Page 28 - Foundations

Hebrews 1:8
And unto the Son: 'Thy throne, O God, [is] to the age of the age; a scepter of righteousness [is] the
scepter of thy reign;
YLT

Is the Son’s rule “for ever and ever,” or is it “to the age of the age”? These are very different
expressions. The KJV rendering indicates that there will be no end to the Son’s rule. Once again the
translators have rendered the Greek word “aion” as “for ever” while Young renders it more
accurately as “age.”

I have found that people are often not convinced by arguments based upon the meaning of a Greek
or Hebrew word. This is understandable, for very few Christians today, myself included, can lay
claim to being advanced scholars of these ancient languages. How then are we to know which
translator has done the better job? The way many Christians resolve the issue is to accept the word
of their pastor or some trusted friend. Many saints adopt whatever view that they have been taught
from early on to be correct.

There is a better way to resolve a matter. Contradictions such as these can be settled as we become
conversant with the entire testimony of the Bible. This is one reason it is important for Christians
to independently study the word of God. If you have applied yourself to the study of the Scriptures
then the Holy Spirit is able to bring to mind other passages that will lead to understanding. For
example, as I consider the verses above, desiring to know what is the proper interpretation, my mind
is quickened to the following passage from Paul’s address to the Corinthian believers.

I Corinthians 15:24-28
Then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has
abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies
under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection
under His feet. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted
who put all things in subjection to Him. And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son
Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in
all.

The apostle Paul reveals that the reign of Christ will have an end. At some point in the distant ages
the reign of the Son will have accomplished its purpose of subjecting all things to the Father. When
this is accomplished, all rule and authority will be abolished. The Son’s reign will also come to an
end as all things are subjected to the Father and He becomes “all in all.”

People of God, as we look to the entire counsel of the Scriptures to inform our judgment we are able
to see that Christ had a beginning as the firstborn of the Father. We are told He is “the beginning of
the creation of God.” The Son is ancient of days, but He is not eternal. He has a beginning, and his
rule will have an end when He has subjected all things to the Father. It is therefore inaccurate to
describe the reign of the Son of God as “for ever and ever.” His reign will be to the end of the ages.
It is also incorrect to describe the Son as “the King eternal.” Robert Young has translated the passage
properly for us when he rendered it as “the king of the ages.”