Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 1:14

λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα εἰς διακονίαν, “ministering spirits … for service.” Here as elsewhere the A.V. obliterates distinctions, which it so often arbitrarily creates out of mere love for variety in other places. The word λειτουργικὰ implies sacred (“liturgic”) service (Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:21); the word διακονίαν implies service to men.

“How oft do they their silver bowers leave
And come to succour us who succour want;
How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flitting skies like flying pursuivant,
Against foul fiends to aid us militant!
They for us fight, they watch and duly ward
And their bright squadrons round about us plant,
And all for love and nothing for reward.
Oh! why should heavenly God for men have such regard?”

SPENSER.

διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν. “For the sake of those who are about to inherit salvation.” The salvation is both the state of salvation here, and its full fruition hereafter. When we are “justified by God’s grace” we are “made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7). Spenser widens the mission of the Angels when he speaks of

“Highest God, who loves His creatures so
That blessed Angels He sends to and fro
To serve to wicked men—to serve His deadliest foe.”

For Scriptural instances of the service of Angels “to them that fear God” see Psalms 34:7; Psalms 91:11; Genesis 19:15; Daniel 6:22; Acts 12:7.

ἀποστελλόμενα, “being sent forth.” The ministry of Angels is regarded as still continuing.

σωτηρίαν. The writer recurs to this great word “salvation” in Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 2:10.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 1:14

Old Testament

New Testament