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Jesus Christ Is God’s Son

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.

The Son Is Greater Than the Angels

For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:

“You are my Son.
    Today I have become your Father.[a]

God also said,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son.”[b]

And when he brought his supreme[c] Son into the world, God said,[d]

“Let all of God’s angels worship him.”[e]

Regarding the angels, he says,

“He sends his angels like the winds,
    his servants like flames of fire.”[f]

But to the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
    You rule with a scepter of justice.
You love justice and hate evil.
    Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you,
    pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”[g]

10 He also says to the Son,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth
    and made the heavens with your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain forever.
    They will wear out like old clothing.
12 You will fold them up like a cloak
    and discard them like old clothing.
But you are always the same;
    you will live forever.”[h]

13 And God never said to any of the angels,

“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
    until I humble your enemies,
    making them a footstool under your feet.”[i]

14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

Footnotes

  1. 1:5a Or Today I reveal you as my Son. Ps 2:7.
  2. 1:5b 2 Sam 7:14.
  3. 1:6a Or firstborn.
  4. 1:6b Or when he again brings his supreme Son [or firstborn Son] into the world, God will say.
  5. 1:6c Deut 32:43.
  6. 1:7 Ps 104:4 (Greek version).
  7. 1:8-9 Ps 45:6-7.
  8. 1:10-12 Ps 102:25-27.
  9. 1:13 Ps 110:1.

The Nature of the Son

Long ago God spoke(A) to the fathers by the prophets(B) at different times and in different ways.(C) In these last days,(D) He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe[a](E) through Him. The Son is the radiance[b] of God’s glory and the exact expression[c] of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins,[d] He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.[e](F) So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.(G)

The Son Superior to Angels

For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father,[f][g] or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son?(H)[h] When He again[i] brings His firstborn into the world,(I) He says, And all God’s angels must worship Him.(J)[j] And about the angels He says:

He makes His angels winds,[k]
and His servants[l] a fiery flame,(K)[m]

but to[n] the Son:

Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of Your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.(L)
You have loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness;
this is why God, Your God,
has anointed You
with the oil of joy(M)
rather than Your companions.[o][p]

10 And:

In the beginning, Lord,
You established the earth,
and the heavens are the works of Your hands;(N)
11 they will perish, but You remain.
They will all wear out like clothing;(O)
12 You will roll them up like a cloak,[q]
and they will be changed like a robe.
But You are the same,
and Your years will never end.(P)[r]

13 Now to which of the angels has He ever said:

Sit at My right hand
until I make Your enemies Your footstool?[s](Q)[t]

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?(R)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:2 Lit ages
  2. Hebrews 1:3 Or reflection
  3. Hebrews 1:3 Or representation, or copy, or reproduction
  4. Hebrews 1:3 Other mss read for our sins by Himself
  5. Hebrews 1:3 Or He sat down on high at the right hand of the Majesty
  6. Hebrews 1:5 Or have begotten You
  7. Hebrews 1:5 Ps 2:7
  8. Hebrews 1:5 2Sm 7:14; 1Ch 17:13
  9. Hebrews 1:6 Or And again, when He
  10. Hebrews 1:6 Dt 32:43 LXX; Ps 97:7
  11. Hebrews 1:7 Or spirits
  12. Hebrews 1:7 Or ministers
  13. Hebrews 1:7 Ps 104:4
  14. Hebrews 1:8 Or about
  15. Hebrews 1:9 Or associates
  16. Hebrews 1:9 Ps 45:6-7
  17. Hebrews 1:12 Other mss omit like a cloak
  18. Hebrews 1:12 Ps 102:25-27
  19. Hebrews 1:13 Or enemies a footstool for Your feet
  20. Hebrews 1:13 Ps 110:1