"Yet, what God speaks in the Son is entirely consistent with what God has said in the past." This is a theological stance that takes a lot of gymnastics to align Jesus with the "utterly destroy" sections. Clearly, the Hebrews writer not only means to finalize Jesus as God's complete communication, but also stack Jesus on top of everything else, and thus define the former words. I know, more gymnastics required...
Given this identification of Word with Son in Hebrews 1, can we say that the common prooftexting of “word of God” in Heb. 4:12 as being about the Bible is wrong or at best dubious?
Two prayers I wrote a while back:
Father,
You have spoken to us through the prophets
In portions, a bit at a time--
And the word that you spoke overwhelms me,
Your law is so awesome and fine.
You spoke to the people through angels,
Great creatures of wind and of fire.
People shook at the visions in terror,
Such fear did their speaking inspire.
And now you have spoken in Jesus,
Not a shadow, but the brilliance of Your light.
The Word that created the planets
is spoken to us in the night.
The Word that holds all things together,
Came down to destroy all our sins.
When the world is changed like old clothing,
The Word that is Jesus will stand.
A better will never be spoken,
Through Him you have reached out Your hand.
The ears that I hear with are shallow,
The eyes I can see with are dim.
Father, speak Jesus into my being,
'Til my life is completed in Him.
Second one:
In these last days, God has spoken to us in His Son
A meditation on Hebrews 1:2-3
Jesus, you are appointed heir of all things.
You're the one the Father chose to have it all.
Keep me from grabbing, clutching things to myself.
In You, I have it all.
Apart from You, there's nothing left to own.
Jesus, through You the Father made the world.
The ages past, the present,
And all the future there will ever be
Were spoken into being through You.
And You made me.
You knew me, and planned me, held me in Your heart,
Before the beginning.
Jesus, You are the radiance of the Father's glory,
The light that shines forth from the blazing sun.
Help me be a true mirror,
With veils and masks stripped away,
So that I can catch Your light,
And shine it truly into the darkness I see.
Jesus, You are the perfect engraving
Of the Father's underlying essence,
The exact representation of His being.
I am like a coin that's blurred and fuzzy.
I long to be new-minted.
Melt me in the fire of Your love
And stamp Your image plainly on my heart.
Jesus, You uphold all things by the word of Your power,
By the spoken word that creates and brings forth life.
Hold me up, Lord.
Hold me together,
And speak Your powerful word into my life.
Jesus, You made purification of sins,
Cleansed, purged, made it right.
The work was finished, final, and complete.
Complete it in my heart, O Lord.
Bring your cleansing, purify my inmost being.
Jesus, You sat down
On the right hand of the Majesty of the Father.
Your work was finished, You entered into Your rest.
Bring me too into that Sabbath rest,
That having run the race, I may sit at Your feet
And worship You forever.
Amen.
Wonderful
This passage Hebrews 1:1-4, Colossians 1:15-23, and Philippians 2:5-11 are some of my favorite passages. You can’t help but worship. Thank you Scot.
Thank you Scott
"Yet, what God speaks in the Son is entirely consistent with what God has said in the past." This is a theological stance that takes a lot of gymnastics to align Jesus with the "utterly destroy" sections. Clearly, the Hebrews writer not only means to finalize Jesus as God's complete communication, but also stack Jesus on top of everything else, and thus define the former words. I know, more gymnastics required...
Given this identification of Word with Son in Hebrews 1, can we say that the common prooftexting of “word of God” in Heb. 4:12 as being about the Bible is wrong or at best dubious?