Daily Devotions
Hebrews
"But one testified in a certain place..."
Text: Hebrews 2:6a
DIFFERENT WAYS OF CITING THE SCRIPTURES
There are many ways in which a person may cite the Scriptures. Consider the following:-
1. The apostle Peter cites the name of the prophet Joel (Cf. Acts 2:16)
2. The apostle Paul often uses the phrase, “It is written?” (Cf. Romans 3:4, 10)
A FASCINATING WAY OF CITING THE SCRIPTURES
The author of Hebrews has his own fascinating way of citing the Scriptures.
“But one testified in a certain place, saying,
‘What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?'”
Hebrews 2:6
Ponder the other texts that he had cited previously (Cf. Hebrews 1:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13).
The following conclusions may be reached:
1. A great familiarity with the Scriptures must be noted.This is demonstrated by the following:-
a) Frequency of quotation
b) Accuracy of quotation
2. An absence of citing the human author of the Scriptures
a) Reference to the human author is permissible.
b) There seems to be a studied avoidance of citing the names of the human writers.
c) All he managed was “But one testified in a certain place…” (Hebrews 2:6)
3. A desire to trace the Divine authorship of the Scriptures
a) This seems to be the most likely disposition of the author of Hebrews.
b) It might also be the reason why he did not disclose his own personal identity.
The author of Hebrews cites God as the One speaking through the Holy Scriptures (“He says” Hebrews 1:5, 7).