4, The detailed development of the argument is now intro- duced. The point is to show the superiority of the agent of the new dispensation to the agents of the old—the angels and Moses. Christ’s superiority to the angels is first discussed.
Being made so much better than the angels (tocovT» KpelTT@V yevopevos THY ayyéhov). The informal and abrupt introduction of this topic goes to show that the writer was addressing Jewish Christians, who were familiar with the prominent part ascribed to angels in the O. T. economy, especially in the giving of the law. See on Gal. i. 9. For being made, rend. having become; which. is to be taken in close connection with sat down, etc., and in contrast with av being, ver. 3. It is not denied that the Son was essentially and eternally superior to the angels; but his glorification was conditioned upon his fulfilment of the requirements of his human state, and it is this that is emphasised. After having passed through the experience described in Philip. ii. 6-8, he sat down on the right hand of the divine majesty as messtanie sovereign, and so became or proved to be what in reality he was from eternity, superior to the angels. Toootrw—éc@ so much—as. Never used by Paul. Kpetrrwv better, superior, rare in Paul, and always neuter and adverbial. In Hebrews thirteen times. See also 1 Pet. iii. 17; 2 Pet. ii. 21. Often
VoL. Iv. —25
386 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. I.
in LXX. It does not indicate here moral excellence, but dig- nity and power. He became superior to the angels, resuming his preincarnate dignity, as he had been, for a brief period, less or lower than the angels (ch. ii. 7). The superiority of Messiah to the angels was affirmed in rabbinical writings.
He hath by inheritance obtained (xexAnpovdunxev). More neatly, as Rev., hath inherited, as ason. See ver. 2, and comp. Rom. viii. 17. For the verb, see on Acts xiii. 19, and 1 Pet. i. 4.
More excellent (S:adopwtepov). Aradopos only once out- side of Hebrews, Rom. xii. 6. The comparative only in Hebrews. In the sense of more excellent, only in later writers. Its earlier sense is different. The idea of difference is that which radically distinguishes it from xpefrtwy better. Here it presents the comparative of a comparative conception. The Son’s name differs from that of the angels, and is more different for good.
Than they (aap’ avrovs). Lit. beside or in comparison with them. Ilapa, indicating comparison, occurs a few times in Luke, as iii. 18; xiii. 2; xviii. 4. In Hebrews always to mark comparison, except xi. 11, 12.
5. The writer proceeds to establish the superiority of the Son to the angels by O. T. testimony. It is a mode of argu- ment which does not appeal strongly to us. Dr. Bruce suggests that there are evidences that the writer himself developed it perfunctorily and without much interest in it. The seven following quotations are intended to show the sur- passing excellence of Christ’s name as set forth in Scripture. The quotations present difficulty in that they appear, in great part, to be used in a sense and with an application different from those which they originally had. All that can be said is, that the writer takes these passages as messianic, and applies them accordingly; and that we must distinguish between the doctrine and the method of argumentation pecul- iar to the time and people. Certain passages in Paul are open to the same objection, as Gal. iii. 16; iv. 22-25.
Cu. I] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 387
To which (ri). Note the author’s characteristic use of the question to express denial. Comp. ver. 14; ii. 3; iii. 17; Vits Ws xis: Te ;
First quotation from Ps. ii. 7. The Psalm is addressed as a congratulatory ode to a king of Judah, declaring his coming triumph over the surrounding nations, and calling on them to render homage to the God of Israel. The king is called Son of Jahveh, and is said to be “begotten” on the day on which he is publicly recognised as king. Words of the same Psalm are quoted Acts iv. 25, and these words Acts xiii. 33.