{"author":null,"canonical_references":[],"database_sha256":"8cfbe7284c6936871d57c02dc6aa63ebbdfd4722422d539dd9f716e46e91112e","date_end":null,"date_start":null,"edition_year":null,"id":"sermonindex-ecf-6474","native_reference":{"book_number":650,"chapter_from":1,"chapter_to":1,"system":"MyBible module coordinates (mapping unverified)","verse_from":4,"verse_to":4},"public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"verse-keyed-module-record","review_required":["English edition and exact text","author/work attribution","dating","verse mapping and citation kind","reuse and attribution","split author quotations and deduplicate"],"review_status":"unreviewed","source_html":"<p><b>Athanasius of Alexandria</b>: Both in the verse before us then and throughout he ascribes the word \"better\" to the Lord, who is better and other than originated things. For better is the sacrifice through him, better the hope in him, and also the promises through him, not merely great as compared with small, but the one differing from the other in nature, because he who conducts this economy is \"better\" than things originated.<br/><i>— Discourses Against the Arians 1.13.59(8)</i></p><p><b>Athanasius of Alexandria</b>: Whereas the prophets ministered and the law was spoken by angels, the Son too came on earth in order to minister. The apostle was forced to add \"become as much superior to angels,\" wishing to show that just as much as the Son excels a servant is the ministry of the Son better than the ministry of servants. Contrasting the old ministry and the new, the apostle then speaks freely to the Jews, writing and saying, \"become as much superior to angels.\" This is why throughout he uses no comparison such as \"become greater\" or \"more honorable,\" lest we should think of the Son and angels as one in kind, but \"better\" is his word, by way of marking the difference of the Son's nature from things originated. And we have proof of this from divine Scripture: David, for instance, saying in the psalm, \"A day in your courts is better than a thousand,\" and Solomon crying out, \"Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.\" Are not wisdom and stones of the earth different in essence and separate in nature? Are heavenly courts at all akin to earthly houses? Or is there any similarity between things eternal and spiritual and things temporal and mortal?… In like manner there is no relationship between the Son and the angels; thus the word better is not used to compare but to contrast, because of the difference of his nature from theirs. And so also the apostle himself, when he interprets the word better, places its force in nothing less than the Son's preeminence over things originated, calling the one Son and the other servants. The one, as a Son with the Father, sits on God's right; and the others, as servants, stand before God and are sent and serve.<br/><i>— Discourses Against the Arians 1.13.55(3)</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: Then again having said a little by the way (for he says, \"on the right hand of the Majesty on high\"), [he turns] again to what is lowly; \"being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.\" Henceforward then he treats here of that which is according to the flesh, since the phrase \"being made better\" doth not express His essence according to the Spirit, (for that was not \"made\" but \"begotten,\") but according to the flesh: for this was \"made.\" Nevertheless the discourse here is not about being called into existence. But just as John says, \"He that cometh after me, is preferred before me,\" that is, higher in honor and esteem; so also here, \"being made so much better than the angels,\" that is, higher in esteem and better and more glorious, \"by how much He hath obtained by inheritance a more excellent name than they.\" Seest thou that he is speaking of that which is according to the flesh? For this Name, God the Word ever had; He did not afterwards \"obtain it by inheritance\"; nor did He afterwards become \"better than the Angels, when He had purged our sins\"; but He was always \"better,\" and better without all comparison. For this is spoken of Him according to the flesh.</p><p>So truly it is our way also, when we talk of man, to speak things both high and low. Thus, when we say, \"Man is nothing,\" \"Man is earth,\" \"Man is ashes,\" we call the whole by the worse part. But when we say, \"Man is an immortal animal,\" and \"Man is rational, and of kin to those on high,\" we call again the whole by the better part. So also, in the case of Christ, sometimes Paul discourseth from the less and sometimes from the better; wishing both to establish the economy, and also to teach about the incorruptible nature.<br/><i>— Homily on Hebrews 1</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: \"Being made,\" saith he, \"so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.\" The \"being made,\" here, is instead of \"being shown forth,\" as one may say. Then also from whence does he reason confidently? From the Name. Seest thou that the name Son is wont to declare true relationship? And indeed if He were not a true Son (and \"true\" is nothing else than \"of Him\"), how does he reason confidently from this? For if He be Son only by grace, He not only is not \"more excellent than the angels,\" but is even less than they. How? Because righteous men too were called sons; and the name son, if it be not a genuine son, doth not avail to show the \"excellency.\" When too he would point out that there is a certain difference between creatures and their maker, hear what he saith:<br/><i>— Homily on Hebrews 2</i></p><p><b>Theodoret of Cyrus</b>: This is spoken with reference to the humanity. As God he is maker of angels and Lord of angels, while as man he became superior to angels after the resurrection and ascension into heaven since he was also less than angels on account of experiencing death.… So just as he was less than angels as man, since they have an immortal nature whereas he endured the passion, so after the ascension into heaven he became superior to the angels.<br/><i>— INTERPRETATION OF Hebrews 1</i></p>","source_html_sha256":"97fa217023c8cafea0febca04601697c4b4e270213bd4db139fe1b85a0729317","source_module":"ECF","source_row_id":6474,"source_url":"https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ecf/","text_sha256":"0f67a772a2a98ee169bc0505ad81908a4d9192fd8ee7656da8ec5a80bab22099","translator":null,"work":null}