An Object Lesson in how not to read the TNK
The writer of Hebrews is trying to prove something here, but the verses themselves do not say what the author hopes. It would seem that the writer is either completely ignorant or engaging in midrash -- yet it would then be understood that one cannot draw doctrine out of midrash (the meaning of the text cannot escape the p'shat, or plain reading of the text).
Hebrews 1:2 The writer here speaks of Jesus as God's 'son' -- in the tnk the son of God just means there is a person or a people who have a special closeness with God. So for example in Deu. 14:1 it is used to refer to all Jewish people -- "You are the sons of the Lord your God." Israel is in Ex 4:22 referred to as God's firstborn son. And in Deu 32:6 is described that God is Israel's father.
In this case the 'son of God' is never referred to as a sepatate being of divinity but rather as a characterization of the relationship we have with God.
Hebrews 1:3 Anyone who reads Genesis 1 knows that it completely contradicts verse 2 here; Jesus as a separate personhood plays no part in the creation because it is written that God himself did it.
It also asserts that the purification of sins is through God's son. This is also a completely non-biblical idea, and is in fact an anti-biblical idea because the tnk goes into the purification from sin in great detail -- it is basically through repentance (teshuva). That is how we become purified of our sins, and the topic of repentance/teshuva is replete throughout the entire bible in virtually every book. It is a very clear formula/path from the scriptures.
Lev 16:30 "On this day you will have atonement and it will be a day that will purify you..." It does not say anywhere in tnk that God will send his son and he will die and/or purify you from your sins.
Hebrews 1:4 -5
A theme that will recur throughout this chapter, is how Jesus is higher even than the angels.
The prooftexts here (see cross-reference) do not refer to Jesus but to King David, King Solomon, Israel, etc. For example let us refer to 2 Samuel 7:14; in full context we find this being spoken to King David, and refers to King Solomon:
* 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
* 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
* 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
* 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.
Thus we find by Paul's own prooftext a death-blow to Christian theology, and wonder how Paul could use this verse with a straight face to prove that Jesus was divine -- not just because the verse is about King Solomon, but because being God's son does not imply divinity. Even in Luke 3:38 we find that Adam is described as God's son, so this is not a concept foreign to a Christian understanding.
These prooftexts were called a "disaster zone" by RMS when considering their weight in proving anything about Jesus.
Hebrews 1:6 Angels is in WYC only. The writer of hebrews is assuming God is speaking here, and, about someone other than himself. This is wrong on two accounts. One, God is not the speaker of this psalm; we know it is a psalmist speaking about God. Ex:
* 97:1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
* 97:2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
* 97:3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around.
* 97:4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
* etc.
* 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see *his* glory.
* 7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!
* 8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O Lord.
* 9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
* 10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
* 11 Light is sown[a] for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
* 12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
In context, this verse is about idolatry -- it is about all those things who people regard as gods (small g), they will ultimately bow down to God as a way of showing they are not God. Thus it could never be about a Jesus figure. Instead, it is said here that the subject of the verse -- "all worshippers of images..." i.e. idolaters, will be put to shame, and will be forced to bow their knee to God.
Hebrews 1:7 -8
See cross reference. These verses are mistranslations.
* Psalm 45:6-7 "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;"
Sef. "7 Your divine throne is everlasting; your royal scepter is a scepter of equity. 8 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; rightly has God, your God, chosen to anoint you with oil of gladness over all your peers. "
In contrast this verse reads "8 But unto the Son he saith, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.""
besides the obvious mistranslation, Paul attempts to frame the verse to apply it to Jesus -- yet nothing in the psalm mentions anything about God's son, or any son.
Further, all of the 39 (exhausive) times the word messiah is used in the bible, it always refers to peole like aaron, solomon, etc -- and every indication is that any future person annointed with oil as a king by a prophet of god (according to rthe scripture) will be anything other than a normal human being.
Hebrews 1:10 Psalm 102:25-27 "25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, 27 but you are the same, and your years have no end."
Stern writes; in the septuagint version, the writer of Hebrews is not really quoting this passage from Psalms, he is quoting it from the Septuagint. In the Septuagint these verses of Psalm 102 threse verses are spoken by God to someone he addresses as Lord.
However, in the original Hebrew, God is not addressing someone as Lord. Yet the bible was written in Hebrew, and it would be quite a feat to prove that a poor Greek translation of the original hebrew text somehow trumps the original.
Hebrews 1:13 To which of the angels has he said, "Sit at my right hand..." this verse is clearly about King David, and it is irresponsible for Paul to quote it here in reference to Jesus. As it turns out this psalm was not written by David. Please see Psalm 110 commentary for further information.