the “many times and in many ways” in Heb. us) and, implicitly, the unity of the final revelation in the Son (cf. Son) recipients of revelation (“fathers” vs. these last days) agent of revelation (“prophets” vs. 3:9 8:9), whom the author considers his audience’s spiritual forebears.įour points of contrast occur between Hebrews 1:1 and Hebrews 1:2: time of revelation (“long ago” vs. “Our fathers” are the Old Testament patriarchs (cf. This speaking was through prophets, which in Jewish thought included the authors of both the prophetic and the historical books of the Old Testament (even Moses and David cf.
Two similar Greek words ( polymerōs and polytropōs) emphasize the many times and many ways in which God has spoken. “Long ago” contrasts here with “these last days” in Hebrews 1:2. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Thus “only” is a better translation than “only begotten” (made familiar through its use in the KJV). The Greek word underlying “only,” monogenēs, means “one of a kind, unique,” as in the case of Isaac, who is called Abraham’s “one-of-a-kind” son in Hebrews 11:17 (in contrast to Ishmael cf. Jesus is the “Son of God,” not in the sense of being created or born (see John 1:3), but in the sense of being a Son who is exactly like his Father in all attributes, and in the sense of having a Father-Son relationship with God the Father. The references to God’s glory refer back to Old Testament passages narrating the manifestation of the presence and glory of God in theophanies (appearances of God), the tabernacle, or the temple (e.g., Ex. Later, through the Holy Spirit, Christ will make into a temple both the church (1 Cor. Thus, the coming of Christ fulfills the Old Testament symbolism for God’s dwelling with man in the tabernacle and the temple. Now God takes up residence among his people in the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ (cf. In the past, God had manifested his presence to his people in the tabernacle and the temple. skēnoō), an allusion to God’s dwelling among the Israelites in the tabernacle (cf. “Dwelt among us” means more literally “pitched his tent” (Gk. This is the most amazing event in all of history: the eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, infinitely holy Son of God took on a human nature and lived among humanity as one who was both God and man at the same time, in one person. “Became flesh” does not mean the Word ceased being God rather, the Word, who was God, also took on humanity (cf. “The Word” continues the opening words of the prologue in John1:1.
BIBLE VERSE ABOUT CHANGE OF HEART FULL
Read about God’s condescension and wonder anew at his redemptive plan for humanity with these verses and commentary from the ESV Study Bible, and let your heart be awed by God’s perfect plan to redeem his people.Īnd the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. This article is part of the Key Bible Verses series.