Breathingbook

So far, Hebrews 1:1-6 has been devoted to proving through the scriptures how Jesus Christ is higher than the angels. We now come to Heb 1:7 which quotes Psalm 104:4. Keep in mind the concept of Key Words and phrases. No matter how brief the quote, it’s always important to look it up and keep things in context. In this case Psalms 104 is important because it’s entirely devoted to praising the glorious works of God! Since it’s already been established that Jesus Christ is the one who created all things (Heb 1:2-3; Jn 1:1-3; Eph 3:9; Col 1:15-19; Heb 11:3), the whole of Psalms 104 is a celebration of all that Jesus has done! So, to anyone knowing that truth of proper doctrine, what seems like a minor reference is actually huge, because of all that Psalms 104 has to say and it says a lot!

When you compare the two, it’s very easy to see Heb 1:7 quotes Psa 104:4.

Heb 1:7 And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.

Psa 104:4 Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire.

So, let’s keep that in mind and return to breaking down Heb 1:7.

Heb 1:7 And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.

And of the angels He saith Looking back at Heb 1:5-6 we see these verses all indicate “He saith,” means, “the Father saith.” 

Who maketh “Who” here is Jesus. Again, Jesus created everything (Heb 1:2-3; Jn 1:1-3; Eph 3:9; Col 1:15-19; Heb 11:3) and Psalms 104 is all about the the creations Jesus has made. The Gk. word for “maketh” is “poieo,” which means to appoint, design, or to bring forth. Thus, the scripture is saying, Jesus made (designed; appointed) His angels to be spirits. The gist of it is to reiterate Jesus’ superiority to the angels. In other words, He that created the thing – designed and appointed it it’s destiny -  is naturally greater than the thing created.

His angels spirits Some translations, such as the ESV say, He makes His messengers winds, His ministers a flaming fire. Just to clear up any question as to why different words would be used for different translations, let’s look for a moment at the word used within the Gk. text, which is “pneuma.” Pneuma’s basic meaning is a current of air (see below), and refers not only to the wind, but the wind-like nature of that which is spirit or spiritual. Read the rest of this entry »

In the preceding studies of Heb 1:1-5 we’ve covered many of the ways Jesus has fulfilled prophecies regarding the promised Messiah. They’ve been laid them out, line upon line, according to the to path the author of Hebrews has directed. The author of Hebrews has written to a fellow Hebrew audience (Jews) as familiar with his Key phrases.  The majority of Christian converts from Gentile backgrounds would know none of these reference off the top of their heads unless they’d obtained classical Jewish instruction.

Let’s move on with the study.

Heb 1:6 And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.

the first begotten Speaks of Jesus being the firstborn of God. The Gk. word used for “first begotten” is “prototokos” which is translated both “firstbegotten” and “firstborn” in the NT.

Under the Law of Moses the firstborn according to the flesh was given certain privileges (it was forbidden to disinherit the firstborn and they also received a double-portion (Deu 21:15-17) of the inheritance). Howbeit, the meaning of the firstbegotton here is NOT referring to the fleshly institution of inheritance, but to the Spiritual.

Many times in scripture, the firstborn according to the flesh is actually passed over in by God for certain blessings.

Whether it be Esau being passed over in favor of Jacob (Gen 27:1-41), Issac over Ishmael (Gen 25:5,6; Heb 11:17-18; Gal 4:28-29), or Joseph over Reuben (Gen 48:21-49:4), etc., whenever God doesn’t choose to bless the firstborn according to the flesh, He just doesn’t. Read the rest of this entry »

In Heb 1:4 we covered how Jesus is far better than the angels. Heb 1:5 begins a series where the author of Hebrews points specifically to fulfilled Old Testament prophecies describing the Messiah and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. These are given to strengthen one’s faith by clarifying what OT scriptures were fulfilled in Christ and offering explanation for things previously not understood. The entire book of Hebrews continues to do this, addressing believers undergoing extreme trials, suffering, and possibly persecution, who consequently were considering returning to the life they knew before coming to Christ (1 Pet 3:14-15).

Let us begin.

Heb 1:4-5 Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, THOU ART MY SON, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE? And again, I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON?

Heb 1:5 unto which of the angels said He This is to address those who have tried to place angels (called the sons of God in the OT Gen 6:1-8; Job 1:6-7; 2:1; 38:4-7) in a position superior to the Messiah. To paraphrase this: “Where,” in any of the Old Testament references to the sons of God, “did the Father ever refer to them as: Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee?” The answer, of course, is “no where.”

