Hebrews                            by Dr. Ralph Wilson

Lesson 1

Jesus, the Father's Own Son (Hebrews 1:1-2:4)

Son of God (1:1-2)

The Divine Son (1:2-3)

1. Heir

2. Co-creator and agent of creation

3. The radiance of divine glory

4. The exact representation of God's being

5. The sustainer and preserver of the universe

6. Co-ruler

Q2. (Hebrews 1:2-3) What about the author's description of the Son makes you think that the Son described is himself divine? What role does the Son have in doing the Father's will according to these verses?

Superior to Angels (Hebrews 1:4)

Messianic Quotations from the Old Testament (1:5-14)

1:5a (Psalm 2:7) "You are my Son, today I have become your Father."

1:5b (2 Samuel 7:14) "I will be his Father and he will be my Son," speaking of David's descendents, and ultimately the Messiah.

1:8-9 (Psalm 45:6-7) "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.... Therefore God ... has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."

1:10-12 (Psalm 102:25-27) "... and the heavens are the work of your hands [which the author refers to Christ as the co-creator, vs. 2b] ... "but you remain the same and your years will never end."

1:13 (Psalm 110:1) "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

An Exhortation to Be Attentive (2:1)

Q3. (Hebrews 2:1) In what ways are we not immune to drifting away from the gospel? According to the author, how can we successfully resist the tendency to drift? How did Jesus describe this phenomenon of "drift" in the Parable of the Sower?

A Warning against Ignoring Christ's Salvation (2:2-3a)

1. Signs (sēmeion), "an event that is an indication or confirmation of intervention by transcendent powers, miracle, portent."²⁹
2. Wonders (teras), "something that astounds because of transcendent association, prodigy portent, omen, wonder."
3. Miracles (dunamis), "a deed that exhibits the ability to function powerfully, deed of power, miracle, wonder."³¹ Note that these are described as "various" or "diverse," not just one type of miracle but miracles of various kinds.
4. Gifts (literally distributions, merismos³²) of the Holy Spirit. These miracles and works of power are recognized to be given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11; etc.).

Q4. (Hebrews 2:3b-4) In what way has the truth of salvation been confirmed to you? Would signs and wonders help or hinder establishing the truth of Christ's ministry today? From which portion of the Bible have you formed your opinion of the value of signs and wonders today?

Prayer

Key Verses

"In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." (Hebrews 1:2-3a)

"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." (Hebrews 2:1)

"How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3a)