Hebrews 1:8-9

By contrast, the Son’s ministry is to rule, not to serve as angels do. His throne is eternal, not ending, and immutable, not changing. This fifth quotation, from Psalms 45:6-7, describes the final triumph of David’s Son, the Messiah, who is also God. The Son is superior to angels also because He is God.

"This and the following quotation (Hebrews 1:10-12) are used to show that the Son is addressed in scripture both as God and as Lord. . . . The point of Hebrews 1:8 b, for the author of Hebrews, seems to be that the Son exercises royal power, whereas the angels are mere leitourgoi (["ministers"] Hebrews 1:7)." [Note: Ellingworth, p. 122.]

"Jesus’ deity is more powerfully asserted in Hebrews than in any other New testament writing, with the exception of the Gospel of John." [Note: Oscar Cullmann, The Christology of the New Testament, p. 305.]

The prophets predicted that Messiah would be righteous. Jesus Christ demonstrated this quality during His earthly ministry (cf. John 8:46). The anointing to which the writer referred probably took place after His ascension. Messiah is God, yet God (the Father) anointed Him.

"The anointing of the Son is not to be thought of in connection with coronation rites, but as symbolizing the joy of festival occasions, when the practice of anointing was followed." [Note: Guthrie, p. 77.]

The "companions" probably include all other righteous beings, angelic and human, including faithful Christians (cf. Hebrews 2:10-11; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 12:8). Part of the quotation in this verse does not argue the superiority of Christ over the angels. The writer probably included it because it makes a statement he developed later in this epistle. The term "companions" describes those who have intimate, not just superficial, association with Jesus Christ (cf. Luke 5:7). [Note: See John Soden, "The Use of Psalms 45:7-8 (6-7) in Hebrews 1:8-9," Exegesis and Exposition 2:1 (Summer 1987):51-70.] The NASB translators rendered the Greek word, metochos, "partakers" everywhere else it occurs in Hebrews (i.e., Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 6:4; Hebrews 12:8).