Hebrews

Introduction

The letter to the Hebrews was written to encourage Christians in a time of trial. It does so by focusing on the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. While God spoke in the past “many times and in many ways,” he has now spoken to us “by his Son,” Jesus Christ, who is the “exact imprint” of God’s nature and who “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (1:1–3). Jesus accomplished complete salvation for all who trust in him (1:1–10:18). We dare not “neglect such a great salvation” (2:3; 5:12–6:20; 10:19–39). Rather, in our faith and in our everyday living, we should imitate the example of Christ and of those on the honor roll of faith (chs. 11–13). This letter, whose author is unknown, was probably written between a.d. 60 and 70.

  The Supremacy of God’s Son

1 Long ago, at many times and ain many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  2 but bin these last days che has spoken to us by dhis Son, whom he appointed ethe heir of all things, fthrough whom also he created gthe world.  3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and hthe exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. iAfter making purification for sins, jhe sat down kat the right hand of the Majesty on high,  4 having become as much superior to angels as the name lhe has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

m“You are my Son,

today I have begotten you”?

Or again,

n“I will be to him a father,

and he shall be to me a son”?

 6 And again, when he brings othe firstborn into the world, he says,

p“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

 7 Of the angels he says,

q“He makes his angels winds,

and his ministers a flame of fire.”

 8 But of the Son he says,

r“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,

the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

  9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

therefore God, your God, shas anointed you

with tthe oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

 10 And,

u“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,

and the heavens are the work of your hands;

  11 they will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment,

  12 like a robe you will roll them up,

like a garment they will be changed.1

But you are vthe same,

and your years will have no end.”

 13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,

w“Sit at my right hand

xuntil I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

 14 Are they not all ministering spirits ysent out to serve for the sake of those who are to zinherit salvation?