Hebrews 1:1 - 2:12

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First Baptist Church, Wilson, NC

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible -  KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit:
    • Spiritual Benefactors
    • The Succession of Founders and Messengers
  • Chapter XXXVI of The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Clement of Rome (ca. 96).
  • Chapter VI of the Epistle of Barnabas. (ca. 130)
  • Similitude V.6, Similitude IX.14, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
  • Chapter 10, Apology for the Christians, Athenagoras of Athens. (c 177)
  • II.XXX.9, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter IX, Chapter XIV, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • Chapter XI, Exhortation to the Greeks, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • I.4, V.6, VI.7, VI.10, VII.10, VII.16, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • II.9, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 208)
  • IV.34, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • I.II.5-8, I.V.1, II.VIII.3, III.II.4, III.III.5, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • V.IV, VIII.XII, VIII.XXXIV, Against Celsus, Origen (c. 246)
  • Epistle LXVI -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 254)
  • Part 10, On the Incarnation of the Word, Athanasius of Alexandria, c. 318.
  • From the Geneva Notes. Chapter 2.
    • "The purpose of this epistle, is to show that Jesus Christ the Son of God both God and man is that true eternal and only Prophet, King and High Priest, that was shadowed by the figures of the old law, and is now indeed exhibited of whom the whole Church ought to be taught, governed and sanctified."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary. Chapter 2.
    • "We never can be thankful enough that God has in so many ways, and with such increasing clearness, spoken to us fallen sinners concerning salvation. That he should by himself cleanse us from our sins is a wonder of love beyond our utmost powers of admiration, gratitude, and praise."
  • From Wesley's Notes. Chapter 2.
    • "The angels do not inherit all things, but are themselves a portion of the Son's inheritance, whom they worship as their Lord."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871). Chapter 2.
    • "The Son is the last and highest manifestation of God (Mt 21:34, 37); not merely a measure, as in the prophets, but the fulness of the Spirit of God dwelling in Him bodily (Joh 1:16; 3:34; Col 2:9). Thus he answers the Jewish objection drawn from their prophets. Jesus is the end of all prophecy (Re 19:10), and of the law of Moses (Joh 1:17; 5:46)."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891. Chapter 2.
    • "In Christ we have a tangible, visible representation of the substance of God. We see God in him. "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9)."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12), Christmas, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Passages on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Christmas Day 2, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Our ultimate trust is in God amid all adversity. Dealing with deep seated fears, whatever their mythology, is a way of liberating people."
  • Hebrews 1:1 - 2:4, Roger Hahn, Voice Bible Studies, Christian Resource Institute.
    • "Lack of concern, apathy, lack of intense commitment is the plague of our churches and our lives. There will come a time in the drifting when it is too late to anchor the soul again. The current will have become swift and our lack of concern will have let us drift past the point of return."
  • "Christ Made Perfect through Suffering," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Hebrews 2:3-4 and the Sign Gifts," by Daniel B. Wallace, Associate Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary.
    • "All in all, Hebrews 2:3-4 seems to involve some solid inferences that the sign gifts had for the most part ceased. Further, it offers equally inferential evidence of the purpose of the sign gifts: to confirm that God was doing something new."
  • "First Thoughts on Passages on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Pentecost 18," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "...Hebrews holds together a profound image of Jesus as God's very reflection with a very earthy and human figure just like us. That reinforces also our understanding of God and of the spiritual life not as something from or in another world, but as something which fully enters the here and now of flesh and blood."
  • Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Proper 27B, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
• Articles & Background:
  • "The Encounter of Christian Faith and African Religion," John Mbiti, The Christian Century, 1980. At Religion Online.
    • "I find the traditional Western distinction between 'special revelation' and 'general revelation' to be inadequate and unfreeing. This is not a biblical distinction. If they are two wavelengths, they make sense only when they move toward a convergence. When this happens, then a passage such as Hebrews 1:1-3 rolls down like mighty waters, full of exciting possibilities of theological reflection."
• Articles in ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are subscribed and logged in to ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
  • Borchert, Gerald L., "A Superior Book: Hebrews," Review and Expositor, 1985.
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  • Brawley, Robert L., "Discoursive Structure and the Unseen in Hebrews 2:8 and 11:1: A Neglected Aspect of the Context," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1993.
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  • Brock, S.P., "Hebrews 2:9B in Syriac Tradition," Novum Testamentum, 1985.
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  • Cockerill, Gareth Lee, "Heb 1:1-14, 1 Clem. 36:1-6 and the High Priest Title," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1978.
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  • Harmon, Steven, "Between Text & Sermon: Hebrews 2:10-18," Interpretation, 2005.
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  • MacLeod, David J., "The Finality of Christ: An Exposition of Hebrews 1:1-4," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2005.
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  • Mbiti, John, "The Encounter of Christian Faith and African Religion," The Christian Century, 1980.
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  • Miller, Donald G., "Why God Became Man: From Text to Sermon on Hebrews 2:5-18," Interpretation, 1969.
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  • Mitchell, Alan C., SJ, "The Use of PREPEIN and Rhetorical Propriety in Hebrews 2:10," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1992.
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  • Neyrey, Jerome H., S.J., "God, Benefactor and Patron: The Major Cultural Model for Interpreting the Deity in Greco-Roman Antiquity," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2005.
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  • Oberholtzer, Thomas Kem, "The Eschatological Salvation of Hebrews 1:5 - 2:5," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1988.
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  • Patterson, Richard D., "Parental Love As a Metaphor for Divine-Human Love," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2003.
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  • Pierce, Brian J., O.P., "The Children Teach Us," The Living Pulpit, 2003.
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  • Rhee, Victor (Sung-Yul), "Christology and the Concept of Faith in Hebrews 1:1-2:4," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2000.
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  • Rogers, John B., "Between Text and Sermon: Hebrews 1:1-4," Interpretation, 2003.
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  • Schenck, Kenneth L., "A Celebration of the Enthroned Son: The Catena of Hebrews 1," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2001.
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  • Scott, J. Julius, Jr., "ARCHEGOS in the Salvation History of the Epistle of the Hebrews," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1986.
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  • Smothers, Thomas G., "A Superior Model: Hebrews 1:1-4:13," Review and Expositor, 1985.
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  • Stevenson-Moessner, Jeanne, "The Road to Perfection - An Interpretation of Suffering in Hebrews," Interpretation, 2003. (See also, "Hebrews," issue focus of Interpretation, 2003.)
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  • Wallace, David, "The Use of Psalms in the Shaping of a Text: Psalm 2:7 and Psalm 110:1 in Hebrews 1," Restoration Quarterly,
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• Reviews:
  • Review: Herbert W. Bateman, Early Jewish Hermeneitics and Hebrews 1:5-13: The Impace of Early Jewish Exegesis on the Interpretation of a Significant New Testament Passage. (Peter Lang, 1997) Reviewed by David M. May in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature.
  • Review: Herbert W. Bateman IV, ed., Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews, Kregel, 2007. Review by Felix H. Cortez, Review of Biblical Literature, 2008.
• Sermons:
  • "Baby Talk," Dean William Willimon, Duke Chapel Sermon Archive, 1998.
• With Children:
  • "The Neglected Gift," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "By His Own Mighty Word He Holds the Universe Together," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Hebrews 1:1-2, Hebrews 1:14, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Hebrews 1:1, 3, 6, 11, 14; 2:7, 9, 10. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!
    • Fairest Lord Jesus
    • God Has Spoken by His Prophets
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Hebrews