There is no record anywhere in the Bible of angels (even when referred to as sons of God), as ever being anything more than God’s created beings, fashioned specifically to serve and carry out defined purposes. Please see Heb 1:4 Jesus is better than the angels for more reference on angels.

Heb 1:5 THOU ART MY SON, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE? This refers specifically to Psalm 2:7, but actually is calling to remembrance the whole of Psalm 2 (Psa 2:1-12). Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings! This is the beginning of a section (Heb 1:4-14) which lays out key prophecies from the OT about the Messiah. This information is foundational, because it substantiates Jesus as the foretold Messiah.

Thus, we must first address the topic of angels.

Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

1:4 so much better than the angels This section pays a lot of attention to Jesus being better than the angels. The author of Hebrews understood that since angels had always been the topic of much curiosity and speculation among the Jews, believers would need a clear understanding about what the angels were when compared to Jesus the Messiah so they could answer those who might have questions about it. Therefore, beginning here, the author of Hebrews continues bringing up the status of angels on through to Heb 2:9.

First off, Jesus is perfect and is God. Angels are neither of those things. That Jesus is perfect and is also God evidently makes Him “better than the angels,” because they were created to be imperfect by Jesus for the “obvious” purpose that they would remain under His authority in all ways (please see Heb 1:7 God, Perfect in All His Way for more). That being said, let’s lay down further understanding based on what scripture has to say about angels.

Good angels are ministering beings (Heb 1:14) who are sent in the service of God to whoseover He so desires and in whatever capacity He desires. God uses them to minister to the good and the evil; to His chosen and those not so chosen. Some examples where scripture shows us angels being sent to God’s chosen, such as Daniel (Dan 10:5-21), Zacharias, Joseph, and Mary (Lk 1:5-22,26-38; Mat 1:19-25; 2:13,19-21 ), and to the not so chosen such as Hagar when Sarai beat her and sent her away (Gen 16:6-14; 21:14-20) and to Ballam when he was going to curse Israel for the King of Moab (Num 22:22-35).

Since angels themselves had been called “sons of God” in the Old Testament (Gen 6:1-8; Job 1:6-7; 2:1; 38:4-7) and various angelic encounters had taken place throughout the OT, many Jews - who did not understand the Messiah would be the Son of God - believed the authority of the archangel Michael (Dan 10:13-21; 12:1; Jude 1:9; Rev 12:7-9) would be greater than that of the coming Messiah! Such belief had been circulating in Jewry for decades. Read the rest of this entry »

In continuing with the Hebrews bible study, I’d like to step back a bit into Heb 1:2 to note a point I didn’t make in my last post.

Heb 1:1,2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds.

The last two posts (Heb 1:1,2) carried forth the idea that God had spoken in many ways in the past, but never had He revealed Himself to mankind in the manner which He did when He came as Jesus Christ, the Son of God, by whom God the Father also made the worlds.

by whom also He made the worlds The Greek word for “worlds” is “aion” and can mean ages, worlds, or perpetuity (lasting for eternity). Since this Gk word is also plural, the scripture also suggests that God used Jesus to make more than one world, age or eternity.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

1:3 being the brightness of His glory The word ‘brightness” comes from the Gk word “apaugasma” which means “off-flash” which suggests a beaming forth that comes “away” or “off” of something. I.e., Christ is the bright beaming off-flash of the Glory of God. The Gk word for “glory” is “doxa” and describes a dignity and honor that results in praise and worship.

the express image As noted in Heb 1:1 God Spoke Time Past God had spoken at many different times and in many different ways to the fathers, but He had never revealed Himself to mankind in the manner which He did through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is God’s Word (Jn 1:1). He is also God’s Son. The Gk word used for “express image” is “charakter” and means an engraving or exact copy. Think of Jesus as a physical photo-copy or replica of God. He is the exact representation of God Almighty – as best we can perceive this side of the veil (1 Cor 13:12).

Again, Jesus being the express image of the Father also indicates the Father, in many ways, in turn describes the character of Jesus. Namely, God as Mighty, Awesome, Conquering Lord God of the OT represents the aspect of Jesus described in (Rev 19:11-21) where we see Jesus returning as the Conquering Messiah in judgment in the book of Revelation. Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). See  Heb 1:1 God Spoke Time Past for more.

of His person The Gk word here for “person” is “hupostasis” means a “firm foundation” – the assurance of God’s essence; His “nature or quality.” In other word”s, Jesus’ nature assures us of the Father’s nature, because Jesus and the Father are ”one” (Jn 10:30). Read the rest of this entry »