Hebrews 2:1-4: A Warning

Introduction

Quote

Craig Koester - Anchor Yale Bible Commentary: Hebrews

Hebrews: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary a. Present Drift from the Word (2:1–3a)

Warnings are not designed to rob people of hope, but to steer them away from danger in order to preserve them so that they might persevere and inherit what has been promised (cf. 6:12; 10:39).

Scripture

Hebrews 2:1–4 ESV

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Outline

Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken

Hebrews 1:1-2a - God Spoke

Hebrews 1:1 - Through the Prophets

Hebrews 1:2a - Through His Son

Hebrews 1:2b - The Son Appointed

Hebrews 1:2c - The Son is Creator

Hebrews 1:3a - The Nature of the Son

Hebrews 1:3b - The Power of the Son

Hebrews 1:3c - The Work of the Son

Hebrews 1:3d-4 - The Position of the Son

Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son’s is Superior to the Angels

Hebrews 1:5-9 - The Son - Appointed Heir

Hebrews 1:10 - The Son - Creator

Hebrews 1:11-12 - The Son - Divine Nature

Hebrews 1:13 - The Son - Messianic Position

Hebrews 1:14 - The Angels - Servants of the Elect

Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning

Hebrews 2:1a - Pay Attention

Hebrews 2:1b - Failure to Pay Attention

Hebrews 2:2-3a - Escaping Retribution

Hebrews 2:3b - Salvation Declared

Hebrews 2:4 - Signs, Wonders, Miracles, and Gifts

Purpose of Book

Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise

Main Point

Since the Son is greater than the angels, do not neglect such a great salvation

Teaching Note

Warning Passages in Hebrews

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Apostasy

APOSTASY (ἀπόστασις, apostasis, ἀποστασία, apostasia). A public denial of a previously held religious belief and a distancing from the community that holds to it.

Hebrews 2:1-4

Hebrews 4:12-13

Hebrews 6:4-8

Hebrews 10:26-31

Hebrews 12:25-29

Hebrews 2:1a - Pay Attention

Hebrews 2:1a ESV

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Hebrews 2:1 (ESV)

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard,

Therefore we must

Therefore - Since Jesus is superior to the angels

We - Not you, but we

Must - necessary

Pay much closer attention

Much closer - intensifies the warning

To what we have heard

The Gospel

An Exegetical Summary of Hebrews 2:1

the reference is to the gospel teachings [Blm, EBC, Hu, Lg, TH], the salvation message proclaimed (by God [Lg, Lns]) through the Lord Jesus [EGT, Hwt, ICC, Lg, Lns, My] (indirectly [NIGTC]) and his immediate followers [ICC, My], through the prophets and the New Testament messengers [Lns]. This does not exclude reading the OT [NIGTC].

Hebrews 2:1b - Failure to Pay Attention

Hebrews 2:1 (ESV)

Lest we drift away from it.

Lest we

Lest - purpose of why they must pay attention

Drift away

Nautical metaphor

Hebrews: A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews 2:1–4; Paraenetic Interlude: The Danger of Falling Away

The verb, the basic meaning of which is “flow beside,” appears twice in the LXX, meaning “flow” or “slip away.” There may be a hint of a nautical metaphor,21 according to which the addressees ought not, as ships, slip by the goal of their voyage, the safe harbor of salvation.

From it

The Gospel

Hebrews 2:2-3a - Escaping Retribution

Hebrews 2:2–3 (ESV)

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

For since the message declared by angels

For since

If-then construction - lesser (angels-law) to greater (Christ-salvation) argument

Declared by angels

Hebrews: A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews 2:1–4; Paraenetic Interlude: The Danger of Falling Away

The remainder of this section consists of a single lengthy period replete with alliteration and assonance. The passage compares, in two unequal portions, the word brought by the angels and that brought by Jesus. That the Torah26 was delivered by angels is not a datum provided by the biblical account (Exod 20:1*), where Yahweh deals with Moses directly. The notion that angels accompanied Yahweh at Sinai is, however, common. Jewish tradition eventually made these angels intermediaries in the delivery of the Torah,28 and this tradition was appropriated by early Christians.

Acts 7:51–53 ESV

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Galatians 3:19 ESV

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.

Proved to be reliable,

Reliable - legally binding

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. βέβαιος

③ pert. to having validity over a period of time

And every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,

Transgression

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. παράβασις

act of deviating from an established boundary or norm, overstepping, transgression

Disobedience

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. παρακοή

refusal to listen and so be disobedient, unwillingness to hear, disobedience

Just Retribution

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἔνδικος

a just penalty

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. μισθαποδοσία

receive a just penalty

What was the just retribution for disobedience to the Mosiac Law?

