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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Being made," saith he, "so much better than the angels, as He hath 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 whence does he reason confidently? From the Name. Seest thou 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? …
Athanasius of Alexandria
Whereas the prophets ministered and the law was spoken by angels, the Son too came on earth in order to minister. The apostle was forced to add "become as much superior to angels," wishing to show that just as much as the Son excels a servant is the ministry of the Son better than the ministry of servants. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
At the beginning of the epistle he compared Him with the prophets on account of the weakness of the hearers; now, continuing, he places Him above the angels, little by little leading the hearers to the truth. The word "being" is used instead of: having appeared, just as John says: "He who comes after me has been placed before me" (Jn. 1:15), that is, appeared more honorable than me. For he is not speaking here about His nature in essence. …
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
45. – As mentioned above, the Apostle devotes this entire first chapter to extolling Christ over the angels by reason of His excellence; hence he lists four things pertaining to Christ's excellence: first, His origin, because He is the Son; secondly, His dominion, because He is the heir; thirdly, His power, because He made the world; fourthly, His honor, because He sits on the right hand of majesty. …
Bonaventure
First, then, the only being able to save would have to be preeminent in power. Hence, in the Epistle to the Hebrews: "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all in these days has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the world; who, being the brightness of His glory and the image of His substance, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, has effected man's purgation from sin and taken His seat at the right hand …
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