WHAT DOES HEBREWS 2:14-17 TRULY MEAN?

SPELLING EDITED

WHAT DOES HEBREWS 2:14-17 TRULY MEAN?

Does Hebrews 2:14-17 prove that Jesus pre-existed in eternity past as a separate divine person who was with God at God’s side? In other words, did a second person who was with God come down from heaven to take on flesh to be like humans? Let us read Hebrews 2:14-17 out of its context first and then we will get into the comparison of Scripture with Scripture to learn the true meaning of this passage of Scripture.

Hebrews 2:14-17.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

15.  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

16. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 

17.  Wherefore, in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

Now when we read these four verses of Scripture out of their context then it seems as if Jesus must have pre-existed because the King James translation says that “HE” took on the nature of humans and not the nature of the angels. In other words, these verses are interpreted by Trinitarian Christians to mean that a pre-existing second person of the Godhead made a decision in himself to take on the nature of humans that was LOWER than the angels. Jesus was made FLESH by the spoken word of prophecy to be made the last ADAM. And when we read the context and look up the meanings of the Greek words then we can see that it was Almighty God the Father who made His spoken word of prophecy to become flesh as opposed to being made equal to the angelic beings.

So you have to ask yourself the question “Why did Yahweh the Father NEED to make Jesus a little LOWER and INFERIOR to the angels?” Well, to me, it was to prove to all of the angels that He did NOT create Lucifer with a rebellious sinful nature. Now, if we believe the WHOLE word of Almighty God then we must believe that Jesus was indeed fully human void of any divine nature of his own and that he was truly LOWER and inferior to the angels. In other words, the word was made FLESH, and NOT the word was made flesh but yet remained the fully Almighty God Himself having TWO natures at the SAME time, one divine, and one human. For you see, Jesus could NOT have been fully God or even equal with God if we TRULY believe that the word was made FLESH to be a little LOWER or INFERIOR TO the angels.

You see, the whole point for Trinitarian Christians to INTERPRET Hebrews 2:14-17 to mean that a pre-existing God the Son came down from heaven to take on the nature of humans is to try and prove that Jesus HIMSELF IS Almighty God Himself IN the flesh. But, according to the Bible itself in John 5:19, the word of TRUTH teaches us that the Son of MAN, Jesus could do NOTHING OF HIMSELF and that it was Almighty God the Father DWELLING IN him who was the one doing the works of healing.

Please read John 14:10.

“Believe you not that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells IN me, HE does the works.” 

With these two verses in mind let us read Hebrew 2:14 again. But this time I am going to emphasize different words so that you can see the true meaning of Hebrews 2:14-17. 

Hebrews 2:14.

“Forasmuch then AS the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part (Or more precisely, he also was a PARTAKER) of the same; THAT (Or in order that) through death he (The Messiah) might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;”

Now, ask yourself the question, “Did WE get to choose to be born as humans?” NO, we simply FOUND ourselves being MADE human beings BY our creator, Almighty God the Father. And when verse 14 is correctly translated it says LIKEWISE or in the same manner Jesus was also a PARTAKER of the same flesh and blood nature AS the children are PARTAKERS of human nature. For you see, even though two different Greek words are used they both mean to be PARTAKERS. Here are the two Greek words from E-Sword.

G2841

κοινωνέω

koinōneō

koy-no-neh'-o

From G2844; to share with others (objectively or subjectively): - communicate, distribute, be partaker.

G3348

μετέχω

metechō

met-ekh'-o

From G3326 and G2192; to share or participate; by implication belong to, eat (or drink): - be partaker, pertain, take part, use.

Now let us read the context so that you can see that it was Almighty God the Father who MADE His word to become FLESH. In other words, it BEHOOVED the Father that it was necessary for His Messiah to be made a little LOWER and INFERIOR to the angels so that He could JUDGE the fallen angels BY the Son of MAN, Jesus. I will highlight all the words and pronouns that refer back to Almighty God the Father in orange. And the pronouns referring to Jesus will be in yellow.

Please read Hebrews 2:1-18.

“Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (This does not mean what you have heard taught in church denominations. But rather this means that we ought to earnestly heed what the Bible itself teaches us in the light of the whole word of Almighty God)

2.  For if the word spoken by (Or spoken TO the) angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; (In other words, the fallen angel are on trial and they will receive their just punishment for rebelling against God and they will NOT escape the lake of fire on the final Day of Judgment. And if THE fallen angels will not escape judgment, then)

3.  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 

4.  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 

5.  For unto the angels has He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 

6.  But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that You are mindful of him? Or the son of man, that You visit him? (These are prophecies of Jesus and the whole human race being made by Yahweh to be lower and inferior to the angels)

7.  You MADE him a little lower than the angels; (Then AFTER the cross) You crowned him with glory and honor, and (You) did set him over the works of YOUR hands: 

