Hebrews 1–2

God’s Full and Final Revelation in the Son

1Although^* God spoke long ago in many parts^a and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets, ²in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world,^{b 3}who is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, sustaining all things by the word of power.^c When he^* had made purification for sins through him, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴having become by so much better than the angels, by as much as he has inherited a more excellent name than theirs.

The Son Superior to the Angels

⁵For to which of the angels did he ever say,

“You are my son,

today I have begotten you,”^d

and again,

“I will be his father^e,

and he will be my son^f”?^g

⁶And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“And let all the angels of God worship him.”^h

⁷And concerning the angels he says,

“The one who makes his angels winds,

and his servants a flame of fire,”ⁱ

⁸but concerning the Son,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever^j,

and the scepter of righteous is the scepter of your kingdom.

⁹You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;

because of this God, your God, has anointed you

with the olive oil of joy more than your companions.^k

¹⁰And,

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,

and the heavens are the works of your hands;

¹¹they will perish, but you continue,

and they will all become old like a garment,

¹²and like a robe you will roll them up,

and like a garment they will be changed;

but you are the same, and your years will not run out.”^l

¹³But to which of the angels has he ever said,

“Sit down at my right hand,

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”^m

¹⁴Are they not all spirits engaged in special service, sent on assignment for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?

Warning Not to Neglect Salvation

2Because of this, it is all the more necessary that we pay attention to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. ²For if the word spoken through angels was binding and every transgression and act of disobedience received a just penalty, ³how will we escape if we^* neglect so great a salvation which had its beginning when it^* was spoken through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard, ⁴while^* God was testifying at the same time by signs and wonders and various miracles and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to his will.

The Son’s Humiliation and Suffering

⁵For he did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶But someone testified somewhere, saying,

“What is man, that you remember him,

or the son of man, that you care for him?

⁷You made him for a short time lower than the angels;

you crowned him with glory and honor;^a

⁸you subjected all things under his feet.^b

For in subjecting all things,^c he left nothing that was not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him, ⁹but we see Jesus, for a short time made lower than the angels, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that apart from God^d he might taste death on behalf of everyone. ¹⁰For it was fitting for him for whom are all things and through whom are all things in bringing many sons to glory to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings. ¹¹For both the one who sanctifies and the ones who are sanctified are all from one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers, ¹²saying,

“I will proclaim your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the assembly I will sing in praise of you.”^e

¹³And again,

“I will trust in him.”^f

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”^g

¹⁴Therefore, since the children share in blood and flesh, he also in like manner shared in these same things, in order that through death he could destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵and could set free these who through fear of death were subject to slavery throughout all their lives. ¹⁶For surely he is not concerned with angels, but he is concerned with the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷Therefore he was obligated to be made like his brothers in all respects, in order that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things relating to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸For in that which he himself suffered when he^* was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.