THE

EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS.

This Epistle was written by Paul the Apostle from Rome, about the end of the year of our Lord 63, when he was released or expecting shortly to be released from his first imprisonment. It was addressed to the converted Jews of Judea.

It was sent by Timothy.

It contains thirteen chapters.

CHAP. I.

1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son [Jesus Christ], whom he hath appointed heir of all things, [the heir is the Lord of all, Gal. iv. 1,] by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of the Father's 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 [by his death upon the cross], sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

4 Being made, even in his human nature, so much better than the angels, even as by inheritance [as heir of all things] he hath 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 [God], the second time, raising him from the dead, bringeth the first begotten into the world, [Phil. ii. 9, 11,] he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 Not such a name did he give the angels; of them he saith, [Ps. civ. 4,] Who maketh his angels spirits [winds, flying messengers], and his ministers speedy as a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith, [Ps. xlv. 6, 7,] 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 [to a state of happiness and glory,] above thy fellows, [above those prophets, kings, and inspired mortals, who as men might, in their human nature, be called thy fellows.]

10 And again he saith, [Ps. cii. 25-27,] Thou O 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 shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold up the heavens and the earth [as useless and worn out]; but thou, O Christ, art the same: thy years [time, power, and glory] shall never fail.

13 But the angels have never arrived at this preeminence; for, to which of them hath God said 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?

CHAP. II.

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.

2 For if the law delivered by the ministry of angels [Gal. iii. 19,] was stedfast [inviolable], and every transgression was justly punished;

3 How shall we escape if we neglect the gospel, that great means of salvation; which was promulgated by the Lord Jesus himself, and confirmed unto us Jews by the chosen witnesses and apostles that heard him?

4 God also bearing witness [confirming the gospel, testifying of Jesus,] both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, which by his will they are able to perform ;

5 For unto Christ, and not unto the angels, hath

he put in subjection the world to come, the dispensation of the gospel and the rewards and punishments consequent thereon, whereof we speak [preach].

6 But David [Ps. viii. 4,] testified saying, What is man [who is this man] that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou visitest him with such glory?

7 Thou madest him a little [for a little while] inferior to the angels; then thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

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 as yet we see not the completion of all this, though we know it shall be.

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels [made man], that he might be able to undergo, for our sakes, the sufferings of death; we see him [with the eye of faith,] crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it was in accordance with the wisdom of God the Father, for whom and by whom are all things, in his glorious scheme of salvation, whereby he brought many sons [men, sons by adoption,] to glory, to make his own Son Jesus Christ the first-fruits, the Captain of their salvation, perfect through sufferings [by that means, and that only, perfecting his work, and being an atonement and example to all faithful, suffering Christians].

11 For both Christ, who sanctifieth, and they who are by him made holy, are of one nature, as being human; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, [Ps. xxii. 22,] I will declare thy name unto thy brethren, in the midst of the church [congregation] will I praise thee.

13 And again, [Ps. xviii. 2,] I will put my trust in him; and again, [Is. viii. 18,] Behold, I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch, then, as the children of Christ are partakers one with another of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death [atonement by death] he might destroy the power of everlasting death, that is the devil;

15 And deliver them who, before they had this hope [this atonement], were all their life-time subject to the fear of death.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels [he came not to save them], but he became man, of the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore, in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that, feeling as man their infirmities, he might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour [feel for, compassionate] them that are tempted.