Just another quick comment - observation. The Greek in Hebrews 2:1 translated as "pay attention" in the NASB is prosechō and is used in the LXX for h'azanu in song of Moses but its also used in Matthew 6:1 and several other places in Matthew and translated beware which seems to have the idea of a strong warning.
I agree 100% that the writer of Hebrews is building an argument using Hebraic hermenutics that fit exactly your premise when He states in Hebrews 12:25 ESV — See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. This is arranged in a lighter vs weighter matter type argument.
Yep...lighter-weightier. Good observation! That's exactly what he's doing. Again, thanks for the wonderful questions and thanks for digging in with me!
In other words the angels do not share in the Divine Identity nor do they share in the work of creation. They like all other created beings are G-d's workmanship created in Messiah Yeshua.
Excellent outline and thematic analysis. I have a question on your statement "In fact, there was an early tendency for Jewish and non-Jewish believers to worship angels, which Paul warned against:" Just wondering if you are familiar with the scholarly view that Colossians 2:16-23 may actually be a strong warning - indictment against the exclusivness of the Qumran sect and their theology? Their 364 day calendar (New moons, Sabbaths, Holy days), their strict purity (touch not, taste not), their worship (insist on asceticism, worship alongside the angels, visions they claim to have had, etc) match up well with Paul's choice of words. My second question is do you suppose that the writer of Hebrews reason in showing Yeshua's superority over the angels may have been to refute the notion that G-d was speaking to the angels when He said let us make man in our image after our likeness?
What's up Gary? Thank you for your insightful questions. Ask for whether or not Paul was dealing with the exclusiveness of the Qumran sect, I don't know. It's a great question and I'll keep my eyes open for some input. As you suggest, there certainly are some connections. As for your second question, I cannot say that he was not refuting that; however, at this point, I think the sequence of flow of the themes suggests that his main concern was ensuring that his readers realized Yeshua's superiority. It seems he was trying to build the case that it was more important for us to listen to Yeshua's words because of the fact that he was God, he was greater than angels, he became better than angels, etc. And again I detect the writer making allusions to the giving of the Torah as I wrote in the article, which would take it past just the one statement in Genesis chapter one. There are other references to the giving of the Torah that occur in Hebrew chapter 12. Sure you probably have already seen them, or, if not, just take a peek at chapter 12, and you will clearly see the connections to the giving of the Torah. The rest of the book of Hebrews is chiastically arranged so in Hebrews 12 when it talks about God speaking again, that is schematically connected to the writer talking about how God was speaking now through Yeshua. So that's even more evidence that he has the giving of the Torah on his mind. Thanks brother great questions you are a true thinker. May the Lord bless you and your lovely wife. Shalom, Tony & Tina.
Just another quick comment - observation. The Greek in Hebrews 2:1 translated as "pay attention" in the NASB is prosechō and is used in the LXX for h'azanu in song of Moses but its also used in Matthew 6:1 and several other places in Matthew and translated beware which seems to have the idea of a strong warning.
Shalom TNT,
I agree 100% that the writer of Hebrews is building an argument using Hebraic hermenutics that fit exactly your premise when He states in Hebrews 12:25 ESV — See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. This is arranged in a lighter vs weighter matter type argument.
Yep...lighter-weightier. Good observation! That's exactly what he's doing. Again, thanks for the wonderful questions and thanks for digging in with me!
In other words the angels do not share in the Divine Identity nor do they share in the work of creation. They like all other created beings are G-d's workmanship created in Messiah Yeshua.
Shalom Tony,
Excellent outline and thematic analysis. I have a question on your statement "In fact, there was an early tendency for Jewish and non-Jewish believers to worship angels, which Paul warned against:" Just wondering if you are familiar with the scholarly view that Colossians 2:16-23 may actually be a strong warning - indictment against the exclusivness of the Qumran sect and their theology? Their 364 day calendar (New moons, Sabbaths, Holy days), their strict purity (touch not, taste not), their worship (insist on asceticism, worship alongside the angels, visions they claim to have had, etc) match up well with Paul's choice of words. My second question is do you suppose that the writer of Hebrews reason in showing Yeshua's superority over the angels may have been to refute the notion that G-d was speaking to the angels when He said let us make man in our image after our likeness?
What's up Gary? Thank you for your insightful questions. Ask for whether or not Paul was dealing with the exclusiveness of the Qumran sect, I don't know. It's a great question and I'll keep my eyes open for some input. As you suggest, there certainly are some connections. As for your second question, I cannot say that he was not refuting that; however, at this point, I think the sequence of flow of the themes suggests that his main concern was ensuring that his readers realized Yeshua's superiority. It seems he was trying to build the case that it was more important for us to listen to Yeshua's words because of the fact that he was God, he was greater than angels, he became better than angels, etc. And again I detect the writer making allusions to the giving of the Torah as I wrote in the article, which would take it past just the one statement in Genesis chapter one. There are other references to the giving of the Torah that occur in Hebrew chapter 12. Sure you probably have already seen them, or, if not, just take a peek at chapter 12, and you will clearly see the connections to the giving of the Torah. The rest of the book of Hebrews is chiastically arranged so in Hebrews 12 when it talks about God speaking again, that is schematically connected to the writer talking about how God was speaking now through Yeshua. So that's even more evidence that he has the giving of the Torah on his mind. Thanks brother great questions you are a true thinker. May the Lord bless you and your lovely wife. Shalom, Tony & Tina.
Mille Mercis Tony, pour cet éclaircissement nécessaire. Le Seigneur te bénisse et t inspire encore longtemps, pour notre plus grand bonheur !
M.S
vous êtes les bienvenus. merci de votre lecture!