Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,… No resemblance taken from any other creature can more fully set out the mutual relation between the Father and the Son. For — 1. The brightness issuing from the sun is of the same nature that the sun is. 2. It is of as long continuance as the sun; never was the sun without the brightness of it. 3. This brightness cannot be separated from the sun; the sun may as well be made no sun as have the brightness thereof severed from it.:4. This bright-Hess is from the sun, not the sun from it.:5. This brightness cometh naturally and necessarily from the sun, not voluntarily and at pleasure. 6. The sun and the brightness are distinct each from other, the one is not the other. 7. All the glory of the sun is in this brightness. 8. The light which the sun giveth to the world is by this brightness. How distinctly doth this metaphor set out the great mysteries of our Christian faith concerning God the Father and Son.For they are — 1. Of one and the same essence (John 10:30). 2. Co-eternal (John 1:1). 3. Inseparable (Proverbs 8:30). 4. The Son is from the Father; God of God, light of light, very God of very God. 5. The Son is begotten of the Father, by nature, not by will, favour, or good pleasure (Romans 8:7, 32). 6. The person of the one is distinct from the other; for the Father is not the Son, nor the Son the Father (John 5:17). 7. The incomprehensible glory of the Father most brightly shineth forth in the Son (John 17:5). 8. All that the Father doth in relation to creatures He doth by the Son. As in these respects Christ is fitly and justly styled brightness, so in regard of His surpassing excellency He is said to be the brightness of glory. Of the Hebrew and Greek words translated glory. Glory attributed to a thing in the Hebrew dialect importeth the surpassing excellency thereof; as a crown of glory (Proverbs 16:31), a throne of glory (Jeremiah 17:12), a name of glory (Isaiah 63:14), a most excellent and glorious crown, throne, and name. Thus to set out the surpassing excellency, and most glorious majesty of God, He is styled the God of glory (Acts 7:2), the Father of glory (Ephesians 1:17). And His Son, the Lord of glory, the King of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8; Psalm 24:7). Never was any brightness like to the brightness here mentioned; well therefore might it, in regard of the excellency of it, be styled brightness of glory. (W. Gouge.) Parallel Verses KJV: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, |
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