Hebrews 2: 7 Commentary

Paul, assumed to be the writer -not author- of Hebrews, quoting from Psalm 8:4-8, which expresses Genesis 1:26-28 in poetry, should have said ‘lower than God’, rather than ‘lower than angels’. The assertion that the NT writers used the LXX rather than the Hebrew readily at their disposal is a cop-out, since Hebrew scrolls were readily available for the studious in the Israel of the first century, since the LXX’s primary role was for Greek-speaking Jews not the Hebrew literate. Unfortunately it was that trinitarians could not cope with the idea that Jesus the human male person, as in ‘Son of Man’ could possibly be lower than God since he was the god of their creative imagination. So they made Paul quite from a fiddled-with Psalm.
Angels are the servants of man who were created in the image of God, as they were also servants of God. Angels were not made in the image of God, as were humans. Angels are task programmed, and have free will within the task parameters set by God. Humans have complete autonomous free will to choose. Their choice lies in the consequences and a yielding attitude toward God to avoid adverse ones, not in pre-programing. Jesus said that wisdom is proved righteous by what it produces, its results, its works or daughters as per the Greek. Angels are rather dumb and subject to programming, a little like robots. Just look at that complete idiot rebel angel Satan and his mates. Certainly not an enduring example of intelligent wisdom.
Bye

By George Erwin (wrote 2 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 5/7/2011 13:12 pm

1)Correction in commentary 2:(Sl.No.4)Paul states that Jesus Christ is the “Second Man” and not “Second Adam” as mentioned by mistake.”The first man is of the earth,earthy;the second man is the Lord from heaven.”1 Cor.15:47
2)Adam was created in the image & after the likeness of God.Gen.1:26.
Jesus Christ “is the image of the invisible God.” Col.1:15.
Jesus Christ is “the brightness of his glory,and the express image of his person” Heb.1:3.
3)Adam was created in the likeness of God.Gen.5:1.Adam begat a son (Seth)in his his own likeness, after his image.Gen.5:3
4)New man.Read Eph.4:24;Col.3:10

By Alex (wrote 499 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/9/2008 00:16 am

1)In the original text,”for thou hast made him a little lower than the angels” in Psalm 8:5,the psalmist David has made reference to the humanity as he sings with amazement about the creation of man with wonderful privileges & honor.
2)”a little lower than” = “a little while inferior to”
The writer of Hebrews has applied this quotation to Jesus Christ who came as man into this world.
3)Jesus Christ was the last Adam.He was made a quickening spirit.
1 Cor.15:45.Read Rom.5:14.
4)Paul states that Jesus Christ is the Second Adam.He is from heaven.
1 Cor.15:47.
5)The humiliation of Jesus Christ in his coming into the world as man is expressed in Phil.2:7,8.”and was made in the likeness of man.And being found in fashion as man,he humbled himself,and became obedient unto death,even the death of the cross.”
6)Jesus Christ lived in this world for about 33 1/2 years as man.He is God.He came as man.He died on the cross.He rose again & ascended into the heaven & sat on the right hand of God.
7)For some little time,Jesus was a lower than the angels in rank.For a short period while He was man,,He was inferior to the angels.

By Alex (wrote 499 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/8/2008 02:28 am

1)In Hebrews 2:6-8,the quotation of Psalm 8:4-8 has been used.The psalmist David described the ideal position given to man in Genesis 1 in lyrical expression.Man was made in the image & likeness of God.He was given dominion over the fish of the sea & over the fowl of the air,and over all the earth & over every creeping thing.(Gen 1:26-28).
2)”and didst set him over the works of thy hands.” This clause has been omitted in the Hebrew text.The writer of Hebrews has taken the quotation from the Greek Septuagint.
3)In the N.T.,we can find that Psalm 8 & Psalm 110:1 are linked together on few occasions.Read 1 Cor.15:25-27;Eph.3:20-22;1 Peter 3:22.
4)David was amazed at the ideal & exalted position assigned to man in Genesis 1.Man was crowned with glory & honor.He was given a rank higher than the rest of the creation.He was made king.A scepter was given to him.He was made as God’s viceroy to rule over the rest of the creation.The royalty of man was confirmed by his faculties,capacities & position.
5)The writer of Hebrews has used this quotation to prove the superiority of Jesus Christ over the angels.Jesus Christ as Son of Man has fulfilled the meaning of Psalm 8.

By Alex (wrote 499 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/6/2008 00:22 am