: W. E. Vine
: Hebrews A Verse-by-Verse Commentary
: Kingsley Books
: 9781912149506
: 1
: CHF 9.40
:
: Christentum
: English
: 288
: kein Kopierschutz
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
W.E. Vine was a theologian who was conscious of the need to communicate Biblical truths with a common touch. Vine's discernment as a theologian and his pastoral concerns are both demonstrated in his commentary on Hebrews. Hebrews was written to Jewish believers who were being tempted to return to their Jewish faith. Vine says - almost poetically - that many 'had been 'enlightened' without having Christ as their Light; they had 'tasted of the heavenly gift,' without receiving it. They had 'tasted of the good Word of God,' without actually feeding on the Bread of Life.' 'The antidote' to abandoning the Christian faith, says Vine, 'is provided in the presentation of Christ as the Son of God, His essential glories.' Hebrews by W.E. Vine excels in the rich tradition of careful, exegetical word study and expository commentary. It takes into consideration every reference to a particular word in the Bible as well as the range of its uses in ancient Greek. Pastors, scholars, and serious students will enjoy this in-depth study of Hebrews.

Chapter One

Hebrews 1:1-14

Introduction

The chapter at once makes clear the writer’s object in the epistle. His design is to show the importance of the Christian faith and to prevent a defection to Judaism. He therefore begins by setting forth Christ as the Son of God, through whom He has spoken after His testimony through the prophets in former days. The writer thus shows that there is a continuous testimony by God through the Old Testament Scriptures and the Son, who has become the personal expression and revelation of Himself in this age and will be in the coming ones. He was writing to those who were familiar with the way in which God had spoken to the fathers. He now at once declares the unoriginated glories of the Son of God, both in His equality with the Father and in the character of His being. He mentions in the first three verses ten details of His glories, and thus leads up to His declarations of His superiority over the angels. He is the Creator of all things, and He is therefore superior to angels, who are His worshipers, servants and ministering spirits.

Analysis

(1)God’s means of communication (vv. 1, 2)

(a)past (v. 1)

(b)present (v. 2)

(2)The glories of the Son of God (vv. 2, 3)

(a)in Creation (v. 2)

(b)in the Godhead (v. 3)

(c)in redemption (v. 3)

(3)His superiority to angels (vv. 4-14)

(a)His Name (v. 4)

(b)His relationship to the Father (v. 5)

(c)their worship of Him (v. 6)

(d)His sovereignty; their character as servants (vv. 7-9)

(e)His Creatorship (v. 10)

(f)His immutability (vv. 11, 12)

(g)His authority; their ministry as servants (vv. 13, 14)

Notes

1:1 God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets—palai, “of old time,” designates the whole time during which divine communications were made in the former periods until the time of Malachi, when such communications ceased. The word is purposely chosen to prevent any idea that God had been continuing to speak after the last of the Old Testament prophets. The fathers are the ancestors. The prophets are all who were used by God as the medium of any sort of communication. The prepositionen, “in,” is instrumental, while also expressing the sphere.

by divers portions and in divers manners,—the two phrases translate the adverbspolumerōs, in many parts, andpolutropōs (lit., much turning), in many ways. The former expresses the matter of the communications, the latter the manner. The ideas are distinct and are chosen to bring into the m