Hebrews 2
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 2
The Oneness of Christian Salvation.[a] 1 Therefore, we should pay much closer attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message delivered by angels proved to be so valid that every transgression and disobedience brought a proper punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?
It was first announced by the Lord and then confirmed for us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Christ Our Brother.[b] 5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But someone has offered this testimony somewhere:
“What is man that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man that you care for him?
7 You made him a little lower than the angels,
yet crowned him with glory and honor
8 and put everything under his feet.”
Now in putting everything under his feet, he left nothing that is not subject to his control. Right now we do not yet see everything under his feet. 9 However, we do see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was completely fitting that he, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 Both the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all proceed from one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying,
“I will proclaim your name to my brethren;[c]
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.”
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Here I am,
together with the children God has given me.”
14 Therefore, since the children are all made of flesh and blood,[d] Jesus likewise shared in the same flesh and blood, so that by his death he might destroy the one who has the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and set free those who throughout their lives had been held in slavery by the fear of death.
16 For clearly he did not come to help angels but rather he came to help the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, he had to be made like his brethren in every way in order that he might become a compassionate and faithful high priest before God and expiate the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by suffering, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:1 The Law of Sinai, which according to rabbinic tradition was communicated by angels, binds humanity to live in a certain way. Much greater is the authority of the voice of Christ transmitted to the Church by the Apostles with the evident guarantee of the Spirit (see Mt 10:1; Mk 16:20; Acts 1:8). This is the first of five warnings scattered throughout the Letter (the other four are: Heb 3:7—4:13; 5:11—6:12; 10:19-39; and 12:4-29).
- Hebrews 2:5 The Son of God, who became a human being and was crucified, is Lord of the universe (see Phil 2:6-11); all human beings have been brought into solidarity with him. To throw light on this destiny of Christ, the author gives a free interpretation of Ps 8:5-7. Angels and institutions are incapable of establishing a bond between God and humanity; in Christ humanity is given one of its own, but one who is the true high priest (v. 17) and capable of being its guarantor in heaven. The principal theme of the Letter is here announced.
- Hebrews 2:12 I will proclaim your name to my brethren: a quotation from Ps 22:23, a psalm that describes the sufferings of the Servant of God. The key phrase is “my brethren” (i.e., the Septuagint text; the Hebrew has “the community”), which is spoken by the triumphant Messiah.
- Hebrews 2:14 Flesh and blood: i.e., the human condition.
Hebrews 2
New King James Version
Do Not Neglect Salvation
2 Therefore we must give [a]the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word (A)spoken through angels proved steadfast, and (B)every transgression and disobedience received a just [b]reward, 3 (C)how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, (D)which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was (E)confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 (F)God also bearing witness (G)both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and (H)gifts[c] of the Holy Spirit, (I)according to His own will?
The Son Made Lower than Angels(J)
5 For He has not put (K)the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:
(L)“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
7 You have made him [d]a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
[e]And set him over the works of Your hands.
8 (M)You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now (N)we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, (O)who was made [f]a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death (P)crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death (Q)for everyone.
Bringing Many Sons to Glory
10 For it was fitting for Him, (R)for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation (S)perfect through sufferings. 11 For (T)both He who [g]sanctifies and those who are being sanctified (U)are all of one, for which reason (V)He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:
(W)“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
13 And again:
(X)“I will put My trust in Him.”
And again:
(Y)“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He (Z)Himself likewise shared in the same, (AA)that through death He might destroy him who had the power of (AB)death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who (AC)through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not [h]give aid to angels, but He does [i]give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had (AD)to be made like His brethren, that He might be (AE)a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 (AF)For in that He Himself has suffered, being [j]tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:1 all the more careful attention
- Hebrews 2:2 retribution or penalty
- Hebrews 2:4 distributions
- Hebrews 2:7 Or for a little while
- Hebrews 2:7 NU, M omit the rest of v. 7.
- Hebrews 2:9 Or for a little while
- Hebrews 2:11 sets apart
- Hebrews 2:16 Or take on the nature of
- Hebrews 2:16 Or take on
- Hebrews 2:18 tested
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
