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on the view which is given to us in the Epistle of the teleivwsi" of Christ from its direct practical importance.

1. It gives a vivid and natural distinctness to our historic conception of the Lord's life on earth.

2. It enables us to apprehend, according to our power, the complete harmony of the Divine and Human Natures in One Person, each finding fulfilment, as we speak, according to its proper law in the fulness of One Life.

3. It reveals the completeness of the work of the Incarnation which brings to each human power and each part of human life its true perfection.

4. It brings the universal truth home to each man individually in his little life, a fragment of human life, and presents to us at each moment the necessity of effort, and assures us of corresponding help.

5. It teaches us to see the perfect correspondence between the completeness of the divine work ( cavritiv ejste seswsmevnoi ), and the progressive realisation of it by man ( dij ou| kai; swvzesqe ).

Additional Note on Hebrews 2:13. Quotations from the Old Testament in ch. 1, 2

The passages of the O.T. which are quoted in the first two chapters of the Epistle offer a representative study of the interpretation of Scripture. The main principles which they suggest will appear from the simple recital of the points which they are used to illustrate.

1. The Divine Son. ( a ) His work for man. Ps. 2:7 (1:5; comp. Heb. 5:5).

My Son art Thou; I have to-day begotten Thee. The words are quoted also Acts 13:33 (of the Resurrection). Compare also the various readings of D in Luke 3:22; and the reading of the Ebionite Gospel in Matt. 3:17.

For the unique force of the address see note on the passage. The thought implied is that the universal dominion of the Divine King is founded on His Divine Nature. The outward conquests of Israel can therefore only be earnests and types of something immeasurably higher.

If account be taken of the second reference to the passage (Heb. 5:5), it will appear that the foundation and assurance of Christ's work for men, His sovereignty and His priesthood, are laid in His divine character declared by the Father.

( b ) His work for God. 2 Sam. 7:14 (Heb. 1:5).

I will be to Him a Father; And He shall be to Me a Son. Comp. 2 Cor. 6:18; Apoc. 21:7. The words are taken from the answer of Nathan to David's desire to build a Temple for the Lord. The whole passage (‘iniquity’) can only refer to an earthly king; yet no earthly king could satisfy the hope which the promise created. The kingdom was destroyed, and the vision of a new stock of Jesse was opened (Is. 11:1; Jer. 23:5; Zech. 6:11 f.; Luke 1:32 f.). The Temple was destroyed and the vision of a new Temple was opened, a Temple raised by the Resurrection (John 2:19).

In both these passages it will be observed that the Lord is the speaker,


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