Hebrews Chapter 2

vs 10

The TNIV here uses the word 'pioneer'. I like it. Having said that, the KJV says 'captain', which is also cool.

So, this verse brings up a lot of questions. Firstly, why is it fitting? It doesn't say - not that I can see. Not here, anyway.

But that's dodging the real question - the verse doesn't say that it will make the sufferings perfect, or the salvation perfect. No, it will specifically make their author perfect. Jesus, according to this verse, is made perfect through his sufferings.

Now, for those of us who accept a temporal/atemporal paradox, this poses no problems - Jesus, existing as an atemporal being, has always been perfect. That his perfection was initiated at any given point on the temporal timeline doesn't affect that.

If you don't truck with such explanations, I hope you don't get too confused by this verse.

vs 11

This is a very comforting verse. We are of the same family as Christ, because of his work. Not only does he accept us as family, he does it without shame - we do not cause shame to God by being saved.

vs 12

Of course, David in his psalm is talking about Israel. But then, it's not a huge hop, skip and jump to take the people of God and Jesus as a similar relationship.

vs 13

I honestly don't get the relevance of Isaiah 8:17. It just doesn't seem to fit. I know it's what is in Isaiah right before the next quote, but that doesn't seem a good reason to throw it in.

The next quote seems far more relevant, with another familial relationship. This time the relationship is children, not brothers and sisters. A mixed metaphor, but hey, it still means being in the family.

vs 14

This is of course one of the key points of our faith - that God became man, took on flesh, for our sake. It was this indwelling in humanity that God chose to work his salvation plan. Only God could think of a way to use death to beat death. That's pretty awesome.

It's an interesting statement to make, that the devil has the power over death. Did God give him that power so that he could take it away again? I guess so.

vs 15

Which is everybody.

vs 16

Here's a novel idea. I wonder, if the reference to angels here, after that of death, is one that suggests that angels are not normally mortal? I guess it could. It could at least infer it or assume it. But the main point seems to be, now, that Christ came in form of humanity to save man - not as an angel.

vs 17

Note that the merciful and faithful nature which comes from the incarnation is for better service of God first and foremost. That says something, to me anyway - that the servant of God must be merciful and faithful.

But it is also for the sake of the atonement.

vs 18

I'm not quite sure about the suffering of Christ during his temptation, but it seems that suffering is what allows Christ's experiences to help others. I wonder if we think of suffering that way? After all, it was suffering and death that allows atonement.