Hebrews 1

World English Bible 119 include this book

1 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.

3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?”

6 When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”

7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.”

8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”

10 And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

11 They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.

12 You will roll them up like a mantle, and they will be changed; but you are the same. Your years won’t fail.”

13 But which of the angels has he told at any time, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”

14 Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

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3 places named in this book — no place is named in this chapter, so the whole book is shown.

Where this was written

Not known unknown The letter names no author and no place of writing; the closing greeting from "those of Italy" points in two directions at once.

When this was written

The traditions broadly agree on this one.

Broad agreement: 60 AD–95 AD Anonymous
Hebrews names no author; ancient and modern readers alike have declined to identify one with confidence.

Who ruled Rome

Emperors reigning while this book is dated. Where the traditions differ, they often fall under different rulers.

Broad agreement

Nero 54 AD–68 AD
The fire of Rome in 64 was followed by the first state persecution of Christians. Paul and Peter are traditionally martyred in this reign.
Galba, Otho and Vitellius 68 AD–69 AD
The year of four emperors: civil war across the empire after Nero's death.
Vespasian 69 AD–79 AD
Took power at the end of the civil war. His son Titus completed the siege of Jerusalem in 70.
Titus 79 AD–81 AD
Commanded the army that destroyed the Jerusalem temple before becoming emperor.
Domitian 81 AD–96 AD
An autocratic reign under which Revelation is traditionally placed, on the testimony of Irenaeus.

Elsewhere in the world

Events overlapping the period this book is dated to (60 AD–95 AD).

1070 BC–350 AD The kingdom of Kush Africa
A Nubian power on the upper Nile that ruled Egypt itself as its twenty-fifth dynasty.
500 BC–500 AD The Nazca lines South America
Vast figures drawn on the Peruvian desert, visible only from the surrounding hills.
206 BC–220 AD The Han dynasty China
Four centuries of Chinese rule contemporary with the whole of Roman expansion.
150 BC–100 AD Roman concrete and the aqueducts Rome
Hydraulic concrete let Rome build harbours, domes and aqueducts that still stand.
100 BC–550 AD Teotihuacan Mesoamerica
A city of perhaps a hundred thousand people in the valley of Mexico, with monumental pyramids.
43 AD–84 AD Rome conquers Britain Britain
Claudius invaded and the province was gradually extended to the Scottish lowlands.
66 AD–73 AD First Jewish–Roman war Levant
Revolt against Rome ending in the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70 — the decisive rupture in Second Temple Judaism.
27 BC–100 AD Roman road and sea network matures Rome
Consolidated roads, harbours and suppressed piracy made long-distance travel unusually safe, a precondition for the rapid spread of early Christian communities.

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