Heb 1:1-2 | RWP | e4.org | God ( ο θεος ). This Epistle begins like Genesis and the Fourth Gospel with God, who is the Author of the old revelation in the prophets and of the new in his Son. Verses are a proemium (Delitzsch) or introduction to the whole Epistle. The periodic structure of the sentence ( ) reminds one of , , . The sentence could have concluded with εν υιω in verse , but by means of three relatives ( ον, δι' ου, ος ) the author presents the Son as "the exact counterpart of God" (Moffatt). Of old time ( παλα ). "Long ago" as in . Having spoken ( λαλησας ). First aorist active participle of λαλεω , originally chattering of birds, then used of the highest form of speech as here. Unto the fathers ( τοις πατρασιν ). Dative case. The Old Testament worthies in general without "our" or "your" as in ; ; . In the prophets ( εν τοις προφηταις ). As the quickening power of their life (Westcott). So . By divers portions ( πολυμερως ). "In many portions." Adverb from late adjective πολυμερης (in papyri), both in Vettius Valens , here only in N.T., but in Wisdom 7:22 and Josephus ( Ant . VIII, 3, 9). The Old Testament revelation came at different times and in various stages, a progressive revelation of God to men. In divers manners ( πολυτροπως ). "In many ways." Adverb from old adjective πολυτροπος , in Philo, only here in N.T. The two adverbs together are "a sonorous hendiadys for 'variously'" (Moffatt) as Chrysostom ( διαφορως ). God spoke by dream, by direct voice, by signs, in different ways to different men (Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, etc.).

‏ Hebrews 1:1-2

God ( ο θεος ). This Epistle begins like Genesis and the Fourth Gospel with God, who is the Author of the old revelation in the prophets and of the new in his Son. Verses 1-3 are a proemium (Delitzsch) or introduction to the whole Epistle. The periodic structure of the sentence (1-4) reminds one of Lu 1:1-4, Ro 1:1-7, 1Jo 1:1-4. The sentence could have concluded with εν υιω in verse 2, but by means of three relatives ( ον, δι' ου, ος ) the author presents the Son as "the exact counterpart of God" (Moffatt).

Of old time ( παλα ). "Long ago" as in Mt 11:21.

Having spoken ( λαλησας ). First aorist active participle of λαλεω, originally chattering of birds, then used of the highest form of speech as here.

Unto the fathers ( τοις πατρασιν ). Dative case. The Old Testament worthies in general without "our" or "your" as in Joh 6:58; 7:22; Ro 9:5.

In the prophets ( εν τοις προφηταις ). As the quickening power of their life (Westcott). So 4:7.

By divers portions ( πολυμερως ). "In many portions." Adverb from late adjective πολυμερης (in papyri), both in Vettius Valens, here only in N.T., but in Wisdom 7:22 and Josephus (Ant. VIII, 3, 9). The Old Testament revelation came at different times and in various stages, a progressive revelation of God to men.

In divers manners ( πολυτροπως ). "In many ways." Adverb from old adjective πολυτροπος, in Philo, only here in N.T. The two adverbs together are "a sonorous hendiadys for 'variously'" (Moffatt) as Chrysostom ( διαφορως ). God spoke by dream, by direct voice, by signs, in different ways to different men (Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, etc.).

At the end of these days ( επ' εσχατου των ημερων τουτων ). In contrast with παλα above.

Hath spoken ( ελαλησεν ). First aorist indicative of λαλεω, the same verb as above, "did speak" in a final and full revelation.

In his Son ( εν υιω ). In sharp contrast to εν τοις προφηταις. "The Old Testament slopes upward to Christ" (J. R. Sampey). No article or pronoun here with the preposition εν, giving the absolute sense of "Son." Here the idea is not merely what Jesus said, but what he is (Dods), God's Son who reveals the Father (Joh 1:18). "The revelation was a son-revelation" (Vincent).

Hath appointed ( εθηκεν ). First aorist (kappa aorist) active of τιθημ, a timeless aorist.

Heir of all things ( κληρονομον παντων ). See Mr 12:6 for ο κληρονομος in Christ's parable, perhaps an allusion here to this parable (Moffatt). The idea of sonship easily passes into that of heirship (Ga 4:7; Ro 8:17). See the claim of Christ in Mt 11:27; 28:18 even before the Ascension.

Through whom ( δι' ου ). The Son as Heir is also the Intermediate Agent ( δια ) in the work of creation as we have it in Col 1:16f.; Joh 1:3.

The worlds ( τους αιωνας ). "The ages" (secula, Vulgate). See 11:3 also where τους αιωνασ=τον κοσμον (the world) or the universe like τα παντα (the all things) in 1:3; Ro 11:36; Col 1:16. The original sense of αιων (from αε, always) occurs in Heb 5:20, but here "by metonomy of the container for the contained" (Thayer) for "the worlds" (the universe) as in LXX, Philo, Josephus.