The themes of suffering, temptation, and persecution are at the forefront of Hebrews. They are important to the authors development of his homily, especially as it relates to Christ.
1. Jesus, Crowned with Glory and Honor Because of the Suffering of Death (Heb 2.9)
The author (from here on out, Auctor) continues his comparison of the angels with Christ in Heb 2. Auctor informs us that the world that is about to come (την οικουμενην την μελλουσαν) has not been subjected to the angels (2.5). Auctor then quotes from Ps 8.5-7(LXX) as scriptural proof that the world to come is subjected to the Son, although not everything is yet seen as being subjected to him.
In midrashic style, Auctor informs us that the one we see for a little while lower than the angels is none other than Jesus. In an amazing event, the crowning with glory and honor is seen in relation to the suffering that Jesus experienced in death. Heb 2. 9 reads: “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” The crowning with glory and honor that the Messiah experienced was only because he was willing to die, by the grace of God, for everyone.
1 comments:
shouldn't we say that the author uses Ps 8 to say that the "world to come" is submitted to humanity (as opposed to angels) and yet at present this is not the case (with the fallen-ness etc). But, we do see one human being who is in the place of authority (god's right hand).
So, Jesus is the "pioneer" in the sense of being the first human to fully enter his inheritance.
The logic of heb 2 is not initially about the son, but generally about humanity, in contrast to the angels (from chapter 1). Jesus as the "perfected" human has come into his inheritance - and will lead the rest of us (those with faith) into our inheritance also.
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