OUTLINE:
God spoke His final word on His salvific plan through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Jn 1:3
All things were made through him [“the Word”]; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.
“radiance”
from apaugasma [hapax legomenon] – means a light flashing forth (from), radiation, gleam; ref: His eternal light breaks through all the darkness that keeps someone in spiritual ignorance (bondage), i.e. every resistance exerted by sin.
“the exact imprint”
[also translated “expression”] – from charakter – English derivative is “character” – means an impression, representation, exact reproduction; a graving-tool; properly, an engraving; (figuratively) an exact impression (likeness) which also reflects inner character.
“nature”
[also translated, “substance”] – from hupostasis – means a support, substance, steadiness, assurance; Usage: (lit: an underlying), (a) confidence, assurance, (b) a giving substance (or reality) to, or a guaranteeing, (c) substance, reality. – Strong’s Concordance; refers to God’s essence
Heb 1:3a [Wuest Expanded]
Who, being the out-raying [effulgence] of His glory and the exact reproduction of His essence, and sustaining, guiding, and propelling all things by the word of His power.
Heb 1:3a [Amplified]
The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence, and upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal].
Heb 1:3a [NLT]
The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.
Heb 1:3a [ad hoc expansion]
He is the radiance [light flashing forth (from)] of the glory of God and the exact imprint [an exact impression (likeness) which also reflects inner character] of his nature [God’s essence], and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
Heb 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Lk 17:5
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
What would you rather have in this life: more faith or more knowledge???