.
. .the source of the creation is ο θεος himself—the Godhead—namely the only one Who
is called invisible in the New Testament and Who dwells in the inaccessible
light (cf. 1 Tim 6:11-16; Col 1:15). It is important to note in this respect
that the participle φαινομενων
does not mean nonexistent; conversely, it implies the existence of something
(cf. Matt 1:20; 2:7; John 5:35; Jas 4:4, 14; 2 Pet 1:19). So 11:3 is saying
that everything came from the Godhead, that the real source of everything is ο θεος,
without there being any contradiction with the assertion that all came through
the Son who is visible to the creation. (Benjamin Rojas Yauri, Hebrews’
Cosmogonic Presuppositions: Its First-Century Philosophical Context [Eugene,
Oreg.: Wipf and Stock, 2022], 209)
κατηρτισθαι: [Verb perfect passive infinitive] from καταρτιζω, used seventeen times in the LXX, never used
in Philo, thirteen times in the New Testament, and three times in Hebrews. Here
this infinitive verb is functioning as the verb of the [Embedded Clauses]. Delling states that
here, this word must be understood as “to order” (TDNT 1:476), while Arndt
et al. affirms that it must be understood as “created”—hence determination of
its meaning is not easy. In the New Testament, this verb has various nuances
and in the LXX it is used only in two books, Esdras B (2 Esd) and Psalms, and
since its main sense in Psalms is creation of something new here—in 11:3—a document
deeply influenced by Psalms, must be understood as “to create,” nevertheless it
must be recognized that the grammar of the word allows the translation of “to
fashion.” (Benjamin Rojas Yauri, Hebrews’ Cosmogonic Presuppositions: Its
First-Century Philosophical Context [Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf and Stock, 2022], 168-69)
Second
Esdras basically implies restoration (cf. 2 Esd 4:12, 13, 16; 5:3; 6:14, LXX)
and also the building of something new (cf. 2 Esd 5:9, 11 LXX). While Psalms
implies the creation of something new (cf. Ps 8:3; 10:3; 28:9; 39:7 [due to its
Hebrew origin, it must be translated as ‘create’]; 73:16, LXX), some other
texts are not clear but could also imply creation (cf. Ps 16:5; 17:34; 67:10;
79:16; 88:38, LXX). (Ibid., 169 n. 164)
