⁵ Theirs are the patriarchs,^(A) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,^(B) who is God over all,^(C) forever praised!^[a](D) Amen.

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law,^(A) ‘I have said you are “gods”’^[a]?^{(B) 35} If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God^(C) came—and Scripture cannot be set aside^(D)— ³⁶ what about the one whom the Father set apart^(E) as his very own^(F) and sent into the world?^(G) Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?^(H)

¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.^(A) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”^[a](B) meaning one person, who is Christ.

The Supremacy of the Son of God

¹⁵ The Son is the image^(A) of the invisible God,^(B) the firstborn^(C) over all creation.

¹⁶ Beyond all question, the mystery^(A) from which true godliness^(B) springs is great:

God’s Final Word: His Son

1 In the past God spoke^(A) to our ancestors through the prophets^(B) at many times and in various ways,^{(C) 2} but in these last days^(D) he has spoken to us by his Son,^(E) whom he appointed heir^(F) of all things, and through whom^(G) also he made the universe.^{(H) 3} The Son is the radiance of God’s glory^(I) and the exact representation of his being,^(J) sustaining all things^(K) by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,^(L) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.^(M)

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world,^(A) he said:

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning,^(A) which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,^(B) which we have looked at and our hands have touched^(C)—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ² The life appeared;^(D) we have seen it and testify to it,^(E) and we proclaim to you the eternal life,^(F) which was with the Father and has appeared to us. ³ We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard,^(G) so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.^(H)

² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh^(A) is from God,^{(B) 3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,^(C) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.^(D)