{God} (ho theos). This Epistle begins like Genesis and the
Fourth Gospel with God, who is the Author of the old revelation
in the prophets and of the new in his Son. Verses  1-3  are a
_proemium_ (Delitzsch) or introduction to the whole Epistle. The
periodic structure of the sentence ( 1-4 ) reminds one of Lu
1:1-4, Ro 1:1-7, 1Jo 1:1-4. The sentence could have concluded
with en hui(9369) in verse  2 , but by means of three relatives
(hon, di' hou, hos) the author presents the Son as "the exact
counterpart of God" (Moffatt). {Of old time} (palai). "Long
ago" as in  Mt 11:21 . {Having spoken} (lal(8873)as). First aorist
active participle of lale(935c), originally chattering of birds,
then used of the highest form of speech as here. {Unto the
fathers} (	ois patrasin). Dative case. The Old Testament
worthies in general without "our" or "your" as in  Joh 6:58  7:22  Ro 9:5 . {In the prophets} (en tois proph(8874)ais). As the
quickening power of their life (Westcott). So  4:7 . {By divers
portions} (polumer(9373)). "In many portions." Adverb from late
adjective polumer(8873) (in papyri), both in _Vettius Valens_, here
only in N.T., but in Wisdom 7:22 and Josephus (_Ant_. VIII, 3,
9). The Old Testament revelation came at different times and in
various stages, a progressive revelation of God to men. {In
divers manners} (polutrop(9373)). "In many ways." Adverb from old
adjective polutropos, in Philo, only here in N.T. The two
adverbs together are "a sonorous hendiadys for 'variously'"
(Moffatt) as Chrysostom (diaphor(9373)). God spoke by dream, by
direct voice, by signs, in different ways to different men
(Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, etc.).