Problem Passages: New Testament Use of Psalms In The Book Of Hebrews

Hebrews 2:5-9

In the Book of Hebrews, the author is addressing an audience of Hebrew Christians under persecution and the influence of false doctrine. In addition, these Hebrews experienced the rejection of other Jews (10:32-34) and martyrdom (12:4). It is within this context that the author gives “a word of exhortation” (13:22) in the form of warnings and the exposition of God’s Word. He warns them “not to drift from the things they have heard” (2:1) spoken by angels (2:2), the prophets (1:1) and Jesus (1:2). Applying correspondences of the nature of God as being caring/mindful (Psalm 8), the author revisits the creation theme (1:3,10), the majestic glory of God (1:3) and introduces the Son of God who is superior to all (1:3b-13).

 In the pericopae concerned (2:5-9), the author unpacks a subjected Christ, using as his authority Psalms 8:4-6. He utilizes a fulfillment formula, coining it “one has testified somewhere” (2:6) to introduce Psalm 8. This is an example of good rhetoric and was easily recognized as Holy Scripture by the original audience.[10] While the original context of Psalm 8 was concerned with “created man” (“son of man,” Ps. 8:4), he utilizes correspondences alluding to “the ideal Man”[11] (“son of man,” 2:6).

By quoting most of Psalm 8, the author “affirms Scripture as settled. Moving from the insignificance of humans, he develops the majesty of the “son of man” Jesus Christ,”[12] made lower for a while than the angels, crowned with glory and honor, appointed over the works of God’s hands, having all things subjected unto him (2:6-8). David alluded to this in his double comment/prophecy. “By reading “angels” (v. 7), the author follows the LXX as the Hebrew states “made him little less than God” (Ps. 8:5), in this way the use of the LXX preserves a more correct sense of the passage.[13]