Learn: Hebrews 1:1-3
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Read: Hebrews 1:1-14
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
The author of the book of Hebrews is known only to God.
The book was written to “to the Hebrews” thus its first readership was the Jewish Christians, as can be seen from the references to the prophets and angels ministering to Israel, and the citations concerning Levitical worship.
There are 29 direct quotations from the Old Testament plus 53 clear allusions to various other passages. These are used to demonstrate both the finality of the Christian revelation and its superiority to the old covenant.
The theme of the book is the superiority of Christ and thus of Christianity, as demonstrated in apologetic for the superiority of Christ and Christianity over Judaism in terms of priesthood and sacrifice.
THE RYRIE STUDY BIBLE – from commentary in the introduction to the book of Hebrews.
The first 4 verses comprise one majestic sentence in the Greek, but the beauty of the literary skill is also evident in the English.
- What does this book begin with? v1
How does the beginning of Hebrews in verse 1 seem similar to Genesis 1:1?
What does this similarity between Genesis 1:1 and Hebrews 1:1 indicate? - How did God speak to man in times past? v 1
- What were these divers manners in which God spoke?
Numbers 12:6-8; Hebrews 2:2Note: “in these last days” is better translated, “in the last of these days” as stated by Dr. David Hocking - What is the culmination or completion of God speaking to man? v 2a
NOTE: These days in which Christ has spoken includes the entire gospel dispensation extending from the first coming of Christ (Matthew 1:1) to the second coming of Christ (Revelation 22:21) - What are 7 credentials of God’s Son who has spoken to us? vv 2-3
- Find and record Scriptures that declare the existence of God’s Son, and that show that the God of the Bible, the only God, is not monotheistic, but is one God in three persons. You need only show that the Son is God for our purposes in this lesson.
- What are some cults and religions which this doctrine of Scripture which declares that God has a Son shows to be false.
- Define the word “heir.”
- How is the Son of God shown to be the “heir” of all things? Hebrews 3:6; Psalm 2:4-9
- Explain the truth that the Son “made the worlds.” John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:13-16
- Define “brightness” as it is used in verse 3.
- Explain in what way that the Son is the “brightness of God’s glory.” Revelation 1:13-16; Revelation 19:11, 12; Revelation 21:22, 23
- What is meant when the Scripture says that the Son (Jesus) is the “express image” of the person of God?
John 14:9, II Corinthians 4:4, Colossians 1:15 - Explain the concept that God the Son “upholds all things by the word of his power”. Colossians 1:17
- Define the word “purge”.
- How are a person’s sins “purged”? v 3
- Find and record Scripture that addresses this truth that Christ, himself, one time, in the past, purged our sins.
- What is the confirmation that the purging of our sins which was done by Christ is finished and will NEVER be repeated? v 3
Matthew 16:21; Hebrews 9:28; John 19:30
Luke 23:44-46; Hebrews 10:18-20
Acts 3:15
Acts 10:42, 43 - Christ is superior to the angels. How is this shown to all the world? List 5 truths that show this: Ephesians 1:20-22
- How does Philippians 2:9-11 also confirm the superiority of Christ?
- 21. How will Christ’s superiority also be confirmed at the end of the age? Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:11-15; John 5:22
- After this brief study of Hebrews 1:1-4. What is your conclusion concerning why Jesus is superior to all?