圣子的本质

过去,神在不同的时代,用不同的方式,藉着先知们对祖先说话, 但在末后的这些日子里[a],神藉着他的[b]儿子向我们说话。神预定了他为万有的继承人,也藉着他造了宇宙[c] 他是神荣耀的光辉,是神本体的真像,以自己大能的话语托住万有。他成就了洁净罪孽的事[d],就坐在高天至尊者的右边。 他远比天使更美好,就像他所继承的名比天使的名更尊贵。

圣子高过天使

从前神到底对哪一位天使说过“你是我的儿子,我今天生了你”[e],又说“我将成为他的父亲,他成为我的儿子”[f]呢? 不过当神再次带领长子[g]进入世界的时候却说:“神所有的天使都当敬拜他。”[h] 关于天使,他确实说:

“神使他的天使为风,
使他的仆役为烈火。”[i]

但是关于儿子,他却说:

“神哪,你的宝座是永永远远的;
你国度的权杖是正义的权杖。
你爱公义,恨罪恶[j]
为此,神——你的神用喜乐的油来膏立你,
而不膏立你的同伴。”[k]

10 他又说:

“主啊,你在起初立定了大地的根基,
诸天也是你手所造的。
11 天地[l]将要毁灭,你却继续存留;
天地都要像衣服那样渐渐破旧。
12 你将要把天地像外衣那样卷起来,
天地也要像衣服那样[m]被更换;
你却永不改变,
你的岁月没有穷尽。”[n]

13 从前神到底对哪一位天使说过

:“你坐在我的右边,
等我把你的敌人放在你的脚下做脚凳”[o]呢?

14 难道所有的天使不都是服事的灵、奉差派服事那些将要继承救恩的人吗?

Footnotes

  1. 希伯来书 1:2 在末后的这些日子里——或译作“在这些日子的末后”。
  2. 希伯来书 1:2 他的——辅助词语。
  3. 希伯来书 1:2 宇宙——或译作“各世代”。
  4. 希伯来书 1:3 他成就了洁净罪孽的事——有古抄本作“他藉着自己成就了洁净我们罪孽的事”。
  5. 希伯来书 1:5 《诗篇》2:7。
  6. 希伯来书 1:5 《撒母耳记下》7:14;《历代志上》17:13。
  7. 希伯来书 1:6 长子——原文直译“首生者”。
  8. 希伯来书 1:6 《申命记》32:43;《诗篇》97:7。
  9. 希伯来书 1:7 《诗篇》104:4。
  10. 希伯来书 1:9 罪恶——原文直译“不法”。
  11. 希伯来书 1:9 《诗篇》45:6-7。
  12. 希伯来书 1:11 天地——原文直译“它们”。
  13. 希伯来书 1:12 有古抄本没有“像衣服那样”。
  14. 希伯来书 1:12 《诗篇》102:25-27。
  15. 希伯来书 1:13 《诗篇》110:1。

1-3 Going through a long line of prophets, God has been addressing our ancestors in different ways for centuries. Recently he spoke to us directly through his Son. By his Son, God created the world in the beginning, and it will all belong to the Son at the end. This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God’s nature. He holds everything together by what he says—powerful words!

The Son Is Higher than Angels

3-6 After he finished the sacrifice for sins, the Son took his honored place high in the heavens right alongside God, far higher than any angel in rank and rule. Did God ever say to an angel, “You’re my Son; today I celebrate you” or “I’m his Father, he’s my Son”? When he presents his honored Son to the world, he says, “All angels must worship him.”

Regarding angels he says,

The messengers are winds,
    the servants are tongues of fire.

8-9 But he says to the Son,

You’re God, and on the throne for good;
    your rule makes everything right.
You love it when things are right;
    you hate it when things are wrong.
That is why God, your God,
    poured fragrant oil on your head,
Marking you out as king,
    far above your dear companions.

10-12 And again to the Son,

You, Master, started it all, laid earth’s foundations,
    then crafted the stars in the sky.
Earth and sky will wear out, but not you;
    they become threadbare like an old coat;
You’ll fold them up like a worn-out cloak,
    and lay them away on the shelf.
But you’ll stay the same, year after year;
    you’ll never fade, you’ll never wear out.

13 And did he ever say anything like this to an angel?

Sit alongside me here on my throne
Until I make your enemies a stool for your feet.

14 Isn’t it obvious that all angels are sent to help out with those lined up to receive salvation?

God Speaks His Final Word Through His Son

In the past, God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke at many times. He spoke in different ways. But in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one whom God appointed to receive all things. God also made everything through him. The Son is the shining brightness of God’s glory. He is the exact likeness of God’s being. He uses his powerful word to hold all things together. He provided the way for people to be made pure from sin. Then he sat down at the right hand of the King, the Majesty in heaven. So he became higher than the angels. The name he received is more excellent than theirs.

The Son Is Greater Than the Angels

God never said to any of the angels,

“You are my Son.
    Today I have become your Father.” (Psalm 2:7)

Or,

“I will be his Father.
    And he will be my Son.” (2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13)

God’s first and only Son is over all things. When God brings him into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.” (Deuteronomy 32:43)

Here is something else God says about the angels.

“God makes his angels to be like spirits.
    He makes those who serve him to be like flashes of lightning.” (Psalm 104:4)

But here is what he says about the Son.

“You are God. Your throne will last for ever and ever.
    Your kingdom will be ruled by justice.
You have loved what is right and hated what is evil.
    So your God has placed you above your companions.
    He has filled you with joy by pouring the sacred oil on your head.” (Psalm 45:6,7)

10 He also says,

“Lord, in the beginning you made the earth secure. You placed it on its foundations.
    The heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will pass away. But you remain.
    They will all wear out like a piece of clothing.
12 You will roll them up like a robe.
    They will be changed as a person changes clothes.
But you remain the same.
    Your years will never end.” (Psalm 102:25–27)

13 God never said to an angel,

“Sit at my right hand
    until I put your enemies
    under your control.” (Psalm 110:1)

14 All angels are spirits who serve. God sends them to serve those who will receive salvation.

God’s Final Word: His Son

In the past God spoke(A) to our ancestors through the prophets(B) at many times and in various ways,(C) 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) 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) So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.(N)

The Son Superior to Angels

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father”[a]?(O)

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son”[b]?(P)

And again, when God brings his firstborn(Q) into the world,(R) he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[c](S)

In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,
    and his servants flames of fire.”[d](T)

But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;(U)
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions(V)
    by anointing you with the oil(W) of joy.”[e](X)

10 He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.(Y)
11 They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.(Z)
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,(AA)
    and your years will never end.”[f](AB)

13 To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand(AC)
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool(AD) for your feet”[g]?(AE)

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits(AF) sent to serve those who will inherit(AG) salvation?(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7
  2. Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13
  3. Hebrews 1:6 Deut. 32:43 (see Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint)
  4. Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4
  5. Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6,7
  6. Hebrews 1:12 Psalm 102:25-27
  7. Hebrews 1:13 Psalm 110:1