Hebrews 2:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.

NIV: It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.

NASB: For He did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking.

CSB: For he has not subjected to angels the world to come that we are talking about.

NLT: And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about.

KJV: For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

NKJV: For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.

Some Jewish groups believed that angels would rule the world in the end times. This included the Essenes, the sect which produced the Dead Sea Scrolls. However, according to the writer of Hebrews, the Scriptures which were cited in chapters 1 and 2 prove this is not the case. The One being given power and authority is clearly not an angel. In this passage, the author springs from the idea that Messiah is not an angel to specific evidence that He is actually a man. Prior verses made it clear that this Promised One is divine (Hebrews 1:3), but these upcoming verses will show Him taking on human form (Hebrews 2:14). This is a useful example of how New Testament authors understood God as a Trinity of Father, Son, and Spirit.

The purpose of this passage is to show that God, in the form of Jesus, took on a human form in order to perfectly counter Satan's power of death and sin. This allowed Jesus to call mankind "brothers," and to serve as a perfect, ultimate high priest.

As this verse notes, this is not a change in topic. This is the same theme "of which [the book of Hebrews is] speaking." The next verses will provide more Old Testament proof. These references would have been especially meaningful to the letter's audience: Jewish Christians.

Hebrews 2:5–18 explains why the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came in the form of a man, rather than being an angel. In order to serve as a true example, He had to experience our human suffering and temptation. By doing so, Jesus was able to become the ''Captain,'' or the ''Founder,'' of our salvation. His resurrection breaks the slavery we experience over our fear of death. By using more quotations from the Old Testament, the writer of Hebrews shows that this is exactly what God planned for all along.

Chapter 2 begins with a strong warning about the dangers of apostasy. Chapter 1 opened by explaining that Jesus Christ is the message of God. This chapter points out that those who have faith in Christ, but drift from that truth, will face dire consequences. The rest of the passage continues a series of proofs begun in Chapter 1. These are quotes from the Old Testament, used to prove that the Messiah is not an angel, but is superior to any created being. He is, in fact, identical to God. And yet, He became fully human in order to serve as our perfect high priest.

The first two chapters of Hebrews are meant to prove that Jesus Christ is superior to angels. Rather than seeing Jesus as a created being, or some form of exalted angel, He should be viewed as what He is: identical with God. These two chapters use extensive Old Testament quotes to prove this point. The first few verses of chapter 2 feature the first of several warnings within the book about the dangers of apostasy. Later chapters will demonstrate that Christ is also superior to other prophets, spiritual leaders, and priests.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.