Hebrews 1 is an important passage to study regarding the Trinity for several reasons:
· It is a passage that can prove the full deity of Jesus when understood.
· Understanding Hebrews 1 can protect you from false views of Jesus and Triune Godhead.
· It will increase your desire to know Jesus and follow His will more closely.
So, what evidence does Hebrews 1 provide that proves the full deity of Jesus and His relationship to the Godhead?
1. He was never an angel.
When talking with some religious groups who doubt the Trinity, I often discuss Hebrews Chapter 1. I do this because I know that they believe that Jesus is an angel and therefore a created being. Specifically, they believe Jesus is Michael the Archangel (chief angel). They reach this conclusion through proof-texting and huge assumptions. The Bible mentions Michael and portrays Him as a mighty angel but never reveals that Jesus is Michael. If Jesus is Michael, then Jesus is not God, and there is likely no Trinity. However, nearly every other translation of Hebrews 1, it is clear that Jesus cannot have been an angel. Notice these verses in Hebrews 1. ‘For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”?’ (1:5). ‘In speaking of angels he says, “He makes the angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever…”’ (Hebrews 1:7-8). ‘To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”’ (Hebrews 1:13, NIV).
God has never said to any angel the things mentioned above. Some might suggest that God spoke these to no other angel, but that is a desperate attempt to support their doctrine and a blatant misrepresentation of the text. God never said the above statements to any angel, including Michael the Archangel.
So, what is He if Jesus isn’t an angel and is superior to them? I can only conclude that He is divine and, therefore, a member of the Godhead.
2. The angels worship Jesus.
Hebrews 1:6 (NIV) says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In the New World Translation (NWT), the Jehovah’s Witnesses Bible, the translators replace the word worship with “obeisance”. The NWT editors often use this term whenever the Greek word proskyneō is about Jesus. The word obeisance means “a movement of your body (such as bowing) that shows respect for someone or something” (The Britannica Dictionary, n.d). Obeisance often describes bowing to a king or queen. Admittedly, there are times in the Bible when proskyneō can mean obeisance. Yet, interestingly, the NWT editors rarely translate proskyneō to mean obeisance when applied to God the Father. When it comes to Jesus, they nearly always translate proskyneō to mean obeisance even when it is evident that He was being worshipped for his divine abilities (Note: John 9:38, Matthew 14:33, Matthew 28:8-9).
The inconsistent way the NWT editors use the term obeisance undoubtedly reveals their bias towards the beliefs that Jesus isn’t Jehovah but rather a lesser created being – or “a god”. But going back to point one, if Jesus is not an angel and instead a deity, it makes much more sense to translate Hebrew 1:6 to say, “Let all God’s angels worship him” (NIV). And if God allows the angels to worship Him, doesn’t that mean He must be a part of God?
If there is any further doubt that angels can worship Jesus, have a read of Revelation chapters 4 and 5. In Chapter 4, the living creatures and twenty-four elders worship God, who is on the throne. However, in chapter 5, Jesus standing in the centre of the throne, is also praised and worshipped. Take note of what John records in chapter 5:11-14, ‘Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and then thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne (the throne Jesus was standing on) and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice, they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!” The four living creatures said, Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped.’
John records in his vision thousands of angels praising, honouring and glorifying the Lamb, a reference to Jesus. In addition, the twenty-four elders worship the one who sits on the throne and the Lamb (Jesus) who stands on it. Interestingly the word for worship used in this passage is proskyneō, the same word in Hebrews 1:6.
3. God in heaven calls Jesus God.
In verse 8, the writer of Hebrews says, ‘But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” Notice in this verse that God calls the Son, God. In the original language, there is a definite article before God when Jesus is addressed by His Father. This is significant because in John 1:1 there is no definite article in Greek when Jesus is called God. The Jehovah’s Witnesses note this and in the NWT translate John 1:1 to say that is Jesus is “a god”. Of course, I will need to address John 1:1 further at some point but at least for the moment Hebrews 1:8 settles the argument because God calls Jesus, with the definite article in Greek, God.
