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| 1 For this cause, it behoveth us, with unwonted firmness, to be holding fast unto the things that have been heard, lest, at any time, we drift away. |
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| 2 For, if the word through messengers spoken became firm, and, every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, |
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| 3 how shall, we, escape, if, so great a salvation as this, we have neglected,–which, indeed, having received, a beginning, of being spoken through the Lord, by them who heard, unto us was confirmed, |
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| 4 God, jointly witnessing also, both with signs and wonders and manifold mighty works, and with distributions of Holy Spirit, according to his own will? |
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| 5 For, not unto messengers, hath he subjected the coming habitable earth of which we are speaking; |
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| 6 But one somewhere hath borne witness, saying–What is man, that thou shouldst make mention of him? Or the son of man, that thou shouldst put him in charge? |
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| 7 Thou hast made him less, some little, than messengers, With glory and honour, hast thou crowned him,–[And hast set him over the works of thy hands]; |
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| 8 All things, hast thou subjected beneath his feet. For, in subjecting, [to him] the all things, nothing, left he, to him unsubjected; But now, not yet, do we see, to him, the all things subjected;– |
All things ... under his feet – Man was designed to have dominion over all the earth.
But now ... not yet – Paul is reminding us of the obvious, i.e., that even though this was God's purpose for man, man has not yet attained to that purpose. |
| 9 But, Jesus, made some little less than messengers, we do behold: by reason of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, to the end that, by favour of God, in behalf of every one, he might taste of death. |
But we see – In vs 8 he tells us that we do "not yet" see man having fulfilled God's purpose for him. But what do we see?
Jesus – "The author and finisher of our faith."
Made a little lower than the angels – Exactly the same description given of Adam. In other words, 'We see Jesus made a perfect human being.'
For the suffering of death – This was His purpose in taking such a lowly position (in comparison to His position as the Archangel.)
Crowned with glory and honour – The glory and honor of the perfect human nature. Exactly the same description given of Adam in vss. 6,7.
Grace of God – Amen!
Taste death for every man – Not just for the true believers but for every man. |
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| 10 For it was becoming in him–For the sake of whom are the all things, and by means of whom are the all things,–when, many sons, unto glory, he would lead, The Princely Leader of their salvation, through sufferings, to make perfect. |
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| 11 For, both he that maketh holy, and they who are being made holy, are, all, of One; For which cause, he is not ashamed to be calling them, brethren, |
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| 12 saying–I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of an assembly, will I sing praise unto thee; |
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| 13 and again–I, will be confident upon him; and again–Lo! I, and the children which, unto me, God, hath given. |
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| 14 Seeing therefore the children have received a fellowship of blood and flesh, he also, in like manner, took partnership in the same,–in order that, through death,–he might paralyse him that held the dominion of death, that is, the Adversary,– |
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| 15 And might release these–as many as, by fear of death, were all their lifetime liable, to bondage. |
Fear of death – Of the sacrificial death. This has reference to the Great Company.
All their lifetime – The implication here might be that the decision to relegate one to the Great Company may not be made until about the time of their death. If so, this becomes a precious promise to any who have had prior doubts but are now running a good race and not at all under the 'Fear of death.' [* As near as can be determined, this is NOT Pastor Russell's view of the Great Company's attitude. His thought seems to be expressed in Q24:3.] |
| 16 For, not surely of messengers, is he laying hold, but, of Abraham's seed, he is laying hold. |
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| 17 Whence he was obliged, in every way, unto the brethren, to be made like, that he might become a merciful and faithful high-priest, in the things pertaining unto God,–for the making of propitiation for the sins of the people. |
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| 18 For, in that, he, suffered when tested, he is able, unto them who are being tested, to give succour. |
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