eeC'ond eection beµns at eh. iii. 1, the thesis -whether as attend1mte on the Divine being that "the SoN is superior to Moses." llfajesty, or as agents of the fiery phenomena. Through angel./1 and MOllea the Law was on Mount Sinai (naturl\l operations being given: "Ordained through angels in the often o.ttributed to angels), or o.s the utterere hand of a mediator" (Go.l. iii. 19), the "me- of the voice that was hearcl. "Looutus est diator " being Moses. To show that the Deus per angelos" (Bengel). And the writers SOI,, in the Old Testament itself, is repre- of the New Testnment pie.inly reoognize this sented as above both, is to show, what it is view (see below, eh. ii. 2 ; Aote vii 53; the main purpose of the whole Epistle to Gal. iii. 19). Hence our author to.kes for establish, the.t the gospel, given through granted that his readers will understand o.nd the SoN, is above the Law, o.nd intended to recognize it, and so implies it in his o.r~- 1mpersede it. The conclusion is that the ment, expressiug,as it does,a trueconoephon gospel stanrls in the same relation to the of the ne.ture of the Moso.io dispensation, Law as does the SO!, to angels, who are and espeoially of its relation to the gospel. but "ministering spirits," and to Moses, who To resume our view of the argument that wns but a " servant." With regard to the follows. The first section (us aforesaid) is agency of nngels in the giving of the Law, from eh. i. 5 to iii. 1, having for its thesis we do not find it so evident in the Old Testa- the superiority of the SoN to angel,. The ment as might ho.ve been expected from the second section is from eh. iii. l to v. 1, hav- references to it in the New. The "o.ngel of ing for its thesis the superiority of the SoN to Lord," who nppeared to Moses (Exod. iii. 2) Moses. Each section consists of two main and wei1t before the people (Exod. xiv. 19; divisions, between which in ea.eh case an xxiii. 20, etc.), seems in the earlier books of appropriate exhortation is interposed ; the the Bible to signify a certain presence and first division in each case tree.ting of what manifestation of the LORD himself, re.tiler the SoN is in his own pereon, the second of tbe.n n created minister of his will (see Gen. hie work for mo.n ; and both sections leading xd. 7, 13; x:xii. 15, 16; Exod. iii. 2, 4; x.xiii. separately to the conclusion that he is the 20, 21; cf. Acts vii. 31, 35, 38)"; and this be.a High Priest of humanity. Then, in eh. v., been identified hy theologians with the the subject of his priesthood is taken up. Word. not yet iLtCarne.te, through whom all Ebrard happily illustrates the symmetrical Divine communications have been me.de to plan of the argument thus : "'l'he author, men. It is to he observed, however, tbo.t, having thus been led from these two dif- after the sin of the golden calf, a distinction ferent starting-points to the idea. of the lr.p- seems to be made between the presence of x••p•vs, now proceeds to place on the two the LoRD with his people o.nd that of the first parts, which may be viewed o.s the pil- angel to be thenceforth sent before them lars of the arch, tho third part, which forms (Exod. :xxxiii. 2, 3). Ebrard sees in the the keystone." In this third part it begins "angel of the LORD" generally, though to be shown, at eh. v. 1, how Christ fulfilled understood as signifying a Divine presence, in his humanity the essential idea of priest- a jUBtificntion of the statement that the Law hood. But, for reasons that will appear, the was given "through angels," on the ground full doctrine of his eternal priesthood is not that, though God did so manifest hi1nselj, it entered upon till eh. vii. 1-x. 19, which may was not a direct manifestation, as in the be co.lied the central portion of the whole SoN, but throngh forms borrowed from the Epistle. The remainder (eh. x. 20-euJ) sphere of the angels. It was nn angelo- me.y be distinguished from the rest as being pitany, denoting an unseen Divine presence, the distinctly hortatory part (though hor- mot a true theophany. The only distinct al- tation has been frequently interposed in the bision to "angels," in the plnral, in connec- argument), being mainly devoted to pra.c- tion with the giving of the Law, is in Deut. tico.l application of the doctrine that has x=iii. 2, " He came with ten thousands been established. 'l'he following plan of of saints;" with which comp. Ps. lxviii. 17. the argument of the first two sections, But there is no doubt that it came afl.er- showing the paro.llelism between them, wo.rds to be the accepted rabbinical view may assist us in entering into it as it pro- 1.ho.t the dispensers of the Law were angels ceeds:-
SECTIO:S I. SECTION II. Thesi,: Christ superior to the angels. Thesis: Christ superior to Moses. Di'DiBion 1 (eh. i. 5-ii. 1), Division 1 (eh. iii. 1-7). The name SoN, as applied to the typical Moses is represented in the Old Testa- tl,eocratic kiugs, aud in its final reference ment as but a servant ·in the house of God. and full mei,.11ing (as you all e.cknowlc?~c) 'l'he So~ is lord ocer the house. pnin1.iug to th,, Messiah, expresses a pos1t10n ullogether aliove any asbig-ued anywhere to angels. The So:-i i~ rcpreijen ted as one o.sso- on. 1. 1-14.J 'l'HE EPIS'rLE 'fO THE HEilREWS. 9