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.Hence, mark, stamp, as the image on a coin (so often) whichindicates its nature and value, or the device impressed by a signet.N.T.o.LXX, Leviticus 13:28; 2 Macc.iv.10; 4 Macc.xv.4.The kindredca>ragma mark, Acts 17:29; Revelation 13:16, 17.Here the essential beingof God is conceived as setting its distinctive stamp upon Christ, cominginto definite and characteristic expression in his person, so that the Sonbears the exact impress of the divine nature and character.And upholding all things (fe>rwn te tanta).Rend.maintaining.Upholding conveys too much the idea of the passive support of a burden. The Son is not an Atlas, sustaining the dead weight of the world (quotedby Westcott).Neither is the sense that of ruling or guiding, as Philo (DeCherub.§ 11), who describes the divine word as the steersman and pilotof the all. It implies sustaining, but also movement.It deals with aburden, not as a dead weight, but as in continual movement; as Weiss putsit, with the all in all its changes and transformations throughout theaeons. It is concerned, not only with sustaining the weight of theuniverse, but also with maintaining its coherence and carrying on itsdevelopment.What is said of God, Colossians 1:17, is here said or impliedof Christ: tanta ejn aujtw~| sune>sthken all things (collectively, theuniverse) consist or maintain their coherence in him.So the Logos is calledby Philo the bond (desmomati th~v duna>mewv aujtou~).Thephrase N.T.o., but comp Luke 1:37.and see note.The word is that inwhich the Son s power manifests itself.jAutou~ his refers to Christ.Nothing in the context suggests any other reference.The world was calledinto being by the word of God (ch.11.3), and is maintained by him who is the very image of God s substance. When he had by himself purged our sins (kaqarismomenov).Omit by himself; 167 yet a similar thought isimplied in the middle voice, poihsa>menov, which indicates that the work of purification was done by Christ personally, and was not somethingwhich he caused to be done by some other agent.Purged, lit.having madepurification The phrase N.T.o LXX, Job 7:21.Kaqarismo>v purificationoccurs in Mark, Luke John, 2nd Peter, oP., and only here in Hebrews.Theverb kaqari>zein to purify is not often used in N.T of cleansing from sin.See 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 John 1:7, 9 Of cleansing the conscience, Hebrews9:14.Of cleansing meats and vessels, Matthew 23:25, 26, Mark 7:19, Acts10:15; 11:9.Of cleansing the heart, Acts 15:9.The meaning here iscleansing of sins.In the phrase to cleanse from sin, always with ajpoqisen ejndexia~| th~v megalwsu>nhv ejn uJyhloi~v) Comp.Psalm 110:1, ch.8:1;10:12; 12:2; Ephesians 1:20; Apoc 3:21.The verb denotes a solemn,formal act; the assumption of a position of dignity and authority Thereference is to Christ s ascension.In his exalted state he will still bebearing on all things toward their consummation, still dealing with sin asthe great high priest in the heavenly sanctuary.This is elaborated later.Seech.8; 9:12 ff.Megalwsu>nh majesty, only here, ch.8:1; Jude 25.Quiteoften in LXX.There is suggested, not a contrast with his humiliation, buthis resumption of his original dignity, described in the former part of thisverse.jEn uJyhloi~v, lit.in the high places.Const.with sat down, not withmajesty.The phrase N.T.o.LXX, Psalm 92:4; 112:5.jEn toi~v uJyi>stoiv inthe highest (places), in the Gospels, and only in doxologies.See Matthew21:9; Mark 11:10; Luke 2:14.jEn toi~v ejpourani>oiv in the heavenly(places), only in Ephesians See 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12.4.The detailed development of the argument is now introduced.The pointis to show the superiority of the agent of the new dispensation to theagents of the old the angels and Moses.Christ s superiority to theangels is first discussed.Being made so much better than the angels (tosou>tw| krei>ttwn geno>menov tw~n ajgge>lwn).The informal and abrupt introduction of thistopic goes to show that the writer was addressing Jewish Christians, whowere familiar with the prominent part ascribed to angels in the O.T.economy, especially in the giving of the law.See on Galatians 3:9.Forbeing made, rend.having become; which is to be taken in close connectionwith sat down, etc., and in contrast with w}n being, ver.3.It is not deniedthat the Son was essentially and eternally superior to the angels; but hisglorification was conditioned upon his fulfillment of the requirements ofhis human state, and it is this that is emphasized.After having passedthrough the experience described in Philippians 2:6-8, he sat down on theright hand of the divine majesty as messianic sovereign, and so became orproved to be what in reality he was from eternity, superior to the angels.Tosou>tw| o[sw| so much as.Never used by Paul.Krei>ttwn better,superior, rare in Paul, and always neuter and adverbial.In Hebrewsthirteen times.See also 1 Peter 3:17; 2 Peter 2:21.Often in LXX.It doesnot indicate here moral excellence, but dignity and power
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