5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But someone has testified somewhere, saying,
“WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU THINK OF HIM?
Psalm 8:4-6
OR A SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?
7 YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN ANGELS;
YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR;
8 YOU HAVE PUT EVERYTHING IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.”
For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.
9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honour, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings.11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 12 saying,
“I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BROTHERS,
Psalm 22:22
IN THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”
13 And again,
“I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.”
Isaiah 8:17
And again,
“BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.”
Isaiah 8:18
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.16 For clearly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Hebrews 2:5-18 [NASB]
This is the next passage with which we have to grapple. It’s a complicated passage. We know already it contains a theological problem which I drew attention to in Gem 2036. I promised you we would deal with the issue when we got to Hebrews 2:7 and 2:9. To what degree can This Son be conceived as being a little lower than the angels when the writer has been convincing us that He is far greater than angels. And when exactly did God AGAIN bring Him into the world? We have arrived at Hebrews 2:7 and 9. So it is time to address the problem. But the passage contains another problem which has been blown up into a theological issue. Can you spot the second problem? To aid you in your investigation I have given you a second version of the above passage.
Can you spot the differences?
5 And the future world we are talking about will not be controlled by angels. 6 No, for in the book of Psalms David says to God, “What is mere man that you are so concerned about him? And who is this Son of Man you honor so highly? 7 For though you made him lower than the angels for a little while, now you have crowned him with glory and honor. 8 And you have put him in complete charge of everything there is. Nothing is left out.” We have not yet seen all of this take place, 9 but we do see Jesus—who for a while was a little lower than the angels—crowned now by God with glory and honor because he suffered death for us. Yes, because of God’s great kindness, Jesus tasted death for everyone in all the world. 10 And it was right and proper that God, who made everything for his own glory, should allow Jesus to suffer, for in doing this he was bringing vast multitudes of God’s people to heaven; for his suffering made Jesus a perfect Leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation.
11 We who have been made holy by Jesus, now have the same Father he has. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers. 12 For he says in the book of Psalms, “I will talk to my brothers about God my Father, and together we will sing his praises.” 13 At another time he said, “I will put my trust in God along with my brothers.” And at still another time, “See, here am I and the children God gave me.”
14 Since we, God’s children, are human beings—made of flesh and blood—he became flesh and blood too by being born in human form; for only as a human being could he die and in dying break the power of the devil who had the power of death. 15 Only in that way could he deliver those who through fear of death have been living all their lives as slaves to constant dread. 16 We all know he did not come as an angel but as a human being—yes, a Jew. 17 And it was necessary for Jesus to be like us, his brothers, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God, a Priest who would be both merciful to us and faithful to God in dealing with the sins of the people. 18 For since he himself has now been through suffering and temptation, he knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted, and he is wonderfully able to help us.
[The Living Bible]Hebrews 2:5-18
Be careful. It’s tricky because of the way the passage has been formatted when published in the different versions.
You will have to have your wits about you, but I know you can crack the case because you are good CSU investigators.
Continuing story in the next Gem.
When the Bible gets obtuse there is normally a reason and a nugget to be found – an object to use.
Ian
Sometimes the way we see the problem is the problem.
Jeffrey Rachmat
Confidence is the feeling you have before you really understand the problem.
Woody Allen
Our problem is not that we don’t know what to do, but that we don’t do what we know!
Rick Godwin
Hi mate. I’ve read it 3 times this morning and a couple on Saturday. I’m sorry I can’t spot the problem.
Kev
Help has now arrived in Gem 2048. The way the NASB uses capitals for OT quotes in this case masks the problem. Heb 2:5-8 is focused on ‘man’ and ‘son of man’ not the ‘Son of Man’. That focus comes in Heb 2:9 onwards; just in time for Easter!