1Therefore, we should pay greater attention to the things that we were taught, for fear that we may drift away. 2Certainly, if the word spoken through angels proved reliable and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation! It was first announced by the Lord himself, and it is confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4God also bore witness with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will. 5Indeed, God did not subject the world2132 to come (which we proclaim) to angels, 6but there is a place {in Scripture} where someone has testified:
What is man that you should be concerned for him?
Or the son of man, that you care for him?
7You made him a little lower than the angels2133.
You crowned him with glory and honor.2134
8You have put all things in subjection under his feet.2135
Since God has subjected all things to him, he has left nothing that is not subject to him! But now, we do not see all things subjected to him, [at least not] yet. 9However, we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, [that is] Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God2136 he should taste death for2137 everyone.
Many children to glory
10Indeed, it was fitting for God, (for whom are all things and through whom are all things), in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect2138 through sufferings. 11For both the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one; for this reason, he2139 is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12saying:
I will declare2140 your Name to my brethren.
In the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.2141
13Again:
I will put my trust in him,2142
and:
Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me.2143
Christ’s humanity
14Since the children have shared in [the same] flesh and blood, he likewise shared the same [human nature], so that through death he might bring to nothing the one who had the power of death—the devil—15and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to life-long slavery. 16Certainly, Jesus2144 did not take on the [nature of] angels, but [that of] Abraham’s seed. 17For this reason, he had to be made like his brethren2145 in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,2146 {able} to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18Moreover, since he himself suffered and was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
A High Priest greater than Moses
- Greek oivkoume,nhn
- Follows LXX; the Hebrew text has ‘elohim’ which could also be rendered as ‘gods’
- TR adds “and set him over the works of your hands”
- Psalm 8:4-6. NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- A few ancient manuscripts read “so that apart from God he should…” This variant was noted by Origen and Jerome, but it is poorly attested and is almost certainly a transcriptional error.
- Or “on behalf of”
- Or “complete/fulfilled”
- Jesus
- Or “proclaim/confess/acknowledge”
- Psalm 22:22/21 LXX. NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- Isaias (Isaiah) 8:17. NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- Isaias 8:18
- Greek “he”
- Or “brothers”
- Or “in the service of God”
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
