Messianic
Hebrews 2:5-9
Author of Hebrews · ~65 AD · Status: Fulfilled · Confidence: 65%
“For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
King James Version · the opening — all 5 verses are below
Psalm 8's human destiny fulfilled in Jesus who was briefly lowered then exalted, tasting death as the representative man.
Read the whole passage — all 5 verses (KJV)
2:5For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
2:6But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
2:7Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
2:8Thou hast 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.
2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Fulfillment References
Psalm 8:5-6 Philippians 2:8-9 1 Corinthians 15:27
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalApplying Psalm 8, Hebrews says we see Jesus 'made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour.' The eternal God humbled Himself into true manhood to taste death for every man, and is now crowned. The lowering and the crowning are the one Lord Jesus — God in flesh, who by grace tasted death for all.
JewishPsalm 8 celebrates the dignity God gave humanity; Hebrews' application to a crucified-and-crowned individual is the Christian reading.
CatholicChrist, lower than the angels in His Passion, now crowned, tasting death for all — recovering humanity's lost dominion (cf. the Catechism).
ProtestantJesus fulfills Psalm 8 — humbled in death, crowned in glory, tasting death for everyone; the representative man restoring dominion.
AcademicHebrews reads Psalm 8's 'son of man' Christologically, combining humiliation and exaltation; the universal 'taste death for every man' is much discussed.
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