Bible Study 2/19/07: Hebrews 2

We're meeting again at 10:00 EST, right after Heroes.

For your reference, here is the text with a couple of notes:

Hebrews 2, NIV

1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor 8 and put everything under his feet." 8 In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." 13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." 13 And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Note #1: Notice that there appear to be two verse 8s and two verse 13s. The phrase "and put everything under his feet" appears in some manuscripts and not in others. Some scholars believe this was a transcriptional error, that perhaps an ancient scholar accidentally transcribed some notes from the margin into the main text, but I wanted to let everyone know about this dispute ahead of time. I also want to let everyone know that the disputed portion simply completes the reference to Psalm 8:5-6, detailed below. Same deal with verse 13, where the first Scripture reference appears in some texts and not in others. The important thing to note is that neither including or excluding these verses changes the message.

Note #2: Here are the references for the old testament verses quoted above. I have highlighted the verses that are direct quotes in red. Take a look at the context of the references... I'll be going somewhere with this tonight.
v6: Psalm 8:4
v7 & 8 (first, disputed part): Psalm 8:5, 6b
v12: Psalm 22:22
v13 (disputed): Psalm 18:2
v13 (rest): Isaiah 8:18
 
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