Hebrews 2:3-4

Context

Chapter 1 of Hebrews declares that the Son, Jesus Christ, is superior to the angels. Hebrews 2:1-4 follows as the conclusion drawn from that argument and forms the first warning passage of the book.

The author first refers to "the word spoken by angels." This denotes the Law, which was understood to have been given through angels, an understanding also reflected in Acts 7:53 and Galatians 3:19. Since transgressions of that word were punished, there will be all the more no escape for those who "neglect" the salvation proclaimed by the Son. The argument moves from the lesser to the greater.

The author then gives a threefold basis for the trustworthiness of this salvation:

• The Lord first spoke it.
• Those who heard him "confirmed" it "unto us."
• God bore witness along with them "with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost."

Interpretation

• The nature of the warning: The Reformed tradition generally understands the warning in one of two ways. One view holds that it is a means by which God preserves true believers to the end; the other holds that it is addressed to nominal believers. On either reading, the warning does not conflict with the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints (the teaching that true believers persevere in faith to the end). By contrast, the Arminian and Wesleyan traditions read the passage as a genuine warning that believers, too, can neglect salvation and fall away.
• The purpose of the signs: Cessationists, particularly some within the Reformed tradition, regard the signs of verse 4 as confirming the testimony of the first generation of witnesses and therefore understand their function as bound to that era. Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement read the verse as expressing an ongoing principle that God accompanies the proclamation of the gospel with signs.
• Distribution "according to his own will": Commentators across denominations read this phrase together with 1 Corinthians 12:11, citing it as evidence that the distribution of gifts depends on the sovereignty of God rather than on the will of the recipient.

Debates and Issues

• Authorship: The phrase "was confirmed unto us by them that heard him" is commonly interpreted as indicating that the author belonged to a later generation that had not heard the Lord directly. In Galatians 1:12, Paul states that he did not receive the gospel from man. For this reason, John Calvin is reported to have cited this verse as grounds for questioning Pauline authorship. Martin Luther conjectured that Apollos was the author. Those who support Pauline authorship sometimes explain that the author was simply including himself with his readers.
• Cessationism and continuationism: Both positions use verse 4 as a proof text. Some have therefore observed that it is difficult to reach a conclusion on the basis of this verse alone.
• Translation: Commentators note that the original phrase rendered "gifts of the Holy Ghost" can be read in two ways: as "gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit" or as "the distribution of the Holy Spirit" himself.

In the Korean Church

The expression "so great salvation" is frequently quoted in sermons at evangelistic meetings and revival meetings, chiefly as an exhortation not to put off the decision for salvation.

Related Passages

• Hebrews 2:1-2
• Hebrews 10:26-31
• 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
• 2 Corinthians 12:12
• Mark 16:20