Hebrews 1:2-5

 

Seven facts concerning Jesus the Son:

1)     “heir of all things”

2)     “through whom he made the universe”

3)     “the radiance of God’s glory”

4)     “exact representation of his being”

5)     “sustaining all things by his powerful word”

6)     “provided purification for sin”

7)     “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven”

 

1:2

ον         εθηκεν                  κληρονομον     παντων       δι     ου    και   εποιησεν τους  αιωνας
whom he hath appointed     heir              of all things   by whom also he made     the worlds(ages)

1)       “heir of all things”

a.      Psalm 2:8 – addressed to one who is called the Lord’s anointed and called His Son.

b.      Part of Psalm 2 is also quoted in Hebrews 1:5

c.      The inheritance is beyond the world.  This is detailed in Heb. 2:5-9.

2)       “through whom he made the universe”

a.      “universe” (“worlds”) is the Greek word “aiwnaV” from “aion” which means “ages”.  According to the rabbinical use, the word refers not only to the periods of tie, but also to the content of the world.

b.      “aiwnaV” refers to the whole created universe and includes space and time.

c.      Hebrews 11:3

d.      John 1:3

e.      Colossians 1:16

f.        The concept that the Son was the source of creation comes from
Proverbs 8:22-31 where we see Wisdom as the companion of God in the beginning

g.      Revelation 3:14, Jesus calls himself “the ruler of God’s creation”

 

 

 

1:3

ος      ων     απαυγασμα    της    δοξης    και    χαρακτηρ                της    υποστασεως   αυτου    φερων              

Who being  the brightness of his glory   and   the express image              reality           of his   upholding

 

τε     τα     παντα        τω ρηματι     της      δυναμεως     αυτου     δι     εαυτου     καθαρισμον          

and        all things    by the word    of his    power       when he had +__ by himself purged +__

 

ποιησαμενος      των      αμαρτιων      ημων      εκαθισεν    εν      δεξια     

having made       our        sins                            sat down   on    the right (hand)

 

της μεγαλωσυνης      εν       υψηλοις
of the Majesty          on             high

 

 

3)       “the radiance of God’s glory”

a.      “απαυγασμα” or “apaugasma” denotes the radiance shining forth from the source of light

                                                              i.      Active sense – is “radiance” (this is the sense of the use here)

                                                            ii.      Passive sense – is “reflection”

4)       “exact representation of his being”

a.      χαρακτηρ or “charaktar” occurs only here in the NT.

b.      It means impression, stamp, to engrave.  The word was used with special reference to any distinguishing peculiarity and so indicated an exact reproduction.

c.      The very essence of God

d.      Like a tool with an image strikes a coin to leave an impression

e.      The Son of God bears the exact image of God on himself

f.        The word “eikon” is used in 2 Cor. 4:4 and Col. 1:15. “eikon” is translated there as “image”.  It refers to the resemblance of something to a prototype from which it is derived and in whose essence it shares.

5)       “sustaining all things by his powerful word”

a.       φερων or “Sustaining” is present active and means “to carry”.  It means “He carries all things continually”.  The word includes the concept of Atlas but more.  The Son is supporting all things but moving all things forward.  It involves the concept of movement forward on their appointed course.  Presence tense means continual action.

b.       τω ρηματι       της δυναμεως = “the word   of his power”

c.       Translated as “his mighty word” or “his enabling word”

d.       “word” is “rhema” and means “utterance” or “spoken word”

e.       “power” is “dunameos”

f.         This includes God speaking the universe into existence but is more than creation.  This word includes the fact that the universe is maintained and held together by this same word.

g.       Colossians 1:17 “in him all things hold together” and refers to the cohesion or the banding together of particles, time, thought, etc. of the created world.

6)       “provided purification for sin”

a.       Leaving the cosmic world the author now addresses Jesus relationship with man.

b.       This theme, the High Priesthood of Jesus, with continue later in the book.  It is very important to this author

c.       Christ made the purification

d.       Christ was the purification

e.       Christ continues to be the purification (1 John 2:1)

7)       “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven”

a.       Psalm 110 is key to this point

b.       The concept of “right hand” of God is not a location as much as it referred to exaltation and supremacy.

c.       Paul says it in different ways in:

                                                               i.      Ephesians 4:10

                                                             ii.      Philippians 2:9

d.       In Hebrews 10:11-14 the human high priest stands and serves continually.  Here the heavenly High Priest sits.

e.       The resting prince sits in the presence of God

                                                               i.      2 Samuel 7:18

                                                             ii.      Psalm 110

                                                            iii.      Ezekiel 44:3 David is seated as a prince not as a priest in the presence of Yahweh.

 

 

 

1:4

τοσουτω             κρειττων         γενομενος     των αγγελων    οσω        διαφορωτερον

so much         better than          Being made   the angels          as       a more excellent

 

παρ           αυτους               κεκληρονομηκεν                            ονομα

than             they         he hath by inheritance obtained             name

 

1:5