Page 31 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

Study Section 5: Chapter 2 - continued

5.1 Connect

The Septuagint (also known as the LXX) is a translation of the Hebrew Bible into the Greek
language. The name Septuagint comes from the Latin word for “seventy.” The tradition is
that 70 (or 72) Jewish scholars were the translators behind the Septuagint. The Septuagint
was translated in the third and second centuries BC in Alexandria, Egypt. As Israel was
under the authority of Greece for several centuries, the Greek language became more and
more common. By the second and first centuries BC, most people in Israel spoke Greek as their primary
language. That is why the effort was made to translate the Hebrew Bible into Greek—so that those who
did not understand Hebrew could have the Scriptures in a language they could understand. The
Septuagint represents the first major effort at translating a significant religious text from one language
into another.
31
The author of Hebrews quite often quoted the Septuagint when writing this book. Let’s look at a few
passages today...

5.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to identify the various passages in Chapter 2 where the
Septuagint was quoted by the author of the book.

2. The student should be able to describe how Jesus Christ was made lower than the angels.

3. The student should be able to describe how Jesus abolished death from Chapter 2.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN, Read Hebrews Chapter 2 again from your Bible...

5.3 Title of Course

2:5 "For He did not subject to angels the world to come" It is true that angels are in a place
of spiritual pre-eminence now (cf. Deut. 32:8 in the Septuagint and the book of Daniel,
chapter 10). However, in the world to come, it will be human beings, by means of their
incarnate, glorified Savior, who will be in the place of authority. This is another comparison
relating to the superiority of Jesus and His followers over the angels who were viewed as
being involved in the Mosaic Covenant (cf. 1:4-14).

2:6 "But one has testified somewhere saying" This is a Hebrew idiom for the inspiration of the entire
Old Testament, not a lapse of memory as to where these quotes are found (cf. 4:4). There follows a
series of Old Testament quotes, which is common in Hebrews.

31 Got Questions.org (https://www.gotquestions.org/septuagint.html)
29