Hebrews 2
18 verses
The first warning call—do not neglect such a great salvation—establishes the stakes of theological failure and the necessity of attentive hearing, making audition to God's final word in the Son a matter of utmost consequence. Christ as the pioneer (archēgos—first, leader, founder) of salvation made perfect (teleioō—completed, matured, brought to goal) through suffering reverses expectations about leadership and perfection, making suffering the path to exaltation rather than its obstacle. The incarnation's necessity—he had to be like his siblings in every respect to become a merciful and faithful high priest able to help those who are tempted—establishes Christ's solidarity with human weakness as the prerequisite for representative intercession. The claim that Christ destroyed the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, frames redemption not merely as juridical transaction but as cosmic victory, death's power broken through incarnate participation in human mortality. The assertion that he suffered being tempted enables him to help those who are tempted establishes Christ's experience of temptation as the ground of sympathetic succor, making him able to intercede with full understanding of human struggle. The Christological claim that Christ sanctifies those who are sanctified (hoi hagiazomenoi) envisages believers in process of sanctification, Christ as the agent establishing the conditions for their transformation. The chapter thus moves from warning to theodicy, explaining why Christ had to suffer: to defeat death, establish priestly mediation, and secure believers' transformation.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
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2
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
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3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
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4
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
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5
For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
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6
But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
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7
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
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8
Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
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9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
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10
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
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11
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
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12
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
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13
And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
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14
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
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15
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
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Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the ...
16
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
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17
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
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18
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
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