The Superiority of Christ over the Prophets

1 Many years ago, God spoke to our Israelite ancestors by his prophets. He spoke many times and in many different ways.

2 But in these last times, he has spoken to us by his Son. In the beginning, God made the whole world and everything that there is by his Son. And God has chosen that everything should be his Son's.

3 The Son shines with the bright light that comes from God. The Son's nature is a copy of God's nature. He shows us completely what God is like. The Son's powerful word causes everything in the world to continue. The Son himself made it possible for us to be clean from everything that we do wrong. After he had done that, he sat down in heaven. He sat at the right side of God, who is the greatest ruler, with all authority. [1]

Because of His Deity

4 God has caused his Son to be much greater and much better than the angels. God has given him a much greater and much better name than the angels' names.

5 God never spoke like this to any angel: ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.’ ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.’

6 But when God brings his first, greatest Son into the world, he says this about him: ‘All God's angels must worship him.’

7 God speaks about the angels like this: ‘God makes his angels like winds. He makes his servants like fires that burn.’

8 But God speaks to his Son like this: ‘You are God and you will never stop ruling! You rule as king. And you always do what is right and good.

9 You love what is right. And you hate what is wrong. That is why I have chosen you. I am your God and I have chosen you. I have chosen you to be much greater and much happier than those who are with you.’

10 God also speaks like this about the Son: ‘Lord, you made the earth in the beginning. You yourself made the skies also.

11 The earth and the skies will come to an end, but you will continue always. They will all become old, just as clothes become old.

12 You will cause them to roll up, like someone rolls up an old coat to put it away. You will change them as people change clothes. But you will always be the same. Your life will never come to an end.’

13 God has never spoken like this to any of the angels: ‘Sit at my right side until I beat your enemies completely. Then you will be able to put your feet on them.’

14 All the angels are spirits who are only God's servants. He sends them to help all the people that he will save.