THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS. _Chronological Notes relative to this Epistle_. -Year of the Constantinopolitan era of the world, or that used by the Byzantine historians, and other eastern writers, 5571. -Year of the Alexandrian era of the world, 5565. -Year of the Antiochian er... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:2. _LAST DAYS_] The Gospel dispensation, called the _last_ _days_ and the _last time_, because not to be followed by any other dispensation; or the conclusion of the Jewish Church and state now at their termination. _BY_ HIS _SON_] It is very remarkable that the pronoun αυτου, _his... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:3. _THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS GLORY_] Απαυγασμα της δοξης The resplendent outbeaming of the essential glory of God. _Hesychius_ interprets απαυγασμα by ηλιουφεγγος, the _splendour of the sun_. The same form of expression is used by an apocryphal writer, _Wisdom_ _Wisdom _Hebrews 7:26, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:4. _SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE ANGELS_] Another argument in favour of the Divinity of our Lord. The Jews had the highest opinion of the transcendent excellence of angels, they even associate them with God in the creation of the world, and suppose them to be of the privy council of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:5. _THOU ART MY SON, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE_] These words are quoted from Psalms 2:7, a psalm that seems to refer only to the Messiah; and they are quoted by St. Paul, Acts 13:33, as referring to the _resurrection of Christ_. And this application of them is confirmed by the s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:6. _AND AGAIN, WHEN HE BRINGETH IN THE FIRSTBEGOTTEN_] This is not a correct translation of the Greek, Ὁταν δε παλιν εισαγαγῃ τον πρωτοτοκον εις την οικουμενην. _But when he bringeth_ _again_, or _the second time, the first-born into the habitable_ _world_. This most manifestly ref... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:7. _WHO MAKETH HIS ANGELS SPIRITS_] They are so far from being superior to Christ, that they are not called God's sons in any _peculiar_ sense, but his _servants_, as _tempests_ and _lightnings_ are. In many respects they may have been made inferior even to _man_ as he came out of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:8. _THY THRONE, O GOD_, IS _FOR EVER AND EVER_] If this be said of the Son of God, i.e. Jesus Christ, then Jesus Christ must be God; and indeed the design of the apostle is to prove this. The words here quoted are taken from Psalms 45:6; Psalms 45:7, which the ancient Chaldee paraph... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:9. _THOU HAST LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS_] This is the characteristic of a just governor: he abhors and suppresses iniquity; he countenances and supports righteousness and truth. _THEREFORE GOD_, even _thy God_] The original, δια τουτο εχρισε σε ὁ Θεος, ὁ Θεος σου, may be thus translated... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:10. _AND, THOU, LORD_] This is an address to the _Son_ as the _Creator_, see Hebrews 1:2; for this is implied in _laying the foundation_ of the earth. The heavens, which are the work of his hands, point out his infinite wisdom and skill.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:11. _THEY SHALL PERISH_] Permanently fixed as they seem to be, a time shall come when they shall be _dissolved_, and afterward _new heavens_ and a _new earth_ be formed, in which righteousness alone shall dwell. See 1 Peter 3:10. _SHALL WAX OLD AS DOTH A GARMENT_] As a garment by l... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:12. _AND THEY SHALL BE CHANGED_] Not _destroyed_ ultimately, or _annihilated_. They shall be _changed_ and _renewed_. _BUT THOU ART THE SAME_] These words can be said of no being but God; all others are _changeable_ or _perishable_, because temporal; only that which is _eternal_ can... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 1:13. _BUT TO WHICH OF THE ANGELS_] We have already seen, from the opinions and concessions of the Jews, that, if Jesus Christ could be proved to be _greater than the angels_, it would necessarily follow that he was God: and this the apostle does most amply prove by these various quota... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _ARE THEY NOT ALL MINISTERING SPIRITS_] That is, _They_ _are all_ ministering spirits; for the Hebrews often express the strongest _affirmative_ by an interrogation. All the angels, even those of the highest order, are employed by their Creator to serve those who believe in Christ Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]