Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Day Proper 3 · Year C
Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)
The Son Superior to Angels
December 25, 2027
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
Shows why this high Christology suits Christmas, the Son as radiance and exact imprint of God.
Hebrews 1 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed commentary archive treating the opening exordium's soaring Christology.
Hebrews 1 - The Son Superior to Angels Enduring Word · David Guzik
Evangelical notes on the Son's superiority to angels and prophets.
Hebrews 1:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic aggregated comment on 'in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.'
Hebrews 1:1 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight
A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.
Background & Word Study
Overview: Hebrews BibleProject
Sets chapter 1 within the design of Hebrews and its catena of psalms proving the Son's enthronement.
Hebrews 1:1 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and lexical helps.
Enter the Bible: Hebrews Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to the letter's genre, audience, and purpose.
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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