The Exalted Son

HEBREWS 1:1-4

^NAS Hebrews 1:1-4 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, ² in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. ³ And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; ⁴ having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

THE WRITER TO THE HEBREWS, WHOMEVER GOD CHOSE, WAS PROBABLY WRITING MAINLY TO JEWISH CHRISTIANS. There are no references to Gentiles in the entire book but there is a multitude of passages that indirectly and directly are marked with a distinctly Hebrew flavor. Problems between Gentiles and Jews in the church are not mentioned or reflected here, indicating almost certainly that the congregation being addressed was strictly Jewish. To those suffering Jewish believers – and unbelievers – are revealed the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ and the New Covenant (the New Testament), in contrast to the Old Covenant (the Old Testament), under which they had so long lived and worshiped. – (rewritten in part from) MacArthur, Hebrews

WE DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT LOCATION OF THIS GROUP OF HEBREWS. They were perhaps somewhere near Greece. We do know that this community had been evangelized by apostles and prophets:

^NAS Hebrews 2:3-4 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,

CERTAINLY, IT WOULD BE HARD TO ARGUE THE WRITER’S SOLE INTENTION IN THESE INTRODUCTORY VERSES IS TO EXALT JESUS CHRIST AS THE DIVINE SON OF GOD. “The epistle to the Hebrews begins as dramatically as a rocket shot to the moon. In one paragraph, the writer breathtakingly transports his readers from the familiar ground of Old Testament prophetic writings through the incarnation of the Son (who is at once creator, heir, and sustainer of all things and the fullest possible manifestation of deity), past the purifying sacrifice of the cross to the exaltation of Jesus on the ultimate seat of power in the universe. It is a paragraph daring in its claims and clearly designed to arrest the reader’s attention and compel a further hearing. – Ray C. Steadman

BUT NOT ONLY IN THESE FIRST VERSES IS IT THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE TO EXALT GOD THE SON, BUT IT IS HIS PRIMARY PURPOSE OF HIS ENTIRE WRITING – whether it be considered an epistle (i.e., letter) or sermon or something else. “The author intends to present a series of arguments for the superiority of Jesus over all rival claims to allegiance which his readers were feeling and hearing. There

“These introductory verses present a sharp departure from the usual first-century epistolary practice, as seen so regularly in Paul’s epistles. There are no opening greetings, no indication of the writer’s name, and no expression of good wishes. For this reason, some have viewed Hebrews as a formal address, perhaps even a sermon (this is the view I respectfully take – TAR). This idea finds some support in 13:22…

^NAS Hebrews 13:22 But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.

THE TREATISE CLEARLY ENDS LIKE A LETTER, however, with the writer asking his readers to pray for him as he looks forward to seeing them. He also gives them news of Timothy and brings greetings from others.” – Steadman

THE ARGUMENT OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS – God spoke in various ways to our fathers through the prophets, but now He has spoken His final word to us in His Son, His perfect representative.  The Son of God is greater than any prophet; He is greater even than the angels, as the ancient scriptures abundantly testify.  It was through angels that Moses’ law was communicated, and its sanctions were severe enough; how much more perilous must it be to ignore the saving message brought by no angel, but by Jesus, the Son of God!

“JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, IS THE ONE TO WHOM THE DOMINION OF THE WORLD HAS BEEN COMMITTED FOR ALL TIME TO COME.  As the eighth psalm teaches us, God has put everything under the dominion of man, and it was the nature of man – our nature – that the Son of God took upon Himself in order to win back this dominion.  To do this He had to conquer the devil who had usurped it, and rescue those whom he held in bondage; and He conquered the devil when in death He invaded the realm of death, which the devil had controlled until then.  It is because Jesus is truly Man, moreover, that He is qualified to serve as high priest on His people’s behalf; He knows all their trials from His own experiences and therefore, can give them the timely help they need.

“BUT LET US BEWARE: THOSE WHO REBELLED AGAINST GOD IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE WILDERNESS WANDERINGS WERE EXCLUDED FROM HIS REST IN THE PROMISED LAND.  There is, however, a better rest than that which the Israelites found in Canaan; it is the rest which awaits the people of God.  We must take care not to forfeit that rest by rebelling against God, when He speaks to us no longer through His servant Moses, as He did in those days, but through His Son, a greater than Moses.

“THE AARONIC PRIESTS MINISTER UNDER THE OLD COVENANT INSTITUTED AT MOUNT SINAI; JESUS IS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT – THE COVENANT WHOSE INAUGURATION JEREMIAH FORETOLD.

“THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW COVENANT MEANS THE FORMER ONE IS OBSOLETE. (THIS OCCURRED WITH JESUS’ CROSSWORK, i.e., HIS DEATH – TAR).

“POLLUTION BY MEANS OF ANIMAL SACRIFICES AND SIMILAR RITES, BUT THESE THINGS COULD NEVER REMOVE SIN; UNDER THE NEW COVENANT, JESUS, BY YEILDING UP HIS LIFE TO GOD AS AN ACCEPTABLE AND EFFACACIOUS SACRIFICE, CLEANSES THE CONSCIENCE OF QUILT AAND THUS ABOLISHES THE BARRIER BETWEEN HIS PEOPLE AND GOD. THE AARONIC PRIESTS MINISTER IN AN EARTHLY SANCTUARY BELONGING TO THE OLD ORDER, WHERE ACCESS TO THE DIVINE PRESENCE IS BARRED BY A CURTAIN (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38 – TAR); JESUS EXERCISES HIS HIGH PRIESTHOOD IN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY, WHERE THERE IS NO SUCH BARRIER BETWEEN THE WORSHIPERS AND GOD. AND THIS HEAVENLY SANCTUARY IN WHICH DIRECT ACCESS TO GOD IS ACCORDED THROUGH JESUS IS THAT SPIRITUAL AND ETERNAL ORDER OF WHICH THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY IS ONLY A TEMPORARY AND INADEQUATE COPY. FOR THE NEW ORDER INTO WHICH CHRIST BRINGS HIS PEOPLE IS TO THE OLD LEVITICAL ORDER AS SUBSTANCE TO SHADOW.” – Bruce

THOSE FAMILIAR TO THE WEEKLY PROFESSOR’S CORNER WILL NOTICE the extended capitalization and bold text of this particular blog. It is my way of indicating my study in the book of Hebrews is going to be markedly different than the blogs I have done for Barabbas Road in the past three years. As I will now be taking you through an exegetical (in depth) study of the book of Hebrews with much the same methodology as was employed in our just-completed verse-by-verse study of the book of Ephesians, I will at the same time be pursuing a dual purpose…

MY PURPOSE… As I’ve been writing Professor’s Corners these past three years, not only have I striven to honor God and serve our church, but I’ve tried my best to make them consistently both educational and readable. In my writings in these blogs I’ve wanted to strike a middle tone between seminary, publishable-level writing and the vernacular, that is, common, unpretentious writing; a little lower than the former polarity and a little higher than the latter. While I will continue to write in this middle-of-the-road style, there will be definite occasions when I will be leaning decidedly toward the seminary level. Please understand, the last thing I want to do is distance myself from any reader. I intend to continue to write to everyone, to consciously include both polarities. I don’t want to discourage anyone.  I’m just being “real,” as we often say today when our desire for honesty sometimes temporarily overrides our regard for politeness. The fact is I’m going do my best to lead us in a thorough and widespread study of an important, exciting, and challenging book that we all can benefit from by drawing closer to God. I hope you will all accept – even embrace – the difficulties and look forward with excitement to each installment expecting to learn.

All this has to do with the New Covenant, a term which originated in the Old Testament (most notably Jeremiah 31) but which has great relevance in the New Testament book of Hebrews, and I dare say, perhaps beyond to include the entire New Testament. I want to be quick to add that we don’t know that last part yet. It is speculation. Such a speculation, and many similar ideas, will be the kinds of topics that we’re going to study without trepidation regardless of difficulty. The New Covenant is inarguably a difficult subject. It would not be hyperbole to say that when all its ramifications are seriously considered, it may be the most difficult study in the entire Bible.

In support of that statement, I offer this little story. While at seminary in the nineties I learned from a knowledgeable and reliable source that John Walvoord (1910-2002), the legendary President of Dallas Theological Seminary, was said to have offered anyone enrolled at DTS an honorary doctorate if he or she could exegetically resolve to recognized scholars the complex theological problems of Jeremiah’s New Covenant (sometimes the term is capitalized, other times it is not; I am on the side of those who favor capitalizing it). Not surprisingly, no one, to my knowledge, has yet claimed Walvoord’s reward. I freely acknowledge I may be biting off more than I can chew in my attempt with this series of blogs in Hebrews, but I am humbly going to venture to try.

Simply and generally speaking, this is the main question: is the Old Testament New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34 strictly intended to be for the nation of Israel and not the New Testament church, or is it universal in nature, including both messianic Jews (Jewish believers in the Messiah, Jesus Christ) and Christians?

