AT SUNDRY TIMES AND IN DIVERS MANNERS] RV 'by divers portions and in divers manners.' The first clause refers to the fragmentariness of the previous revelation at any one time; it was given bit by bit; the second to the various forms in which it was conveyed, such as commandment, prophecy, ceremonia... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FINAL REVELATION IN THE SON 1-4. Introduction. God of old revealed Himself to the fathers of the race, but the revelation was not complete or final. In our own day He has given a direct revelation in the person of His own Son, the Lord and Creator of the universe, the perfect expression of the... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THESE LAST DAYS] RV 'At the end of these days.' The phrase that in OT. commonly indicates the Messianic age, is here varied so as to imply that the gospel times were the transition to that age. BY _his_ SON] lit. 'in a Son'; i.e. in One who is by nature a Son: cp. Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 5:8; Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
BRIGHTNESS] RV 'effulgence.' A favourite word in the language of philosophical schools of. Alexandria: cp. Wis 7:25. It contains the double notion of derivation and manifestation. EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON] RV 'very image of His substance.' The word rendered 'image' is the Gk. word 'character,' me... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING MADE] RV 'having become,' i.e. by His exaltation. BETTER] a characteristic word of the whole Epistle, which is designed to show the superiority in all points of the new dispensation to the old. Cp. a 'better hope, ' Hebrews 7:19; 'better covenant,' 'better ministry,' 'better promises,' Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO WHICH OF THE ANGELS] Angels are sometimes in the OT. called 'sons of Elohim,' e.g. in Job 1:6, i.e. belonging to the class 'Elohim: cp. 'sons of the prophets,' i.e. members of the prophetical class. 'Elohim,' at first a plural, meaning spiritual beings, was used as a singular to signify the one... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST IS SUPERIOR TO THE ANGELS. They are not addressed by God as 'sons,' but are expressly commanded to worship the Son. The angels are servants doing the will of God in the lower sphere of the material world, and ministering to those who shall inherit salvation. And their power and dignity are no... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'When he again bringeth in'; or, rather, 'shall have brought in.' The position of the adverb again indicates that it is to be connected with the verb, and is not a rhetorical particle introducing a new quotation. The reference is to a future event, evidently the Second Advent.... [ Continue Reading ]
From Psalms 104:4, according to LXX. The angels are not sons but servants, 'doing His pleasure' in the material world.... [ Continue Reading ]
From Psalms 45:6, here interpreted Messianically. The dominion of Christ, unlike that of the angels, is eternal. The Son is addressed as 'God,' butthere is some difficulty in regard to the exact reading of the first clause in the original. Some propose to read, 'Thy throne is God for ever and ever.'... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOINTED] i.e. set in royal dignity. THY FELLOWS] The angels are meant here. As 'sons of Elohim' (see on Hebrews 1:5), they consort with the Son, though immeasurably inferior to Him. 10-12. From Psalms 102:25. The Son is the Creator of the world (cp. Hebrews 1:2), and is above all change and decay.... [ Continue Reading ]