Hebrews 1–2

God’s Final Word: His Son

1In the past God spoke^a to our ancestors through the prophets^b at many times and in various ways,^{c 2}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 3}The Son is the radiance of God’s gloryⁱ 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 4}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

⁵For 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

⁶And again, when God brings his firstborn^q into the world,^r he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”^cs

⁷In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,

and his servants flames of fire.”^dt

⁸But 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.

⁹You 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.”^ex

¹⁰He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands.^y

¹¹They will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.^z

¹²You will roll them up like a robe;

like a garment they will be changed.

But you remain the same,^a

and your years will never end.”^fb

¹³To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand^c

until I make your enemies

a footstool^d for your feet”^g?^e

¹⁴Are not all angels ministering spirits^f sent to serve those who will inherit^g salvation?^h

Warning to Pay Attention

2We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.^{i 2}For since the message spoken^j through angels^k was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,^{l 3}how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?^m This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,ⁿ was confirmed to us by those who heard him.^{o 4}God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,^p and by gifts of the Holy Spirit^q distributed according to his will.^r

Jesus Made Fully Human

⁵It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶But there is a place where someone^s has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,

a son of man that you care for him?^t

⁷You made them a little^a lower than the angels;

you crowned them with glory and honor

⁸and put everything under their feet.”^bcu

In putting everything under them,^d God left nothing that is not subject to them.^e Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.^{f 9}But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor^v because he suffered death,^w so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.^x

¹⁰In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,^y should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.^{z 11}Both the one who makes people holy^a and those who are made holy^b are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.^{gc 12}He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;

in the assembly I will sing your praises.”^hd

¹³And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”^ie

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”^jf

¹⁴Since the children have flesh and blood,^g he too shared in their humanity^h so that by his death he might break the powerⁱ of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil^j—¹⁵and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear^k of death. ¹⁶For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.^{l 17}For this reason he had to be made like them,^km fully human in every way, in order that he might become a mercifulⁿ and faithful high priest^o in service to God,^p and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.^{q 18}Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.^r