Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Being made so much better. The Arians pretended from hence that Christ was made, or created. But the apostle speaks of Christ as man, and tells us that Christ, even as man, by his ascension was exalted above the Angels.
As he hath inherited a more excellent name. That is, both the dignity and name of the Son of God, of his only Son, and of his true Son. See 1 John v. 20. (Witham)
Then again having said a little by the way (for he says, on the right hand of the Majesty on high), [he turns] again to what is lowly; being made so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Henceforward then he treats here of that which is according to the flesh, since the phrase being made better does not express His essence according to the Spirit, (for that was not made but begotten,) but according to the flesh: for this was made. Nevertheless the discourse here is not about being called into existence. But just as John says, He that comes after me, is preferred before me John 1:15-30, that is, higher in honor and esteem; so also here, being made so much better than the angels— that is, higher in esteem and better and more glorious, by how much He has obtained by inheritance a more excellent name than they. Do you see that he is speaking of that which is according to the flesh? For this Name, God the Word ever had; He did not af...
Being made, says he, so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. The being made, here, is instead of being shown forth, as one may say. Then also from what does he reason confidently? From the Name. Do you see that the name Son is wont to declare true relationship? And indeed if He were not a true Son (and true is nothing else than of Him), how does he reason confidently from this? For if He be Son only by grace, He not only is not more excellent than the angels, but is even less than they. How? Because righteous men too were called sons; and the name son, if it be not a genuine son, does not avail to show the excellency. When too he would point out that there is a certain difference between creatures and their maker, hear what he says:
