commences with Acts 13, there are but two references in the Acts to angelic ministry, namely at Acts 23:9 and

27:23. This must be considered in contrast with the seventeen references that are found in Acts 1 to 12. In the

prison ministry of Paul, that is in the five `prison' epistles, angels are only mentioned to be set aside, i.e., `the

worshipping of angels' (Col. 2:18). In 1 Timothy 3:16 angels are mentioned in connection with the Mystery of

godliness, namely `God manifest in the flesh', and also in the charge of 1 Timothy 5:21, where `elect angels' are

`Being made so much better than the angels' This passage contains the first of several comparisons that are

made as the theme of the epistle is unfolded.

(1) `SO MUCH better than the angels ... obtained a more excellent name' (Heb. 1:4).

(2) `This Man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, INASMUCH as He Who hath builded the house hath

more honour than the house' (Heb. 3:3).

(3) `AND INASMUCH as not without an oath ... by so MUCH was Jesus made a surety of a better testament

(covenant)' (Heb. 7:20,22).

0

(4) `For SUCH an high priest became us' (Heb. 7:26).

(5) `We have SUCH an high priest ... in the heavens' (Heb. 8:1).

(6) `But NOW hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by HOW MUCH also He is the Mediator of a better

covenant' (Heb. 8:6).

(7) `He that despised Moses' law died without mercy ... of HOW MUCH sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be

thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God' (Heb. 10:28,29).

(8) `They that say SUCH things declare plainly that they seek a country' (Heb. 11:14).

These comparisons of angel and mediator, of better covenants and better country are integral links in the chain of

Divine unfolding. They are buried deep, perhaps, but nevertheless there, and visible to the eye of the humble seeker

after truth. The following analysis may be of service.

A 1:4.

The more excellent name (diaphoros).

(Angels, mediators of the old covenant).

B 3:3.

Counted worthy (axioo) Above Moses.

C 8:1.

We have such an High 7:20,22 Better covenant.

Priest in the heavens.

The Tabernacle pitched

7:26  Higher than.

by the Lord and not man.

A more excellent ministry (diaphoros)

(Mediator of the New Covenant).

Thought worthy (axioo) Beneath feet.

C 11:10-16. Such things.

The better and heavenly country.

The city whose builder and maker is God.

For our immediate purpose we need all the light we can get on Hebrews 1:4, and the parallel of Hebrews 8:6

therefore is welcome. For the time being we make no further comment on this set of comparisons except perhaps to

note how the pilgrim attitude of faith (Heb. 11:10-16) is apparently the echo of `such an high priest' (Heb. 8:1), as it

ever should be. In both passages there is a `more excellent' name, or ministry. In the second reference, this ministry

is the mediation of the New Covenant. In what way does this fact illuminate the insistence of the apostle in

Hebrews 1 and 2 upon the superiority of Christ to angels? The answer is that angels were themselves mediators of

the Old Covenant. This is a matter of importance and must now be set forth.

While it is a Scriptural truth that `The law was given by Moses' (John 1:17), it is also a Scriptural truth that

Israel `received the law by the disposition of angels' (Acts 7:53). To this testimony of Stephen, Paul adds his in

`The law ... was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator' (Gal. 3:19).