HAVING BECOME AS MUCH BETTER THAN THE ANGELS:
tosouto kreitton genomenos (AMPMSN) tôn aggelôn:
(Torrey's Topic
Preciousness
of Christ,
ANGELS)
(Nave's
ANGELS)
(Click
her for in depth ISBE Article on Angels) (See
excellent booklet from RBC
What Can We Learn From The Angels?) (Heb
1:9 - note;
2:9- note;
Eph 1:21 - note;
Col 1:18-note;
2:10-note;
2Th 1:7;
1Pe 3:22 - note;
Rev 5:11 - note;
5:12 - note)
having become so much
better than the messengers (YLT)
thus proving himself, by the more glorious name that he has won
far greater than all the angels of God
(Phillips)
having become by
so much superior to the angels
(Wuest)
Being made so much
better than the angels
(KJV)
as far superior to
the angels (NAB)
[Taking a place and rank by
which] He Himself became as much superior to angels
(Amp)
Thus he became so far
better than the angels
(NET)
The Son became much
greater than the angels
(ICB)
I like
John MacArthur's introductory comments to Hebrews 1:4-14...
In this chapter we are going to be
dealing with meat as opposed to milk. I cannot remember a passage on which
I have spent more time. To some extent, it is like an iceberg. You can see
the top clearly enough, but it may not appear too impressive or
meaningful. We will be looking below the surface of this passage into its
deep truths. In that sense, verses 4 through 14 are not easy to
understand. If, even in a small measure, I can help make these truths more
understandable, I have succeeded in what I asked God to help me do.
Keep in mind that the book of Hebrews
is written to Jewish people, primarily to Jewish believers but also to
Jewish unbelievers. Both groups are pressed with the truth that the New
Covenant is better than the Old—that Jesus Christ is the better Priest,
and the better Mediator, and that He is the final Priest and the final
Sacrifice at the same time. Throughout the book we have comparisons
between the New Covenant and the Old Covenant and between Jesus Christ and
everyone else, to show that Jesus is superior in every way.
In the first three verses Jesus is
shown as superior to everything and everyone. After unfolding all of the
human "everyones" Christ is superior to, the Holy Spirit teaches us that
Jesus Christ is also superior to angels. (MacArthur,
John: Hebrews. Moody Press
or
Logos)
NOTE: Do not confuse this discussion of Jesus better than the angels
with the Angel of the LORD a term found only in the Old
Testament and referring not to a created angel but almost certainly to
preincarnate appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Click for a Scriptural analysis of the Angel of the LORD.
It is very interesting to note that the term the Angel of the Lord
does not appear in the New Testament after the incarnation of Christ He
becomes a man, for their was no longer any need for a "pre-incarnate"
theophany (appearance in the form of God) for the God-Man Christ Jesus.
Spurgeon
comments...
So you perceive that Christ is no
created angel. He is sometimes compared to an angel. He is sometimes
called the angel of the covenant, but he is not a created angel. He is
higher in nature, higher in rank, higher in intellect, and higher in power
than they. He is nothing less than very God of very God. The very man who
suffered on Calvary.
Paul had warned Timothy
that
the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from
the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1Timothy 4:1).
That these later
times had already arrived in the first century
church is clear for writing to the church at Colossae Paul warned the
saints to reject false angelogly saying
Let no one keep defrauding you
of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the
angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without
cause by his fleshly mind and not holding fast to the Head (Christ), from
Whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and
ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. (see notes
Colossians 2:18;
2:19)
Many people in the first century apparently believed that angels served as
mediators between God and men and it was tempting to focus more on angels
than upon the sufficiency of Christ as the Great High Priest and Mediator.
Basing his arguments upon familiar Old Testament verses, specifically
quoting from the Greek translation, the
Septuagint (LXX), the author in
eleven verses (Hebrews 1:4-14) brilliantly constructs a convincing contrast
between Christ the Creator and the created angels, conclusively
demonstrating that Christ is far superior to the angels and He Alone
warrants the readers (and our) adoration, worship and obedience.
Modern
Christianity enamored with widespread Scripturally "shallow" teaching on
angels, is in desperate need of this sound doctrine which
alone is able to nourish our faith (1Ti 4:6)
and cause us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ" (see note
2 Peter 3:18)
Scripture has
considerable teaching on the topic of angels with some 108 direct
references in the OT and 165 in the NT. Study of these passages reveals
that God's primary purpose for creating the angels was to render worship
and service to God and in turn serve as God's messengers and ministers to
men. For a synopsis of "angelology" I would recommend taking an hour or so
and reading through the passages in Torrey's topic on
Angels.
