I N D E X
COVENANTS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES
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Passover', means `to celebrate', the word used in the Old Testament for keeping the Passover being asah. Hebrews
1:2 can therefore be translated:
`By Whom also He appointed the ages'.
As to the employment of the word aion in Hebrews, see what light is thrown upon the Mediatorial office of the Son
if we translate Hebrews 1:8:
`But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is unto the age of the age',
pointing on to the consummation, when God shall be all in all, the Mediatoral kingdom being at last rid of all
enemies (1 Corinthians 15:28). In like manner `Thou art a priest unto the age', for the office of a priest indicates the
necessity for mediation, suggests that the redeemed are still at some distance, that reconciliation, in its full
experimental sense is not yet complete. It is the glory of the age purpose of God, that at last sacrifice and priesthood
will have so completed their appointed work that they will be ended and be no longer necessary.
`The powers of the age to come' is more to the point here (6:5). When the apostle wished to speak of the `world'
to come he uses an entirely different word oikoumene `the habitable world' (Heb. 2:5). Again, instead of reading
`eternal salvation', `eternal redemption' and the like, read:
`He became the author of age abiding salvation'
`Having obtained age abiding redemption'
`The promise of age abiding inheritance'
`The blood of the age abiding covenant'
(5:9; 9:12,15; 13:20),
or better still, accustom ourselves to the use of aeonian, a word in the English dictionary that has the merit of
leaving the precise meaning of the term to be settled by the usage and context. Readers may remember Tennyson's
use of the word in his poem `In Memoriam'.
`The sounds of streams that swift or slow
Draw down -onian hills, and sow
The dust of continents to be'.
We rejoice to know that `The child born' or `The Son given' was seen in prophetic vision by Isaiah not only as
`The mighty God' but as `The Father of the age', `Father of futurity' (Rotherham), where there is no confusion of
the Persons of the Father and the Son, the title here being one of pre-eminence in relation to the ages, as `Firstborn'
gives Him pre-eminence both in Creation and in the Church.
`The Brightness of His Glory'
One verse in the opening of this epistle to the Hebrews speaks of times past and of the prophets to whom God
spake, and then the SON dominates the rest of the book:
`Hath in these last days spoken unto us IN SON, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He
made, or appointed, the eons'.
From now on `The Son' is supreme, and is purposely contrasted not only with the prophets of `times past', but
with all other agents until time shall be no more.
The Son is contrasted with angels (Hebrews 1:5-13).
`For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son ... let all the angels of God worship Him ...
He maketh His ministers a flame of fire. BUT unto the SON He saith, Thy throne, O GOD, is unto the eon of the
eon ... BUT to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy
footstool?' (not AV JP).
The Son is contrasted with Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6).