Hebrews 1:5-14 - Lesson 3

Hebrews 1:5-14 - Lesson 3
October 19, 2025
Randolph Washington
Herbert harris

Hebrews L3: Christ's Supremacy

Overview of Hebrews 1:5-14, focusing on Jesus' superiority over angels and the finality of God's revelation.

Key Takeaways

  • Jesus is the "radiance of God's glory" and "exact representation" of God's being, making Him superior to all angels.
  • God's communication was gradual, starting with prophets, dreams, and visions, but culminating in the final revelation through His Son, Jesus.
  • The book of Hebrews was written to counter apostasy, as early Jewish Christians were pressured to return to Judaism.
  • Spiritual gifts (like prophecy) were for a specific time and purpose; all modern claims must be tested against Scripture.
  • The Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) is uncreated; all other beings, including angels, are created.

Core Principle: Jesus is described as the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being. He is authentically God the Son, sustaining all things and is superior to angels.

Historical Context & The Threat of Apostasy

Apostasy is defined as departing from or renouncing one's faith. This was the primary threat facing the original audience of Hebrews.

  • Early Jewish Christians were facing intense pressure (political, religious, and social) to abandon their faith in Christ and return to Judaism.
  • For a time, many early believers practiced their new faith in Christ while still participating in Jewish customs and synagogue worship, but this became increasingly difficult due to persecution.

God's Communication: Past and Present

The lecture outlined the progression of God's revelation to mankind.

  • In the Past: God spoke through various means, including prophets, angels, dreams, and visions.
  • Gradual Revelation: God's revelations were gradual and purposeful; He did not reveal His entire plan all at once.
  • Key Characteristics: When God communicated directly, He typically used an audible voice, clearly identified Himself, and spoke in an understandable language.
  • In These "Last Days": This period, from Pentecost until Christ's return, marks the final and complete revelation of God through His Son, Jesus.

The Unmatched Supremacy of Christ

Hebrews 1 goes to great lengths to establish Jesus' divine nature and superiority over all created beings, especially angels.

  • Jesus is appointed heir of all things.
  • The universe was made through Him, and He sustains all things by His power.
  • Angels, while powerful and intelligent, are created beings and are not divine.
  • Jesus' divine nature (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is uncreated.
  • Jesus became "lower than angels" only by taking on a human form during His time on earth.

Spiritual Gifts and Scriptural Authority

The class addressed the nature of spiritual gifts and how to test modern claims of revelation.

  • Gifts like prophecy and supernatural dream interpretation served a specific purpose during a specific time (like the apostolic age) and are not ongoing in the same way today.
  • Any modern claim of a "revelation," "vision," or "dream" from God must be tested against and align perfectly with the completed Word of God, the Bible. Scripture is the final authority.

Key Definitions

Apostasy
Departing from or renouncing one's faith, especially Christianity.
Scepter
A symbol of authority or power, often used for rulers.
Radiance of God's glory
Jesus as the visible, perfect revelation of God.
Exact representation
Jesus shares the full, undiluted, and authentic nature of God.
"Last Days"
The historical period from the day of Pentecost until Christ's second return.
Try out this - Self-Directed Quiz

Hebrews Lesson 3 Quiz

Christ's Supremacy (ch 1:5-14)

Test your knowledge from Lesson 3. This quiz covers the overview of Hebrews and Christ's supremacy over angels.

Learning Fun with - Study Games
Flashcard Study Deck

This game is ideal for reinforcing the key terms and definitions from the lesson. Users can click to flip the card and use the navigation buttons to move through the deck or shuffle it.

Hebrews L3: Key Terms

Card 1 of 8
Term
Definition
Drag-and-Drop Matching

This game helps users connect key concepts to their matching descriptions. They drag the term from the left column to the correct drop-zone on the right. The game provides immediate visual feedback.

Hebrews L3: Match the Concept

Drag the blue terms from the left to their matching descriptions on the right.
The Son
Angels
"Last Days"
Apostasy
God's Revelation
Modern "Visions"
Was gradual, purposeful, and culminated in Christ.
The period from Pentecost until the Lord's return.
Must be tested and align with Scripture.
The "exact representation" of God's being.
Departing from Christianity to return to Judaism.
Created beings; powerful, but not divine.
All items matched correctly!
"Complete the Concept" Fill-in-the-Blank

This game tests recall of specific key phrases and ideas from the lesson. Users type their answers and get immediate feedback before moving to the next question.

Hebrews L3: Complete the Concept

Question 1 of 8
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