How do Biblical Unitarians, who deny the Son's pre-existence, understand Hebrews 1:2's "through whom He made the universe"?
Upvote:-1
The immediate time scope is "in these last days" (in contrast to the "past" with "prophets"), and the term translated 'universe' is incorrect - it should instead by translated 'ages'.
As Biblical Unitarian Pastor Jeff Deuble writes in Christ Before Creeds (p. 168),
In verse 2, we read that through Jesus, God (literally) "made the ages" (aionas). Many versions translate this phrase as "created the universe," even though this rendering is without literary precedent. In the Bible, the Greek word aion never refers to the material creation. On the contrary, it is a spiritual concept.
He continues,
There are two principal ages in salvation history - this age and the age to come - both converging and diverging at the pivotal point of the arrival of the Messiah (Marr. 12:32; Eph. 1:21). These correspond to the two covenants which are discussed at length later in the letter to the Hebrews: the "first covenant" and the "new covenant" (Heb. 8:7-8). Yahweh is the king of the ages (1 Tim. 1:17), who initiates and fulfills, through Christ, his eternal plan of salvation for mankind.
He concludes
Note that Jesus is the "appointed" heir (not the inherent one), with an "inherited" name and conferred position (v. 4) - the agent "through whom" God is bring about his new creation. This accords beautifully with Paul's statements in 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 and Colossians 1:14-18[.]
In summary, Hebrews 1:2 should properly be understood as "through whom God has given form to this age and the age to come."
Also see the Biblical Unitarian REV commentary on this passage, here.
More post
- 📝 Can livestock or grain be used for tithe?
- 📝 What is the difference between Arminianism, Molinism, and Calvinism?
- 📝 Does Catholicism or any church father make a connection between Eve and Mary in Genesis 2:18 and John 14:26?
- 📝 Did Solomon Ever Fight as a Soldier or Shed Human Blood with His Own Hands?
- 📝 How has the position of the Catholic Church on drugs changed over time?
- 📝 What is the earliest instance of Eucharistic adoration?
- 📝 Did the Lord God agree with "an eye for an eye"?
- 📝 Is there any evidence that Paul was a descendant of Jonathan?
- 📝 Where did Jesus go after he arose from the grave?
- 📝 Joseph Smith purpose of polygamy
- 📝 How is Christian worship different than Christian religion?
- 📝 What is the definition of sons of God in Job 2:1?
- 📝 According a Catholic interpretation of the natural law, do individuals posses a right to privacy?
- 📝 Does any Church currently incorporate exorcism, three dunkings, and anointing in their baptism rite?
- 📝 Was Origen and/or certain teachings considered a heretic and/or heretical?
- 📝 Can Catholic works of ‘satisfaction’ (prayer, fasting, etc.) for the removal of temporal punishments of venial sin be credited to others still alive?
- 📝 Why do Catholics teach that Catholics go to hell if they die in a state of mortal sin, but teach some Protestants may go to Purgatory/Heaven?
- 📝 Was Jesus a Christian, or a Jew, or both, or none?
- 📝 Which prophecies are fulfilled outside of Scripture?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, are Jews saved without faith in Jesus?
- 📝 Did Jesus say "My people perish for lack of knowledge"?
- 📝 What does being lukewarm mean in contrast with being hot or cold for the church of Laodicea?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, does the Eucharist have all the same physical and chemical properties, and physiological effects, as bread and wine?
- 📝 What is replacement theology, and why do I hear it used with a negative connotation?
- 📝 Who are the members of the International Theological Commission for the 10th Quinquennium?
- 📝 What does the quote from the Old Testament in Luke 2: 23 refer to?
- 📝 If you are forgiven through the Grace of God, why do you need an Indulgence?
- 📝 Why did God wrestle with Jacob?
- 📝 Why eat when there was no death?
- 📝 Is there consensus between Christian commentators about how Jesus came to be atop the temple when being tempted by Satan in the wilderness?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians, who deny the Son's pre-existence, understand Hebrews 1:2's "through whom He made the universe"?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians understand what some theologians refer as the Kenosis in Philippians 2?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians understand the connection between Mark 1:1-4 and Malachi 3:1-5?
- 📝 According to Jehovah's Witnesses and Unitarians and all who deny that Jesus is the Almighty God, how can He be in you and live in you?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians understand "the glory of the Father's own self" that Jesus claims he had before the world was?
- 📝 How do people who deny Biblical inerrancy understand this argument on inspiration?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians understand verses that appear to identify God (the Father) and the Holy Spirit as different beings/entities?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians who accept Jesus’ sinlessness understand this argument?
- 📝 How do Protestants who say Catholicism doesn't teach the true Gospel understand a Catholic person’s faith in Jesus?
- 📝 How do those who deny Jesus' pre-existence explain the large number of verses suggesting it?
- 📝 HOW does the existence of the Universe make those who do not worship God to be "without excuse"?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians deal with the fact that the early church accepted the divinity of Christ?
- 📝 How do Christians understand the existence of God in relation to the scientific concept of energy?
- 📝 How would Biblical Unitarians answer the questions of Proverbs 30?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians rebut the following soteriological syllogism for the deity of Christ?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians respond to translations of Hebrews 1:8 which have God calling the Son 'God'?
- 📝 For those who deny the deity of Jesus Christ how do you explain Isaiah seeing Christ/Messiah with his physical eyes at Isaiah 6:1?
- 📝 How do those who reject the deity of Christ understand the 'sameness of honor' in John 5?
- 📝 How do those who believe that Jesus is a created being understand the verses which say everything that was created was created by him?
- 📝 Jesus says, that God the Father is a Spirit AND Paul says there is one (1) Spirit. How do trinitarians understand who or what the Holy Spirit is?
- 📝 According to Biblical Unitarians who was seen walking in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
- 📝 Do Latter-day Saints consider Jehovah's Witnesses, Biblical Unitarians and any other groups that deny the divinity of Jesus to be 'true Christians'?
- 📝 How do Unitarians understand the argument from God and love?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians explain 1 Timothy 3:16, which says "God was manifest in the flesh"?
- 📝 How do those who understand Noah's Flood to be a global flood explain what the carnivorous animals ate after disembarking?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians interpret 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 with regard to God and the Spirit of God?
- 📝 How do people who believe in the act of confession understand 1 John 1:9?
- 📝 How do sedevacantists who claim the See has been empty since Vatican II understand the legitimacy of the bishops and priests?
- 📝 How do those who hold to the filiquoe understand 1 Timothy 6:16?
- 📝 How do Biblical Unitarians explain Daniel 7:13's use of the phrase 'like the son of man'?