, this verse refers to the Messiah.] 
  • 'I will be his father and he will be my son' is a reference to 2S 7.14 and 1Pa 18.13
  • So God, upon Jesus' return, re-affirms his fatherhood to him (nothing has changed in our relationship. On the contrary, it has moved to an even higher level). and places him in the highest cosmic "post" in existence.

6 And (again, when he brings) the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.”

  • n.: when he states again;
  • When God "he brings the firstborn into the world"? Be at his incarnation. So God said: "Even though Jesus is now a "mere" man, it does not change the fact that he remains the supreme authority and you, my angels, are bound to continue to respect and obey him."
  • or at Jesus' return from his earthly mission, "Yes, I withdrew from my Son for a time, but it was in order that he might bear in his body on the cross the sin of the whole world. Now all is well again among us, he is given back all privileges and occupies again the highest position he had before. He is still your lord, angels of mine."

7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” (winds, and) his ministers a flame of fire.”

  • or: spirits
  • servants = gr.: leiturgos;  
  • The angels may be very capable, powerful and gifted in every way, but their abilities and positions are completely incomparable to Jesus.

8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, it is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness it is the scepter of your kingdom. 

  • or: eternity (gr. singular);
  • Directness = gr:  euthytés;
  • Here we see the extraordinary nature of what God has declared about Jesus:
    • He named his Son to be God. The Trinity of God is certainly a mysterious and complicated fact, and not unjustifiably, Jews and Muslims have a problem with it. On the other hand, it is a biblically unquestionable fact that Jesus is the "full" God. This one verse, if taken seriously, could instantly "erase" the teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses (and all other sects) who question Jesus' full Deity;
    • Jesus got the throne - which means the authority to rule;
    • this authority is forever and ever - forever means forever. It is not transitory or temporary. It will never end
    • Jesus got the scepter of uprightness - which is another evidence or attribute of the authority to rule
    • It is the scepter of directness - Jesus exercises his royal authority in a fair and open manner

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

  • or.: You love ... and hate;
  • gr.: lawlessness;
  • Again, it is clearly stated here that Jesus is God just as the Father is God ;
  • Jesus' qualities, his zeal for the cause, his commitment and willingness to make a personal commitment to the cause of justice, predestined him to occupy the highest position;
  • in heaven, Jesus and the angels were a "good bunch," an "elite team4" seeking to promote justice. Jesus was unlike any other member of the team in ability and commitment, willingness to take personal risks, and many other things. When it came to finding a leader at the appropriate time, there was no doubt who was the most qualified and suitable candidate for the job.

10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;

  • gr.:beginnings
  • Christ is spoken of - He was involved in the creative beginning of everything

11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed.[a] But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

  • var.: you will stay
  • The universe is temporary, God (and Christ) is eternal and ageless. The contrast could not be greater.
  • The universe is embedded in time, it evolves. Stars age, heat death or any other evolution of the universe5 are advancing. God is above time.
  • rolling them up like i robe, like a garment changing are interesting images that may indicate a certain cosmological or physical insight of the author.
  • That God is the creator of time, He is not in the time, but above it is important information. And that God's existence will never pass away either. God's plan is in no way temporary. We don't have to "worry" that in some (albeit long) time things will be different again.

13And to which of the angels has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"?

  • The author returns to the comparison between angels and Christ. Apparently someone had a problem with this - probably in the sense that they overestimated the role or qualities of angels. Perhaps he considered Christ merely a "better angel" or considered angels to be minor gods.
  • The question is of course rhetorical - the answer is: No angel has ever been told by God something similar. Angels are "superbeings," but Jesus is still and entirely different level
  • The refference is to Ps 110,1: .] The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." 
  • So what is God actually saying to His Son? He speaks to Him after the completion of His mission on earth and after His resurrection. He is telling Him that now that He has done all that He has done so well (providing for the salvation of mankind), it is time for Him to rest. The Father will take care of the rest. Christ's work on the cross was completely sufficient and perfect. Everything else will now be built upon it. The whole universe will be brought before Christ - either willingly (his followers) or by force (his enemies).
  • The work that Christ has done needs nothing more to be added.

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

  • Apparently they are. What are they? Angels are ministering spiritsWhat does it mean? These are spiritual beings whose task is to assist.
  • assistance to those who are to inherit salvation - it can't be anyone else but people, than believers, than Christians. In short, some people will be saved, in other words, they will inherit "after Christ" salvation, be forgiven of their sins, and be accepted by God. And these believers need support, help, assistance in their journey. And that is the task of the angels. God entrusts them with such supportive tasks on behalf of Christians.
  • The role of angels in salvation history is quite significant, and if we go through the whole of Scripture we find some interesting information about them, but in some areas we are left "high and dry" in terms of information.
  • It is quite possible that every believer, perhaps even every person, has a guardian angel. Sometimes angels are "deployed" ad hoc, e.g. as messengers. Their missions are not infrequently martial or warlike.
  • That angels, who are superior to us humans in every way (intelligent, not suffering from the limitations of the flesh, immortal), are deployed to support us is unexpected and shows the distinction God places on humans. Some of the human qualities that God values, angels seem to lack. Humans are made in God's image. Whether angels are, we don't know.but it's possible that they are not.
  • But certainly angels are not automatons - they have free will, as we know from the fact that some of them rebelled against God.

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  1. except perhaps the exact date of Son's return? Why is this actually excluded from the Son's authority? Is the Father afraid that the Son will somehow hastily warn or exhort people at the last minute? ↩︎
  2. has been awarded by the ADRA Foundation and TV Nova regularly since 2006 to non-professionals who have unexpectedly found themselves in a borderline situation and, regardless of the consequences for themselves, saved someone's health or life  ↩︎
  3. The illustration could be developed further: what made the Son's mission so unique? For example, the fact that he was dropped into enemy country
    - alone
    - in an ordinary human body
    - without security and military support ↩︎
  4. kind of like the team from Department One Cases (Czech TV series about the team of dectives) 🙂 ↩︎
  5. in this context, it really doesn't matter if the universe is open, closed or cyclic or what ↩︎

hi SEO, s.r.o.

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