Hebrews 2
Darby Translation
2 For this reason we should give heed more abundantly to the things [we have] heard, lest in any way we should slip away.
2 For if the word which was spoken by angels was firm, and every transgression and disobedience received just retribution,
3 how shall *we* escape if we have been negligent of so great salvation, which, having had its commencement in being spoken [of] by the Lord, has been confirmed to us by those who have heard;
4 God bearing, besides, witness with [them] to [it], both by signs and wonders, and various acts of power, and distributions of [the] Holy Spirit, according to his will?
5 For he has not subjected to angels the habitable world which is to come, of which we speak;
6 but one has testified somewhere, saying, What is man, that thou rememberest him, or son of man that thou visitest him?
7 Thou hast made him some little inferior to the angels; thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, [and hast set him over the works of thy hands;]
8 thou hast subjected all things under his feet. For in subjecting all things to him, he has left nothing unsubject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to *him*,
9 but we see Jesus, who [was] made some little inferior to angels on account of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; so that by the grace of God he should taste death for every thing.
10 For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make perfect the leader of their salvation through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifies and those sanctified [are] all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying, I will declare thy name to my brethren; in [the] midst of [the] assembly will I sing thy praises.
13 And again, I will trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children which God has given me.
14 Since therefore the children partake of blood and flesh, he also, in like manner, took part in the same, that through death he might annul him who has the might of death, that is, the devil;
15 and might set free all those who through fear of death through the whole of their life were subject to bondage.
16 For he does not indeed take hold of angels [by the hand], but he takes hold of the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore it behoved him in all things to be made like to [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people;
18 for, in that himself has suffered, being tempted, he is able to help those that are being tempted.
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.
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