<- Previous   First   Next ->

that of the holiest martyr, Chrysostom (Theodoret, Primasius) less rightly understands the phrase of the brief duration of Christ's experience of death: Non dixit Apostolus ‘Subjacuit morti,’ sed proprie gustavit mortem , per quod velocitatem resurrectionis voluit ostendere (Primasius).

Chrysostom ( Hom. 4.2) likens Christ to the physician who, to encourage his patients, tastes that which is prepared for them.

(2) Man's destiny, owing to the intrusion of sin, could only be fulfilled through suffering, made possible for Christ and effective for man through the Incarnation (Hebrews 2:10-18)

The thought of death, and the fact of Christ's death, lead the apostle to develope more in detail the conditions under which man's destiny and God's promise were fulfilled in spite of sin. The reality of the connexion between the Son and the sons is first traced back to their common source and shewn to be recognised in the records of the Old Testament (2:10-13). This connexion was completed by the Incarnation with a twofold object, to overcome the prince of death, and to establish man's freedom (2:14, 15). And such a completion was necessary from the sphere, the scope, the application of Christ's work (2:16-18).

The course of thought will appear most plainly if it is set in a tabular form: Sovereignty for man fallen was won through suffering (2:10-18).
(1)
The Son and the sons (2:10-13).

The connexion lies in a common source (2:11 a).

This is shewn in the Old Testament:

The suffering King (2:12),

The representative Prophet(2:13).
(2)
The connexion of the Son and the sons completed by the Incarnation (2:14,
15),

with a twofold object:

To overcome the prince of death (2:14 b),

To establish man's freedom (215).
(3)
The Incarnation necessary (2:16-18), from The sphere of Christ's work (2:16),

The scope of Christ's work (2:17),

The application of Christ's work (2:18).

2:10-13. The Son and the sons. The difficulties which at first sight beset the conception of a suffering Messiah vanish upon closer thought. For when we consider what is the relation between the Son of man and men—the Son and the sons—what man's condition is, and how he can be redeemed only through divine fellowship, we ourselves can discern the ‘fitness’ of the divine method of redemption. So far therefore from the Death of Christ being an objection to His claims, it


<- Previous   First   Next ->