Hebrews 2:1-4 (Observe)

"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will."
Hebrews 2:1-4

Observations:
1. The word "therefore" appears in the first verse which is a sure indicator that the author is continuing his thought from the previous passage.
2. This is a warning to pay more careful attention to "what they have heard".
3. "What they have heard" indicates that they are hearing teaching that involves a message from angels that is closely connected to the law.
4. The phrase "so we do not drift away", is an indication the the author is speaking to Jewish believers because he assumes they know the truth already.
5. Apparently there were people who were drifting away.
6. The author begins his thesis on why "This Salvation" is greater than Law.
7. The message spoken by angels seems to be a reference to the Old Testament Law.
8. The author logically concludes that if this message was binding and those who violated this message or disobeyed it received their just punishment, then they would not escape its consequences.
9. It's like the author is saying that if they believe this message their doomed by the message itself. This would make sense if the author is speaking of the Law, for one of the purposes of Old Testament Law was to show us how sinful we are and how short we fall of God's righteousness.
10. The author indicates there is a salvation that is great and cannot be ignored.
11. This salvation was...
  • First announced by the Lord
  • Confirmed by those who heard Him
  • Testified to by signs, wonders and miracles, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit
12. If this salvation was announced by the Lord, and confirmed by those who "heard" Him, this seems to indicate a clear reference to Jesus. He announced it and people heard it.
13. "Confirmed to us by those who heard Him" seems to indicate that the author did not hear this "announcement" personally by the Jesus while He was walking the earth.
14. One of the purposes of signs, wonders and miracles, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit was to testify to the validity of this salvation.
15. It seems to me that the people know exactly what the author is talking about because he doesn't go into any specific detail about "the message spoken by angels".

Interpretive Questions:
1. What exactly were the people hearing? What teaching is the author referring to?
2. What is the "just" punishment for violations and disobedience to the "message spoken by angels"?
3. What exactly is the "message spoken by angels"?
4. Who is the author of Hebrews and did he hear from Jesus himself?
5. What does the author mean by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Please feel free to add observations and questions that come to your mind as we continue our journey through Hebrews.

Comments

David said…
Hebrews 2:1-4

The author says to pay closer attention to hearsay (what we have heard)

“for this reason” implications of the prior passages, superiority of Christ to angels, the divine aspect.

“for this reason” (Ex. 20) claims God YWHW delivered the law, although later Judaism believed it was angels (acts 7:53).

“for this reason” answers and calms there doubts for fear of slipping away unknowingly. Μη ποτε παραρῥυωμεν· “Lest at any time we should leak out.”

The author includes his/her own self throughout 2:1-3. The word “we” is used 3 times in vs. 1

“if” the word spoken proved unalterable’ is contrasting “how” shall we escape a just compensation.

The author is proclaiming salvation at the first spoken.

Transgression and disobedience refers to two types of sin.

Commission and omission are the two types of sin.

This particular proclamation is giving readers no excuse to omitting salvation’s message.

God bore witness, by signs, wonders, miracles, gifts, and divine will.
(KJV uses a “?” at vs. 4. 4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?)

This proclamation was first spoken “through’ in NASB” “by’ in KJV” the Lord similar to verse 1 chapter 1.

This proclamation was confirmed by hearing.

The later part of vs. 4 was to accredit salvation from God just as angels authenticated the law or rather ordained it which condemns us to needing a pure recompense.

This is a public announcement, hence the word proclamation.
July 11, 2011 at 7:41 PM
David said…
6. Why does the author question if it was God’s will in the KJV version?
7. The law clearly condemns, and the author stated bye omitting salvation your subject to an inescapable just recompense. Doesn’t that sound like guilty before innocent? When salvation is rewarded we become immediately innocent. Doesn’t that sound so unfair?
8. Does the need of salvation veil the full glory of God?
9. How can we give the Lord more glory in comparison to angels considering our current state of sanctification?
10. Where did the ‘first spoken’ take place according to this message of God’s will?
July 11, 2011 at 8:20 PM
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