Hebrews 1

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:3

Who, being , etc. The participle ᾢν —not γενόμενος , as in Hebrews 1:4 —denotes (as does still more forcibly ὐπάρχων in the cognate passage, Philippians 2:6 ) what the Son is in himself essentially and independently of his manifestation in time. This transcendent idea is conveyed by two metaphorical expressions, differing in the metaphors used, but concurrent in meaning. The brightness of his glory . The word δόξα (translated "glory"), though net in classical Greek... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:3

Jesus as the Brightness of God's glory. I. THE GLORY OF GOD IS MANIFESTED TO MEN . Our relations of dependence upon God are exalted by our perception of him upon whom we depend. It is not as if a hand stretched out of the unseen, laying before us our daily bread, and then withdrawing itself, as if it concerned us nothing to know the Giver provided only we got the gift. God. is desirous that we should both know him, the Giver, and as much of his glory as it is possible for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:3

Jesus as the express Image of the Divine substance. The more we ponder the various terms used for describing Jesus in the introduction to this Epistle, the more we see how the writer is striving to glorify Jesus by separating him from the common mass of men and presenting him to our thoughts in the most intimate relation with God. It is meant to be regarded as a relation of the closest correspondence in all possible ways. To say that God is the Father and Jesus the Son is not enough; for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:3

Reality over against phenomena. It is very striking to notice in this third verse that the assertions with respect to Jesus are not at all the assertions that would have been made by the bulk of his contemporaries. They did not see all this glory being manifested, this essence of divinity shaping itself, this mighty sustaining of all things, this cleansing away of sin, this assumption of a seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Have we not to notice again and again in the level of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4

Having become by so much better than the angels as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they ( διαφορωτέρον παρ αὐτοὺς ). (For the same Greek form of comparison, see Hebrews 1:9 ; Hebrews 3:3 ) " παρα ingentem printer caeteros excellentiam denotat" (Bengel). This verse, though, in respect of grammatical construction, it is the conclusion of the exordium, serves as the thesis of the first section of the argument to follow, the drift of which is to show the SON 'S... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-5

The exaltation of the Son of God above the angels of God. "Being made so much better than the angels," etc. The angels of God are great and exalted beings. Our Lord spake of them as "holy angels" ( Matthew 25:31 ). David said they "excel in strength" ( Psalms 103:20 ). St. Paul designates them "his mighty angels' ( 2 Thessalonians 1:7 ). Deeds involving stupendous power are ascribed to them ( Isaiah 37:36 ; Acts 12:7-11 ). They are said to be "full of eyes," to indicate their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-9

Christ superior to the angels. As angels had an important ministry under the Law of Moses, it was desirable to show the. Christians who had been drawn from Judaism, and were disposed to return to it, the superiority of our Lord to them in their nature and office. I. THIS APPEARS IN THE GLORY OF HIS NAME , which is his by nature and inheritance. Angels are called "sons of God," and rejoiced as creation with its wonders rose before their view. Israel was named "Jehovah's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-13

Christ exalted above the angels. I. CONSIDER THE ANGELIC DIGNITY . The word "angel" as employed here to be taken in a very wide sense, as "angel" primarily denotes office and service rather than nature. Jesus himself, looked at from a certain point of view, was an angel, a messenger, an evangelist. God can make a messenger, as we are reminded in this passage, from the winds and the flame of fire: e.g. the burning bush was a messenger to Moses. But doubtless there is also a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-14

Christ greater than the angels. The Jews used to boast that their Law had been given at Sinai by the instrumentality of angels; and they concluded from this that the Mosaic dispensation would continue as long as the world itself. But the apostle asserts here that the Lord Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, is immeasurably greater than the angels; and he supports his assertion with abundant evidence from the Hebrew Scriptures. Hebrews 1:4 supplies us with the key to this whole... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-14

The greatness of the angels revealing the greatness of the Lord. Our ideas with regard to the angels are mostly vague, or poetic, or formal, never evoking holy thought or inspiring praise, or breathing on our soul an hour's calm, or strengthening us to strike a blow at sin. We think there is nothing practical about the doctrine of angels, and so we pass it by. We have Christ, we say; we do not need the angels; they who have the king overlook the courtiers. Yet a considerable portion of... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-14

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