(
ejnupovstaton oujk ejstivn
); and in
carakthvr
the thought of coessentiality finds no place. The two words are related exactly as
oJmoouvsio"
and
monogenhv"
, and like those must be combined to give the fulness of the Truth. The Truth expressed thus antithetically holds good absolutely; and it is offered to us under the conditions of human life in the Incarnation. In Christ the essence of God is made distinct: in Christ the revelation of God's character is seen (comp. John 5:19, 30; 14:9).
(2) In relation to the World. In relation to the World the Son is presented to us as (
a
) the Creator, (
b
) the Preserver, and (
c
) the Heir of all things. From the divine side indeed these three offices are one.
(
a
) The Creative work of the Son is affirmed both in the writer's own words (Heb. 1:2
dij ou| kai; ejpoivhsen tou;" aijw'na"
), and by an application of the language of the Psalms (Ps. 1:10). At the same time the creation is finally referred to God (11:3
pivstei noou'men kathrtivsqai tou;" aijw'na" rJhvmati qeou'
). Thus the teaching of the Epistle exactly corresponds with the Nicene phrases:
pisteuvomen eij" e{na qeovn, patevra
...
pavntwn
...
poihthvn
:
kai; eij" e{na kuvrion jIhsou'n Cristovn
...
dij ou| ta; pavnta ejgevneto
....
(
b
) The thought of creation passes into that of the preservation, government, consummation of created things. The Son by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3
fevrwn
note; comp. 11:3) bears all things to their true end. He is over the whole house of God in virtue of what He is (3:6
uiJov"
) and of what He has done (10:21
iJereuv"
). This work was in no way interrupted by the Incarnation. St Paul also combines the creative and sustaining power of Christ: Col. 1:16, 17 (
ejktivsqh, e[ktistai, sunevsthken
).
( c ) The idea of the heirship of Christ, though in a limited sense, finds a place in the Synoptic Gospels (Matt. 21:38 and parr.). It is connected by St Paul with the work of creation: Col. 1:16 ta; pavnta dij aujtou' kai; eij" aujto;n e[ktistai . This conception is emphasised by the true order of the words in Heb. 1:2 dij ou| kai; ejpoivhsen t. aij. The fact that He created suggests the fitness that He should inherit. Comp. Addit. Note on 6:12.
The Sovereignty of Christ over the order to come (2:5) presents His heirship under one special aspect; and in part this Sovereignty is exercised even now (3:6; 10:21). In part however it awaits accomplishment (1:13; 10:13).
ii.
The Work of the Incarnate Christ.
The Work of the Incarnate Christ is presented under the aspect, (1) of His earthly life, and (2) of His Work in His glorified humanity in heaven.
(1) The Incarnation. The Incarnation requires to be considered ( a ) in relation to the assumption of human nature ( sarkwqh'nai ), and ( b ) in relation to human life ( ejnanqrwph'sai ). Both views are required for a full view of the Truth.