Hebrews 1:1

Introduction: God Has Spoken Fully and Finally in His Son

1:1 After God spoke long ago ¹  in various portions ²  and in various ways ³  to our ancestors ⁴  through the prophets,

Hebrews 1:10

1:10 And,

“You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, ⁵ 

and the heavens are the works of your hands.

Hebrews 3:14-15

3:14 For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence ⁶  firm until the end. 3:15 As it says, ⁷  “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! ⁸  Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” ⁹ 

Hebrews 8:2

8:2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.

Hebrews 10:28

10:28 Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death ¹⁰  without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ¹¹ 

Hebrews 12:8

12:8 But if you do not experience discipline, ¹²  something all sons ¹³  have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.

Hebrews 12:21

12:21 In fact, the scene ¹⁴  was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.” ¹⁵ 

[1:1]  ¹ tn Or “spoke formerly.”

[1:1]  ² tn Or “parts.” The idea is that God’s previous revelation came in many parts and was therefore fragmentary or partial (L&N 63.19), in comparison with the final and complete revelation contained in God’s Son. However, some interpret πολυμερῶς (polumerw") in Heb 1:1 to mean “on many different occasions” and would thus translate “many times” (L&N 67.11). This is the option followed by the NIV: “at many times and in various ways.” Finally, this word is also understood to refer to the different manners in which something may be done, and would then be translated “in many different ways” (L&N 89.81). In this last case, the two words πολυμερῶς and πολυτρόπως (polutropw") mutually reinforce one another (“in many and various ways,” NRSV).

[1:1]  ³ tn These two phrases are emphasized in Greek by being placed at the beginning of the sentence and by alliteration.

[1:1]  ⁴ tn Grk “to the fathers.”

[1:10]  ⁵ sn You founded the earth…your years will never run out. In its original setting Ps 102:25-27 refers to the work of God in creation, but here in Hebrews 1:10-12 the writer employs it in reference to Christ, the Lord, making a strong argument for the essential deity of the Son.

[3:14]  ⁹ tn Grk “the beginning of the confidence.”

[3:15]  ¹³ tn Grk “while it is said.”

[3:15]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “today if you hear his voice.”

[3:15]  ¹⁵ sn A quotation from Ps 95:7b-8.

[10:28]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “dies.”

[10:28]  ¹⁸ sn An allusion to Deut 17:6.

[12:8]  ²¹ tn Grk “you are without discipline.”

[12:8]  ²² tn Grk “all”; “sons” is implied by the context.

[12:21]  ²⁵ tn Grk “that which appeared.”

[12:21]  ²⁶ tn Grk “I am terrified and trembling.”