Hebrews 2
1 Wherefore wee ought diligently to giue heede to the thinges which wee haue heard, lest at any time we runne out.
Therefore we must give still more heed to what we were taught, so we do not drift away.
2 For if the worde spoken by Angels was stedfast, and euery transgression, and disobedience receiued a iust recompence of reward,
For, if the message which was delivered by angels had its authority confirmed, so that every offence against it, or neglect of it, met with a fitting requital,
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great saluation, which at the first began to be preached by the Lord, and afterward was confirmed vnto vs by them that heard him,
how can we, of all people, expect to escape, if we disregard so great a salvation? It was the Master who at the outset spoke of this salvation, and its authority was confirmed for us by those who heard him,
4 God bearing witnes thereto, both with signes and wonders, and with diuers miracles, and gifts of the holy Ghost, according to his owne will?
while God himself added his testimony to it by signs, and marvels, and many different miracles, as well as by imparting the Holy Spirit as he saw fit.
5 For he hath not put in subiection vnto the Angels the world to come, whereof we speake.
God has not given to angels the control of that future world of which we are speaking!
6 But one in a certaine place witnessed, saying, What is man, that thou shouldest bee mindefull of him? or the sonne of man, that thou wouldest consider him?
No; a writer has declared somewhere – “What are mere mortals that you should remember them? Or human beings that you should care for them?
7 Thou madest him a litle inferiour to ye Angels: thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and hast set him aboue the workes of thine hands.
You have made them, for a while, lower than angels; with glory and honour you have crowned them; you have set them over all that your hands have made;
8 Thou hast put all things in subiection vnder his feete. And in that he hath put all things in subiection vnder him, he left nothing that should not be subiect vnto him. But we yet see not all things subdued vnto him,
you have placed all things beneath their feet.” This “placing of everything” under humanity means that there was nothing which was not placed under them. As yet, however, we do not see everything placed under humanity.
9 But we see Iesus crowned with glory and honour, which was made litle inferiour to the Angels, through the suffering of death, that by Gods grace he might taste death for all men.
What our eyes do see is Jesus, who was made for a while lower than angels, now, because of his sufferings and death, crowned with glory and honour; so that his tasting the bitterness of death should, in God’s loving kindness, be on behalf of all humanity.
10 For it became him, for whome are all these thinges, and by whome are all these things, seeing that hee brought many children vnto glory, that he should consecrate the Prince of their saluation through afflictions.
It was, indeed, fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, should, when leading many children to glory, make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
11 For he that sanctifieth, and they which are sanctified, are all of one: wherefore he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
For he who purifies, and those whom he purifies, all spring from One; and therefore he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
12 Saying, I will declare thy Name vnto my brethren: in the middes of the Church will I sing praises to thee.
He says – “I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13 And againe, I will put my trust in him. And againe, Beholde, here am I, and the children which God hath giuen me.
And again – “As for me, I will put my trust in God.” And yet again – “See, here am I and the children whom God gave me.”
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himselfe likewise tooke part with them, that hee might destroye through death, him that had the power of death, that is the deuil,
Therefore, since human nature is the common heritage of the children, Jesus also shared it, in order that by death he might render powerless him whose power lies in death – that is, the devil –
15 And that he might deliuer all them, which for feare of death were all their life time subiect to bondage.
and so might deliver all those who, from fear of death, had all their lives been living in slavery.
16 For he in no sort tooke on him the Angels nature, but hee tooke on him the seede of Abraham.
It was not, surely, to the help of the angels that Jesus came, but to the help of the descendants of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoued him to be made like vnto his brethren, that hee might be mercifull, and a faithfull hie Priest in things concerning God, that he might make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people.
And consequently it was necessary that he should in all points be made like his brothers and sisters, in order that he might prove a merciful as well as a faithful high priest in humanity’s relations with God, for the purpose of expiating the sins of his people.
18 For in that he suffered, and was tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
The fact that he himself suffered under temptation enables him to help those who are tempted.
