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Hebrews

About this book
Chapter 4

1 Therefore we must be wary that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’” And yet God’s works were accomplished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,” 5 but to repeat the text cited earlier: “They will never enter my rest!” 6 Therefore it remains for some to enter it, yet those to whom it was previously proclaimed did not enter because of disobedience. 7 So God again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken afterward about another day. 9 Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God. 10 For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works. 11 Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow;⁠ it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.⁠ 13 And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.⁠ 14 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.⁠ 16 Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.

Texts in conversation

Compare Wisdom of Solomon 7:23 and Hebrews 4:12

Deuterocanon · New Testament

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Summary

Hebrews uses language from the Wisdom of Solomon that describes wisdom as bright, pure, and reflecting divine glory. It reshapes this and uses language that highlights exactness and perfection instead of “image” or “goodness.”

Passages

Wisdom of Solomon 7:23

Deuterocanon
21 All things that are either secret or manifest I learned, 22 for wisdom, that is the architect of all things, taught me. For there is in her a spirit that is quick to understand, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, freely moving, clear in utterance, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving what is good, keen, unhindered, 23 beneficent, loving toward man, steadfast, sure, free from care, all-powerful, all-surveying, and penetrating through all spirits that are quick to understand, pure, most subtle. 24 For wisdom is more mobile than any motion. Yes, she pervades and penetrates all things by reason of her purity. 25 For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty. Therefore nothing defiled can find entrance into her. 26 For she is a reflection of everlasting light, an unspotted mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. 27 Although she is one, she has power to do all things. Remaining in herself, she renews all things. From generation to generation passing into holy souls, she makes friends of God and prophets. 28 For God loves nothing except one who dwells with wisdom.
50 BCE – 50 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Wisdom of Solomon

Hebrews 4:12

New Testament
10 For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works. 11 Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. 14 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
80–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Hebrews

References

"... When we begin to bring together the various strands of thought which we have thus far explored, a coherent image of the Son begins to form. The author of Hebrews appears to use some terms as a way to recall aspects of the Biblical tradition, most notably ἀπαύγασμα “radiance” and δόξα “glory”. The term ἀπαύγασμα “radiance”, hearkens back to the Wisdom tradition as seen in Wisdom of Solomon 7:26 and it stresses the close, even inseparable relationship which exists between the Father and Son while the term “glory” hearkens back to theophanic expressions of God’s being. The author of Hebrews however also appears to have avoided / altered some of the terms found in Wisdom of Solomon 7, for example ἀγαθότητος “goodness” and εἰκὼν “image”. The replacement of “image” with the term χαρακτήρ “character” seems to be an attempt to express the accurate nature of the Son’s representation while also stressing that the Son’s representation is different than man’s reflection of the divine as given in Genesis 1:26 - Christ is more than an image of God like other human beings, as the Son he bears a unique relationship to the Father which the author of Hebrews describes as the “stamp of his being”. The replacement of “goodness” by ὑπόστασις “substance” seems to clarify that the Son reflects not simply one aspect of God’s being but His whole being. Finally, we saw certain terms, for example χαρακτήρ “character” and ὑπόστασις “substance”, while not channeling the Biblical tradition, do not appear to be endorsements of philosophical thought either ..."
Peter A. Langenkamp, God’s Word to Man, Wisdom Personified and the Christ of Hebrews 1:3 (Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, 2017), 47.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Wisdom of Solomon 7:23 and Hebrews 4:12

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