8.  You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see NOT YET all things put under him. (Now, if so be that Jesus was fully Almighty God as the doctrine of the Trinity and the doctrine of Oneness claim then all things would have already been under him)

9.  But WE see Jesus, (In other words, the very Apostles and eyewitnesses did NOT see Jesus as being Yahweh Himself. But rather, the very Apostles of Jesus said, But WE see Jesus) who was MADE a little lower than the angels FOR the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he BY the grace of God should taste death for every man. (The first Adam was created by God as fully human without any divine nature and the last Adam was created in the womb of the Virgin Mary by God as fully human without any divine nature. it was AFTER the cross that Yahweh gave His human son the divine nature of immortality)

10.  For it became Him, for who are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to MAKE the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 

11.  For both he (Speaking of Jesus who was MADE PERFECT BY Almighty God the Father after the cross) that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: (Speaking of the ALL of whosoever believes unto the end to be saved are ONE with Jesus our BROTHER and fellow servant) for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 

12.  Saying, I will declare YOUR name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto YOU. 

13.  And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God has GIVEN me. 

14.  Forasmuch THEN, AS the children are PARTAKERS of flesh and blood, he ALSO himself likewise took part (Or he ALSO was MADE a PARTAKER) of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

15.  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

16.  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham. (Or TRULY Jesus was MADE a PARTAKER, not of the superior nature of the angelic beings but rather God made Jesus a little LOWER and inferior to the angles to be made a PARTAKER of the seed of Abraham)

17.  Wherefore, in all things, it behooved Him to be made (Or more precisely, it behooved Almighty God the Father to MAKE His Messiah a little LOWER than the angels) like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 

18.  For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.”

The Greek word translated as “behooved” carries the meaning of accruing or having an advantage or something that is BENEFICIAL. It also means something that MUST be done. It was an OBLIGATION for the Messiah to be made lower and inferior to the angels. For you see, if an inferior species of being that is lower to the angelic being lived without sin then that would PROVE to all the GOOD angels that what Yahweh creates he creates PERFECT. And, therefore, Yahweh will be justified to destroy Satan and the fallen angels in the lake of fire on the final Day of Judgment to make an END of evil for all eternity. Here is how E-Sword defines the Greek word translated as it “behooved” him.

G3784

ὀφείλω, ὀφειλέω

opheilō    opheileō

of-i'-lo, of-i-leh'-o

Including its prolonged form (second form) used in certain tenses. Probably from the base of G3786 (through the idea of accruing); to owe (pecuniarily); figuratively to be under an obligation (ought, must, should); morally to fail in duty: - behove, be bound, (be) debt (-or), (be) due (-ty), be guilty (indebted), (must) need (-s), ought, owe, should. See also G3785.

The LITERAL translation says, “NOT of angels IT is taking hold BUT of the seed of Abraham, IT is taking hold.” And the pronoun “IT” is referring to the spoken word of PROPHECY that was FULFILLED and MADE FLESH. Yahweh watches over is spoken word of prophecy to PERFORM IT or make IT come to pass, And that makes Jesus to be a created by Yahweh and the workmanship of Yahweh. When you read some earlier English translations of the Bible BEFORE the King James translation the word the was in the beginning with called was referring to by the pronoun “IT”. Please read the study “WHAT DOES JOHN 1:1-3 TRULY MEAN?” But for now, let us read the literal translation of Hebrews 2:16,17a. And then I will quote an excerpt from the study on John 1:1-3.

Here is the LITERAL translation of Hebrews 2:16,17.

“Assuredly, NOT for messengers or NOT for the angels IT is taking hold, BUT for the seed of Abraham, IT is taking hold.

17. Wherefore he OUGHT, according to the ALL to the BRETHREN to be made like…”

And here is an excerpt from one of several studies that I have on John 1:1 called “WHAT DOES JOHN 1:1-3 TRULY MEAN?”

Please read John 1:1-5,14 from a LITERAL translation.

“In beginning was the SAYING and the SAYING was TOWARD THE God and God was the SAYING.

2. THIS was in beginning TOWARD THE God.

3. ALL through SAME BECAME and apart from SAME became NOT YET ONE which HAS BECOME (Now to ME, I am seeing that this verse is speaking of THE ALL of every NEW CREATURE who has become created IN Jesus Christ as the fulfilling of the GOAL that was PROPHESIED to BECOME by Yahweh the Father. I personally do NOT see this verse speaking of the creation of the entire universe in eternity past. The beginning in John 1:1 in the RECREATING of the earth that became void and without form by the WAR between Lucifer and Almighty God. Please read the studies “THE WAR IN HEAVEN-REVELATION 12!”, “UNDERSTANDING WHY?”, and “WHO IS LUCIFER-IS LUCIFER SATAN?” For you see, once you understand that Satan and the fallen angels are on TRIAL and the saints who overcome are the JURY then you will understand WHY God created mankind in the first place)

4. In SAME life was and the life was the LIGHT of the humans. (The spoken and the written word of God is the LIGHT or the understanding of eternal life)

5. And the LIGHT in the darkness is appearing and the darkness it not down got (Or the darkness did not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ)...