But, of course, to call Jesus God would contradict the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ doctrine that Jesus is not Jehovah but a lesser god. So, in the New World Translation, verse 8 says, ‘But about the Son, he says: “God is your throne forever and ever”’. But what does it mean that God is Jesus’ throne? Are they really suggesting that Jehovah God is a throne beneath Jesus? Wouldn’t that make Jesus superior to Jehovah contradicting their own doctrine? But considering my previous points, if Jesus isn’t an angel and if Jesus is worshipped by angels, it makes sense that God the Father would call another member of the Godhead (Jesus) God.
Of course, Hebrews 1:8-9 is a quote from Psalm 45:6-7, and admittedly, the meaning in Psalm 45 is difficult to understand, and there seems to be much debate on it. However, we must allow the New Testament writers to use these Psalms and explain their meaning to us. In the context of Hebrews 1, it makes sense that Jesus is called God.
4. Jesus possesses the power and creative abilities of God.
If you read Psalm 102, it is clear that this Psalm is addressed to Jehovah. The New World Translation acknowledges this and begins Psalm 102 by saying, “O Jehovah” (Psalm 102:1 NWT). I believe most Jehovah’s Witnesses will recognise that even verses 24-27 speak of Jehovah, which says, “In the beginning, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same and your years will never end”(NIV).
So, if we all acknowledge that Jehovah is the one who made everything, why does the Hebrew writer quote this passage in chapters 1:10-12 and explain that this is really about the Son (Jesus)? How is it that Jesus is being credited for qualities and abilities that only belong to Jehovah? In fact, the Hebrew writer is not just saying that Jesus possesses Jehovah’s powers but that He is Jehovah. Notice Hebrews 1:10 says, “In the beginning, O Lord (Jehovah), you laid the foundations of the earth…”.
So, if Jesus isn’t an angel, then what is He? If angels worship Jesus, then who is He? And, if Jesus is called God by God, then what should we call Him? Surely then, the Hebrew writer is acknowledging the deity of Jesus and His participation as a functioning, equal member of the Godhead.
Now if we recognise that Hebrews is telling us that Jesus is divine and an equal member of the Godhead, then how should we interpret the words “firstborn” (Verse 6) and “became” otherwise translated as “begotten” (verse 5)? Do these indicate that Jesus was created? The firstborn, in many cultures, is usually someone privileged to have a position in a household where they stand to enjoy major blessings and is usually the heir to take over their father’s home and possessions. In many cases, the word does refer to a first-born child, particularly a son, but it’s the position that the firstborn has in the family that is of the most significance. Even though King David was the youngest in his household, God treated him like a firstborn in the sense that He gave major blessings and the number one position in Israel (Psalm 89:27). In regards to Jesus, it’s not that He was created, but that He has a role in God’s household that ranks at the top. This understanding matches the context of Colossians chapter 1 and Hebrews chapter 1.
The word “begotten” can indicate birth, but it can also mean several other things. Indeed, Jesus was begotten by God through Mary when Jesus was born into the world. However, the word begotten can also indicate uniqueness which seems to be implied about Jesus in John 3:16. In other words, Jesus was special and one of a kind. The word begotten can also be understood as being of the same kind or nature as another. Jesus is begotten of God the Father in that He shares the exact nature, character and essence as He does. So, the word begotten doesn’t necessarily mean someone created or born. When considering the context of Hebrews 1 and the above points, does it really make sense that Jesus is a created being? Or does it make more sense that He is unique and of the same nature as God? To me, the latter two ways of understanding begotten make the most sense.
Final Thoughts.
Hebrews chapter 1 provides evidence that Jesus is fully divine and an equal member of the Godhead. Jesus is not an angel and is above them. The next level above angels is indeed divinity. Jesus is also worshipped by angels, which would be utterly evil if Jesus wasn’t a member of the Godhead. Not only that, Jesus is called God by God. When it comes to the term’s firstborn and begotten, they teach about the supreme position of Jesus, His uniqueness and that He possesses God’s qualities and nature.
References
The Britannica Dictionary. (n.d). Obeisance. In the Britannica Dictionary. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/obeisance
The New World Translation. (n.d). Retrieved from https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/C
