Book 65 Hebrews
THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE HEBREWS
St. Paul wrote this Epistle to the Christians in Palestine, the most part of whom being Jews before their conversion, they were called Hebrews. He exhorts them to be thoroughly converted and confirmed in the faith of Christ, clearly shewing them the preeminence of Christ's priesthood above the Levitical, and also the excellence of the new law above the old. He commends faith by the example of the ancient fathers: and exhorts them to patience and perseverance and to remain in fraternal charity. It appears from chap. 13 that this Epistle was written in Italy, and probably at Rome, about twenty-nine years after our Lord's Ascension.
Hebrews Chapter 1
God spoke of old by the prophets, but now by his Son, who is incomparably greater than the angels.
1:1. God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all,
1:2. In these days, hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world.
1:3. Who being the brightness of his glory and the figure of his substance and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high:
The figure... that is, the express image, and most perfect resemblance. Making purgation... That is, having purged away our sins by his passion.
1:4. Being made so much better than the angels as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.