^NAS Jeremiah 31:31-34 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, ³² not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. ³³ “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ³⁴ “And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Many more passages, much more information about the New Covenant to come in our in-depth study of the book of Hebrews. I will continue my habit of using boldface print to emphasize the first sentence or two of my paragraphs in the blogs, but when you see entire paragraphs in boldface, you will know the information contained therein is specifically about the New Covenant.

One note I probably should have included in one of the first blogs: I realize I write each week more than many of you have the time to read. I’ve thought all along that using the boldface type would make it easier for you to pick up as many of the highlights as time would allow. I hope that is the case for some of you.

So, my purpose in the months ahead will be to exegete the book of Hebrews in my weekly blogs, as well as to tackle the mountainous questions arising from Jeremiah’s New Covenant. To say it will be a challenge is a gross understatement. I pray the Lord will somehow be honored in my attempt.

Hermeneutics is the science (principles) and art (task) by which the meaning of the biblical text is determined. – Zuck

Exegesis is the skillful application of sound hermeneutical principles to the biblical text in the original language with a view to understanding and declaring the author’s intended meaning. Exegesis is both a science and an art, both process and a product. – John Grassmick

ONE LAST THING IN THIS LAST INTRODUCTORY BLOG…

WHO WAS THE HUMAN AUTHOR OF HEBREWS? As has been mentioned more than once in these several introductory blogs, based upon the information we currently have available, no one but God knows for certain who the human author of the book of Hebrews was. Recognizing the inarguably reality of that statement, all things considered carefully and with utmost humility, my studied opinion is that…

APOLLOS WAS LIKELY THE HUMAN AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS. I am among those who reject the idea that the apostle Paul was the writer.  Not that it is impossible for Paul to have been the author, but it is highly unlikely. I say that as one who has been teaching Greek on a seminary level for 20 years and has grammatically diagrammed in Greek every sentence Pal wrote in the New Testament. To me generally, this is simply not Paul’s voice. For just one example, as fine a writer as Paul most certainly was, his style of writing would not be described by scholars as “eloquent,” as the writer to the Hebrews has been (see point 3 immediately below). By comparison, Paul’s style was more blunt, even confrontational. In my opinion, the difference of writing style of these two men of God is marked. Here are some of the reasons I feel the way I do (primarily taken from Montefiore):

• APOLLOS WAS A JEW (Acts 18:24). It is difficult to believe that anyone but a Jew could have written Hebrew.

^NAS Acts 18:24-25 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. ²⁵ This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John;

• APOLLOS WAS A NATIVE OF ALEXANDRIA (Acts 18:24). In view of the connection between the epistle and the historian Philo, it seems probable that the author of Hebrews was an Alexandrian.
• APOLLOS WAS AN ELOQUENT MAN (Acts 18:24). The word implies that he was gifted with the learning and the elegance that are associated with eloquence. This would apply well to the author of Hebrews. Its prose is the best Greek in the New Testament. The writer has a feeling, which is unique among New Testament authors, for rhythm, assonance, language, vocabulary and syntax.
• APOLLOS WAS POWERFUL IN THE SCRIPTURES (Acts 18:24). So too was the author of Hebrews. His use of scripture was not, like that of most other New Testament author, dependent on the common tradition of the early church. In few of his scriptural quotations or arguments does he use or adapt the conventional testimonia of the primitive church. His was an original mind, and he was a master of sacred Scripture.
• APOLLOS TAUGHT ‘ACCURATELY’, according to Luke (acts 18:25). Extreme precision of expression is a mark of Hebrews’ style. Again and again le mot juste is used. Tenses, words, arguments are all precisely employed. There is nothing vague in the whole Epistle.
• APOLLOS TAUGHT ACCURATELY THE THINGS ‘CONCERNING JESUS’ (Acts 18:25). It is noteworthy that in this Epistle the name of Jesus is used more than any other epistle. Its theme is indeed the things concerning Jesus.
• APOLLOS WAS INSTRUCTED IN THE WAY OF THE LORD (Acts 18:25). Hebrews contains more historical references to the historical Jesus than any other Epistle in the canon. There are references to His birth, baptism, and temptations. There is a vivid reference to His agony in Gethsemane, as well as to His death and resurrection.

THE ARGUMENTS MENTIONED BY MONTEFIORE ARE NOT ORIGINAL, AND IN THE PAST THEY HAVE LED MANY SCHOLARS TO BELIEVE THAT HEBREWS WAS INDEED WRITTEN BY APOLLOS. THEY DO, HOWEVER, FALL SHORT OF PROOF. It must still stand that only God knows who the author of Hebrews was.

 

– Professor Thomas A. Rohm