Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Day Mass · Year B
Hebrews 1:1-6
The Son Superior to Angels
December 27, 2026
Overview & Insights
“In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Hebrews 1:2)
The magnificent opening verses of this passage provide an immediate expression of the author’s theological perspective: he moves from past revelation to definitive revelation, from God’s word to the OT “fathers” to his final word through his Son, Jesus Christ. He gives first his doctrine of Christ in order to set the tone for the entire book. The introductory christological prologue in these verses is thus similar to the prologue of the Fourth Gospel (John 1:1–18) in its function as well as in its christocentric theology. The author, however, does not want to present such an exalted Christology without first indicating that God’s word spoken in his Son is continuous with, and not alien to, what has preceded. What God has done in Christ is the climax of what he had begun to do in earlier times. And having finished the work of atonement, Christ enjoys an exalted status far superior to that of the angels.
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Commentary
Commentary on Hebrews 1:1-4 [5-12] Working Preacher
Luther Seminary commentary on God speaking by a Son, the exact imprint of his being, the Day Mass epistle.
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on the opening claim that Christianity has a better word in the Son.
Enduring Word Bible Commentary Hebrews Chapter 1 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik on the Son as heir of all things, radiance of God's glory, superior to the angels.
Hebrews 1:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentary on God speaking in these last days by his Son.
Background & Word Study
Hebrews 1:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word by word with parsing for radiance (apaugasma) and exact imprint (charakter) of God's being.
Enter the Bible: Hebrews Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the sermon-letter to the Hebrews and its high Christology.
BibleProject: Book of Hebrews Overview BibleProject
Animated overview showing how Hebrews presents Jesus as the superior and final word of God.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
How does Hebrews 1 present the Son?
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of his nature, upholding all things, seated at God's right hand, far above the angels who worship him.
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