Jesus Christ – lower or better than the angels? Hebr. 2:7

angelThou madest him A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS (Hebr. 2:7)

Jesus was temporarily (and in one aspect) made a little lower than the angels when he by free will was made in the likeness of a human beings. Jesus made himself in the form of a servant for our sake!

Rom. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Col. 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Jesus chose to lay down his own life by following a commandment given by his Father to do so. As a man living on earth Jesus was in contact with God the Father through prayers just like us, but unlike us Jesus has always shared the Godhead together with his Father. Jesus lived even before Abraham (John 8:58) but not in form of a human being. Jesus existed before the world even was, together with his Father. Moreover, God the Father is said to not share his glory with anyone, but gladly shares it with Jesus! The only way to solve this apparent contradiction is to accept that Jesus is God, which in fact is what his Father calls him in Hebr. 1:8 when he addresses the son with “O God”.

John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.— 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.— 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Is. 42:8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I NOT give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Even though Jesus temporarily was made lower than the angels here on earth, he became better and higher than the angels after his resurrection. He also got a taste of it here on earth when we can also read that angels were told to worship him. We are also made aware in the Bible that we serve and worship God alone (Matt. 4:10-11) which makes sense since God is one and the only Creator. The reason why Jesus was born on earth (despite having preexisted in another form) was “for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man”. This means ALL can be saved if they truly repent for their sins and believe that Jesus Christ has come in flesh.

Matt. 4:10: Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Hebr. 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?7 Thou madest him A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.But we see JESUS, who was made A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

pink bible and candleThe previous chapter claims that Jesus was so much better than the angels, so he had a higher standing:

Hebr. 1:4 Being made so much BETTER than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment

Jesus is before all things – visible or invisible. Sure our Creator God fits in to one of those categories since he is at least “something”? If Jesus has always existed with the Father in the godhead, he was indeed “before all things” and the Father was not before him. In Isaiah we can read that no one helped the Lord in his creation. The persons in the godhead were and are intertwined.

Hebr. 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Col. 1:16 For BY HIM were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL THINGS were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is BEFORE ALL THINGS, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things HE might have the preeminence.

Is. 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens ALONE; that spreadeth abroad the earth BY MYSELF

Is 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.


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