Hebrews 1-3

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

God Has Spoken by His Son

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,^[a] whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.^{(A) 3} He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains^[b] all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for^[c] sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,^{(B) 4} having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.^(C)

The Son Is Superior to Angels

⁵ For to which of the angels did God^[d] ever say,

Or again,

⁶ And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

⁷ Of the angels he says,

⁸ But of the Son he says,

¹⁰ And,

¹³ And to which of the angels has he ever said,

¹⁴ Are not all angels^[i] spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?^(K)

Warning to Pay Attention

2 Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. ² For if the message declared through angels proved valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty,^{(L) 3} how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was confirmed for us by those who heard him,^{(M) 4} while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.^(N)

Exaltation through Abasement

⁵ Now God^[j] did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels.^{(O) 6} But someone has testified somewhere,

Now in subjecting all things to them, God^[o] left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them,^{(Q) 9} but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower^[p] than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God^[q] he might taste death for everyone.^(R)

¹⁰ It was fitting that God,^[r] for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.^{(S) 11} For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.^[s] For this reason Jesus^[t] is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,^{(T) 12} saying,

¹³ And again,

And again,

¹⁴ Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,^{(W) 15} and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.^{(X) 16} For it is clear that he did not come to help angels but the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.^{(Y) 18} Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.^(Z)

Moses a Servant, Christ a Son

3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,^{(AA) 2} who was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses also “was faithful in all^[u] God’s^[v] house.” ³ Yet Jesus^[w] is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.^{(AB) 4} (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)^{(AC) 5} Now Moses was faithful in all God’s^[x] house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later.^{(AD) 6} Christ, however, was faithful over God’s^[y] house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm^[z] the boldness and the pride inspired by hope.^(AE)

Warning against Unbelief

⁷ Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

¹² Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³ But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end. ¹⁵ As it is said,

¹⁶ Now who were they who heard and rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses?^{(AH) 17} And with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?^{(AI) 18} And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient?^{(AJ) 19} So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.^(AK)