...14. And the SAYING flesh became as booths (Or tabernacles or dwells in us or among us) and we gaze the esteem (Or the glory of him) as of only GENERATED beside Father full of grace and truth.”

And that was the GOAL in John 1:1 to GENERATE Himself a SON to sit on his throne beside Him that was TOWARD the God when God RESTORED the earth. The reason that God restored the earth that became void is so that he could create man a little LOWER or INFERIOR to the angels only to EXALT those who OVERCOME Satan to be made God’s RIGHTEOUS NEW CREATION to rule and reign WITH His ONLY GENERATED Son who is beside the Father right NOW. In other words, Jesus is the only begotten ETERNAL Son of God right at this moment in time. But SOON God will GENERATE us who overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony and we shall ALSO become the ETERNAL sons and daughters of Almighty God to rule and reign WITH Jesus for 1000 years in the world to come.

Again, my point is that the LITERAL translation and all the earlier translations do NOT capitalize the word “word” as “Word”. And they ALSO do NOT use the pronoun “he” to SWAY the reader to wrongly believe that the “LOGOS” is God the Son, the second person of a Godhead Trinity God who always existed without beginning in eternity past. 

So to me, I see that the earlier English translations and some LITERAL translations were trying to be HONEST in their translations to let us know that the SPOKEN “LOGOS” or the SPOKEN word or the SPOKEN SAYING of God became flesh. And that it was NOT God the Son, the second person of a Godhead Trinity God that became flesh.

The English word “THINGS” in John 1:3 is NOT in the original Greek text. So then, to me, John 1:3 should read as follows.

My own paraphrase version of John 1:3.

“The ALL through SAME BECAME. And apart from SAME became NOT YET ONE which HAS BECOME”

And this is speaking of God’s NEW CREATION of new CREATURES who are created and who are yet still BEING CREATED IN Jesus Christ, the word of PROPHECY that Yahweh ALONE and BY HIMSELF made to become FLESH. And WITHOUT the ANOINTED Son of MAN Jesus becoming OBEDIENT to his God and Father then there would be NO new creation created and BEING CREATED IN Jesus Christ.

Please read the study “GOD’S NEW CREATION CREATED IN JESUS CHRIST!”

But, for now, I want you to read some earlier translations that came BEFORE the King James translation so that you can see for yourself that earlier Christians before the King James translation understood that the word or the logos in John 1:1 is an IT. They understood that the “LOGOS” of God was his SPOKEN word that came forth OUT FROM God’s MOUTH as God’s word of PROPHECY.

Tyndale Bible 1535. From an online translation.

John 1:1-5,14.

“In the beginnynge was the worde and the worde was with God: and the worde was God.  (Notice that the old English word “worde” or “word” is NOT capitalized as it is in the modern translations as “Word” from the time of King James Version to the newest translation of today.)

2. The SAME was in the beginnynge with God. (Speaking of the logos or the word was in the beginning with God not as a separate person of a Godhead Trinity. But rather IT was God’s THOUGHTS in the form of his word in his mind which God spoke forth out from his mouth)

3. All thinges were made by IT and without IT was made nothinge that was made.

4. In IT was lyfe and the lyfe was ye lyght of men

5. and the lyght shyneth in the darcknes but the darcknes comprehended it not. ...

...14. And the worde was made flesshe and dwelt amonge vs and we sawe the glory of IT as the glory of the only begotten sonne of ye father which worde was full of grace and verite.”

Geneva Bible 1560. From an online translation.

“In the beginning was that Word, and that Word was with God, and that Word was God. (This is actually the 1599 translation. The 1560 Geneva Bible translation does NOT capitalize the word “word” as being “Word” until the 1599 edition)

2. This SAME was in the beginning with God.

3. All things (Keep in mind that the English word “things” is NOT in the original text) were made by IT, and without IT was made nothing that was made.

4. In IT was life, and that life was the light of men. (Notice that all the pronouns referring back to the Greek word “logos” are the pronoun IT instead of the pronoun “he” in the King James Version and the modern translations.)

5. And that light shineth in the darkenesse, and the darkenesse comprehended IT not….

... 14. And that Word was made flesh, and dwelt among vs, (and we sawe the glorie THEREOF, as the glorie of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father) full of grace and trueth.”

Matthew Bible 1535. From an online translation.

John 1:1-5.14.