Don't just read Torrey's conclusions (as good as I think they are) but as
"you have an anointing from the Holy One" (1 John 2:20), read the passages
in context and allow your Teacher the Holy Spirit to lead you into all
truth (i.e., Be a Berean - see note
Acts 17:11).
Remember you can download
Instaverse
and hold your pointer over
Torrey's references to read the passages in context (KJV and ESV are
available at no charge).
James Townsend in Emmaus Journal
(Vol 9. Page 97. 2000) writes the following summary of Jesus and angels...
Superior to the Invisible Agents of
Old Testament Revelation - Angels (Hebrews 1:1-2:18)
A lot of modern people have caught the
disease of angelitis (spawned from TV shows such as “Touched by an
Angel”). When angels are promoted to the extent that God’s Son is demoted,
then such obsessions amount to “the worship of angels” (see note
Colossians 2:18).
Angels were the invisible intermediaries involved in God’s giving the Old
Testament revelation of the law (see Acts 7:38, 53 and Gal. 3:19). In
order to show that God’s New Testament revelation in His Son is superior
to the Old Testament revelation at Sinai, the author of Hebrews (Heb
1:1-2:18) cites evidence to show the Son’s superiority above all angels
(who are unseen law-givers).
In Hebrews 1:1-3 the author forges seven scintillating statements about
God’s Son, who is God’s supreme revelation (Heb 1:1–3). In Heb 1:4-14 he
shows, by seven Scriptural citations, that He is “superior to the angels”
(Hebrews 1:4)
because no angel has ever been singled out as “the” Son (Hebrews 1:5;
1:6),
or addressed as “God” (Hebrews
1:8) or has had an eternal existence (Hebrews
1:10;
1:11;
1:12).
The word “angels” appears twelve times in Hebrews 1:4-2:18. The law
(or past revelation) was “spoken by angels” (Hebrews
2:2), but this
last revelation (Hebrews 1:2)
was spoken by God’s superior Son, so no one dare neglect the message
“announced by” God’s Son (Hebrews
2:3) and attested by
God the Father (Hebrews
2:4).
Angels were not only agents of the law-giving (Hebrews
2:2), but administrators over nations (Hebrews
2:5; Dan. 10:13, 20–21;
11:1, where angels are called “princes” ruling over nations). Yet God has
not “subjected the world to come…to angels” (Hebrews
2:5), but eventually the
world is to be subjected to the Son...
Become (1096)
(ginomai) is a word the meaning of which is in contrast to that of poieo (poieo)
which means “to make.” The latter means “to construct or fashion something
out of existing materials.” The former is the word used of the universe
coming into existence. It means “to become.” The Son became better than
the angels, inferring that at one time He was lower than the angels. 2:7,
9 during His incarnation.
A number of cults and other unorthodox religious organizations
deny the
deity of Christ on the basis of the KJV translation of Jesus “being
made” incorrectly interpreting this out of
context
(which will
usually lead to an erroneous interpretation) to mean that Jesus was created
("made").
The
Greek verb however is not poieo, meaning to “to make or create,” but
ginomai, which means “to become” and is the
meaning conveyed by most modern translations. Jesus Christ always
existed, but He became better than the angels in His exaltation, a
statement which is better understood when we learn that in His incarnation on
earth He was
made for a little while lower than the angels...that
by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. (see note
Hebrews 2:9)
Better (2909)
(kreitton from kratos = strong which denotes
power in activity and effect) is the comparative degree of
agathos meaning good (intrinsically good).
Robertson renders
it as
"by how much more".
Vine
comments that
better
is here indicative
of a higher position or rank.
(Vine,
W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
or
Logos)
As Wuest puts it Jesus is so
much superior to the angels.
Better
is a KEYWORD (see
key words) in Hebrews. This repetition of
"better" demonstrates
beyond all doubt to the Jewish reader that the New
is better than the Old system. Study the uses below. What is better?
You will need to read the surrounding context to answer this question.
Hebrews - A "Better" Book
Uses of "Better"
Hebrews 1:4 (note) having become as much better
than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 6:9 (note) But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning
you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this
way.
Hebrews 7:19 (note) (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there
is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to
God.
Hebrews 7:22 (note) so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a
better covenant.
Hebrews 8:6 (note) But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as
He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been
enacted on better promises.
Hebrews 9:23 (note) Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the
heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with
better sacrifices than these.
Hebrews 10:34 (note) For you showed sympathy to the prisoners, and accepted joyfully
the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a
better possession and an abiding one.
Hebrews 11:4 (note) By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain,
through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God
testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still
speaks.
