Hebrews

Apart from whet we’ve already noted in the section on pre-existence and multiple other places, the first chapter of Hebrews is clearly calling Jesus God. First clearly the status of the divine Son is clearly above every living creature, even the angels. This is significant because within creation God never ascribes superiority or inferiority, that’s the whole point of Christianity: “having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be his Father,  and he will be my Son”?^” (v.4,5). Next we are being told angels worship him “and again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” (v.6) and calls him God “Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds and his servants flames of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” (v.7-9) even ascribing these verses of creation, eternality and immutability to him “And, “In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.” (vv.10-12). Throughout the passage there is the attempt to contrast Jesus’ superior status with that of the angels and it ends with the assertion that of all creation including the spiritual realm, only Jesus is at the right hand of God “but to which of his angels has he ever said “sit at my right hand…” (v.13).

Hebrews

The next verse shows pre-existence because the prophets are clearly not in the same category as “a son”, since an obvious distinction is being made. If this “son” is just another human being that is born, it does not explain why he is not called a prophet”. The answer can only be is that Jesus transcends these categories:

“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son…” (Heb.1:1,2)

Here Melchizedek, in the manner that he appears in the Bible without mention of his parents or genealogy is compared to Jesus with the analogous implication that Jesus does not have any natural descent nor even beginning of days in reality. The comparison is meant to show that while in the case of Melchizedek the details of his birth are an intentional textual omission, yet in the case of Christ it is reality. It is very obvious that the writer of Hebrews is using this as a literary device and they do not actually believe that Melchizedek is pre-existent. Melchizedek is being compared to Christ, rather than the other way round.

“Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.” (Heb.7:3)

“…but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever” (Heb.13:8)

Hebrews 10:5-7 speaks of “a body you have prepared for me”, going off from the Septuagintal reading of Psalm 40:6 (The Masoretic text reads “but you have given me an open ear”). This reading makes it obvious that Christ is pre-existent, pre-existing his own Body. It is clear both that Jesus is pre-exists the incarnation and that he becomes incarnate “since therefore the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things…” (2:14) is an obvious indication that he only took flesh for a specific mission, it was not his prior state. The passage goes on “he did not come to help angels but the descendents of Abraham. So he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect…” (2:16,17), indicating he came into the world and became something other than his pre-existent state, and “because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are beign tested” (2:18) indicates that he does not suffer in his pre-existent state.