“In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. (Again, please notice that these earlier translations BEFORE the King James translation did NOT capitalized the Greek word “logos” that is translated as the English word “word”)

2. The SAME was in the beginning with God.

3. All things were made by IT (Speaking of the “logos” the spoken word or saying of God. Keep in mind that the English word “things” is NOT in the original text), and without it was made nothing that was made.

4. In IT (Speaking of the “logos” the spoken word or saying of God) was life, and the life was the light of men.

5. And the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended IT (Speaking of the “logos” the spoken word or saying of God which God prophesied out from his mouth that was made flesh) not….

...14. And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we saw the glory of IT (Speaking of the “logos” the spoken word or saying of God that was made flesh and then HIGHLY EXALTED to become the eternal Son of God) as the glory of the only begotten (The GOAL that was TOWARD the God when God restored the earth and created the human race INFERIOR to the angels for a specific reason. And to me, the reason Almighty God needed His Messiah to be lower and inferior to the angels is the JUDGE the fallen angels. Jesus is the first FAITHFUL WITNESS and the BEGINNING of the creation of God, speaking of God's NEW creation of righteous humans who will also JUDGE the angels. So right now the highly exalted Son of MAN is the ONLY generated) Son of the Father, which word was full of grace and truth.”

I could not find all eight translations online to copy and paste but they all use the pronoun IT instead of the pronoun “he”. And they do NOT capitalize the word “word”. Not all Christians are aware that the “LOGOS” is an IT and not a HE. Even the King James Version uses the pronoun IT for the word of God in Isaiah 55:11 which we know speaks of Jesus accomplishing the WILL of his God and Father.

“So shall MY word be that goes forth OUT OF MY MOUTH: IT shall not return unto me void, but IT (Speaking of the FULFILLMENT of the prophecy made flesh to become the Son of MAN anointed by God at age 29) shall accomplish that which I please, and IT (Speaking of the FULFILLMENT of the prophecy made flesh to become the Son of MAN anointed by God at age 29) shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent IT.”

Again, speaking of the FULFILLMENT of the prophecy made flesh to become the Son of MAN anointed by God at age 29 who became obedient to do all his God and Father’s WILL even to die on the cross for the GOAL that was TOWARD God is the beginning right before God RESTORED the earth to create man in HIS image. But FIRST God created Jesus in His image and now we are being conformed into the image of His dear Son. And when Jesus returns we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is.

Now let us read Isaiah 55:11 from the LITERAL translation and you will see that the  IT, the spoken word that CAME FORTH OUT FROM the MOUTH OF God, became a HIM in the first GENERATION or generating power of God to become the HUMAN Son of God FIRST.

Isaiah 55:11.

“So he (Or more precisely IT) is becoming word OF me (Speaking of the  >>Aleph Tav אֶ ת )which he (Or more precisely IT) is going forth  from MOUTH of ME not he (Or more precisely NOT IT) is returning to me empty but rather he (Or more precisely IT speaking of the FULFILLED word of PROPHECY) does >>Aleph Tav אֶ ת which I desire and he (Or more precisely IT speaking of the FULFILLED word of PROPHECY)  prospers which I sent him.”

Or more precisely Almighty God sent IT. And then the IT that became flesh as Almighty God PERFORMED His own spoken word of prophecy to bring IT to pass. The IT speaking of the prophesied word that FIRST became a CHILD that was given the name Jesus. The FULFILLED IT being born of a VIRGIN who grew up to become the Son of MAN. The IT that became Son of MAN who was prophesied to be God’s ANOINTED with POWER to accomplish his God and Father’s will. The same Son of MAN whom God HIGHLY EXALTED to FULFILL the IT speaking of that which was PROPHESIED in God’s word spoken by the prophets that are written down for us to read in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. 

And THEN, after the cross and the resurrection, Yahweh the Father gave the now glorified Son of MAN a NEW NAME that is higher than any other name. In other words, Yahweh CROWNED that Son of MAN that was FIRST made flesh to be lower and inferior to the angels to NOW OBTAIN a NAME more excellent than the angels so that Jesus and the saints can JUDGE the fallen angels guilty as charged by God BEFORE God ever created mankind FOR this very PURPOSE to JUDGE Lucifer and the fallen angels. And for our reward of SUFFERING the works of the devil and overcoming sin Yahweh has promised us eternal life and what has not even entered the minds of those of us who LOVE God and His son Jesus.

Below is a list of studies on all the verses of Scripture that are used to try and prove that Jesus pre-existed. 

Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. 

And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. 

Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands. 

And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels. 

Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels. 

For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here?  Is God at WAR? **.

More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God. 

If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.

For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1, In the BEGINNING! 

And also read the study called D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD! 

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Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. 

And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. 

And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **

And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! ** 

This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.

Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.

My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. 

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