Hebrews 11:16 (note) But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a
heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He
has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:35 (note)
Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were
tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a
better resurrection;
Hebrews 11:40 (note) because God had provided something better for us, so that
apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Hebrews 12:24 (note) and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the
sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
Angels (32)
(aggelos or angelos) is the Greek word used to describe a messenger
sent in order to announce, teach or perform anything in place of one who has
sent him. In Scripture aggelos refers to
transcendent (exceeding usual limits) celestial spirit beings, messenger,
superior in power and intelligence to man, who are
sent out (by God)
to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation. (see
note Heb 1:14)
Angels are often referred to as the hosts
(for
more discussion click here) of God (LORD
of hosts or Sabaoth) and equate with His
"army" in heaven. God is represented as surrounded by a host of beings of a
higher order than man. As to their number, the writer of Hebrews says there
are "myriads (murias =
indefinite large number that cannot be counted) of angels"
(see note
Hebrews 12:22)
The writer of Hebrews writes that in the Old Testament God spoke
"the word...through angels
" and that word "proved unalterable and every transgression and
disobedience received a just recompense,
(see note
Hebrews 2:2)
Why would the writer even need to address
the issue of Jesus as much
better than the angels? For
one thing, from the very fact the writer had to address this issue implies
that ancient Jews, even those who were now believers in the Messiah held
angels in high regard. It is not surprising that Jews might have a high regard for angels,
because Scripture teaches that the law had been given through angels (Acts 7:53).
Paul writes that
"God gave his laws to
angels to give to Moses, who was the
mediator between God and the people" (Gal 3:19
NLT).
Wuest feels that...
The informal and
abrupt introduction of angels, shows that the writer was addressing
Jews, who were familiar with the important part the angels played in the
Old Testament, particularly in the giving of the law.
Cherubim were woven into the veil
of the tabernacle, and cherubim were fashioned of gold for the mercy seat.
Furthermore, in the OT, angelic beings had made frequent appearance to the
Jewish people (eg
Dan 8:16,
etc).
Finally, it is evident from Paul's letter to the Colossians
that those with a strong Jewish background (see notes
Colossians 2:16;
2:17)
were being tempted to "delight in false humility and the
worship of angels" (see note
Colossians 2:18).
Those to whom this
letter is sent were either already entertaining or being encouraged to
entertain, teaching which elevated angels to a position rivaling that of
Christ himself.
Thomas Aquinas explains that...
Angels mean messengers and ministers.
Their function is to execute the plan of divine providence, even in
earthly things.
John Calvin
Angels are the dispensers and
administrators of the divine beneficence towards us.
Billy
Graham rightly declared...
Of one thing we can be sure: Angels
never draw attention to themselves but ascribe glory to God and press His
message upon the heavens as a delivering and sustaining word of the
highest order.
AS HE HAS INHERITED A MORE
EXCELLENT NAME THAN THEY: hoso diaphoroteron par autous kekleronomeken (3SRAI) onoma:
(Ps 2:7,8;
Php 2:9,
2:10,
2:1)
God gave him a name that is much
greater than theirs (ICB)
thus proving himself, by the more glorious name
that he has won far greater than all the angels of God (Phillips)
just as
the name God gave him is far greater than their names (NLT)
as the glorious Name (title) which He has inherited is different from and
more excellent than theirs. (Amp)
as the Name He possesses by inheritance is more excellent than theirs
(WNT)
Inherited
(2816)
(kleronomeo from
kleros = a lot + nemomai = to possess) is in the perfect tense which conveys the
idea in context of the permanence of His inherited Name. The verse could be
more literally translated
He inherited in times past with the present result that the inheritance is
in His permanent possession.
The
perfect tense of kleronomeo
speaks of a past completed action and of the present abiding results. Jesus is
the Heir Who forever possesses the more excellent name.
More
(5118)
(tosoutos) refers to a high degree of quantity and thus means so
much, so great
Excellent
(1313)(diaphoros from diaphéro = be different, superior)
pertains to that which is different and in the present context the focus is on
different in "value" and thus His
Name is outstanding,
exceptional (forming an exception, not ordinary), superior (of
extraordinary worth or merit, of higher rank, quality, or importance),
surpassing (greatly exceeding others, of very high degree) and excellent.
Diaphoros signifies more distinguished, more eminent and
is used elsewhere only (see note
Hebrews 8:6)
describing the Son's “more
excellent ministry, by as much
as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on
better promises.”
Name (3686)
(onoma) is the
distinctive designation of a person or thing and includes the ideas of
title, character, reputation or authority.
In antiquity the name
meant much more than it does today. We use a name as little more than a
distinguishing mark or label to differentiate one person from other people.
But in the NT "the name" concisely sums up all that a person is. One's whole
character was somehow implied in the name.
Jesus (Greek Iesous, Hebrew =
Yeshua
= Jehovah is Salvation)...Who will save His people from their sins" (Mt 1:21),
the "Name
which is above every name"
for as Peter declared...
there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name
under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."
(Acts
4:12)