Deuteronomy 29:24–28 ESV

all the nations will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land? What caused the heat of this great anger?’ Then people will say, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the Lord, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, and went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against this land, bringing upon it all the curses written in this book, and the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger and fury and great wrath, and cast them into another land, as they are this day.’

Deuteronomy 30:15–20 ESV

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Korah’s Rebellion/Israel’s Grumbling

Numbers 16

Israelites Grumble

Numbers 21:4–9 ESV

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Assyrian Exile

Israel - Northern 10 Tribes

First Deportation

733/32BC

Second Deportation

722/21 BC

Babylonian Exile

Judah & Benjamin - Southern Tribes

587/86 BC - Jerusalem Temple is destroyed

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

An Exegetical Summary of Hebrews 2:3

It is a rhetorical question, implying a negative answer [Mil, NIGTC, TNTC, WBC]: we shall not escape. There is no escape possible [WBC].

Escape

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἐκφεύγω

② to become free from danger by avoiding some peril, escape

Neglect

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀμελέω

to have no care for, to neglect, be unconcerned

Such a great

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. τηλικοῦτος

② in ref. to degree so great/important/mighty

Salvation

Eschatological judgement

Luke 21:36 ESV

But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Romans 2:3 ESV

Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

1 Thessalonians 5:3 ESV

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Hebrews 2:3b - Salvation Declared

Hebrews 2:3 (ESV)

It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

It was declared at first by the Lord,

It - Salvation

Declared at first by the Lord (Jesus)

Hebrews 1:2 ESV

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

John 1:1–5 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:14–18 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

And it was attested to us by those who heard,

It was attested - similar to the word reliable in vs. 2

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. βεβαιόω

① to put someth. beyond doubt, confirm, establish

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. βεβαιόω

β. is also legal t.t. to designate properly guaranteed security

Those who heard passed along the Gospel message of Christ to the author and readers

Those who heard

Luke 1:1–4 ESV

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Acts 1:1–4 ESV

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;

Galatians 1:11–17 ESV

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

1 John 1:1–4 ESV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Hebrews 2:4 - Signs, Wonders, Miracles, and Gifts

Hebrews 2:4 ESV

while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

While God also bore witness

The Epistle to the Hebrews 3. The Urgency of Attending to God’s Son-Mediated Revelation (2:1–4)

It was God, however, who used this human witness to confirm his message. He is the one who spoke it “through the Lord” in the beginning. He is the one who bore supporting testimony to the message of his witnesses by granting “signs and wonders and various miracles and apportionments of the Holy Spirit.”

By signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit

EBTC

Hebrews Exegesis

The three words used to denote miracles are roughly synonymous, though the term “signs” (σημείοις) suggests that human beings should discern the significance of the miracles. The word “wonders” (τέρασιν) communicates the unprecedented and astonishing nature of God’s work, while “miracles” (δυνάμεσιν) features the power of God.

Signs, wonders, and miracles - often found together

Exodus 7:3 ESV

But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,

Deuteronomy 6:22 ESV

And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes.

Jeremiah 32:20–21 ESV

You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror.

2 Corinthians 12:12 ESV

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

Gifts distributed

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. μερισμός

② distribution, apportionment (Aeneas Tact. ln. 27; Polyb. 31, 10, 1; SIG 1017, 16 [III B.C.]; TestJob 46:1; Josh 11:23; Philo, Poster. Cai. 90) ἁγίου πνεύματος μερισμοί distributions of the Holy Spirit, i.e. of the various gifts proceeding from the Holy Spirit Hb 2:4.

Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4

Distributed according to his will.

God gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His will

Closing Quote

Richard Phillips - Reformed Expository Commentary

Hebrews A Modern Miracle

The writer of Hebrews says God attested to the gospel in the apostolic age by signs and wonders and miracles. We are not to go seeking after signs and wonders, but there is a miracle that happens today in the lives of those who hold fast to the message of God’s Word. It is the miracle of a changed life—a changed mind and a changed heart, changed attitudes and changed behaviors—changed into the likeness of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. This is the wonder by which God commends his Word to the world today—Christian people enlightened in truth, purified in holiness, settled in peace, and energized in love. This is the life eternal that begins today in the lives of those who believe. As God does this in you, through his Word, he will use the miracle of your life to commend his message in Christ to others.