Art Toombs Ministries
Online Bible Commentary
Do Not Ignore This
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (NKJV)
The writer of the book of Hebrews, according to most commentators, is unknown to us today. However, he was known to those to whom this letter was addressed (Heb 13:19-23).
The writer was writing to Jewish converts to Christianity, therefore he was very likely one of their own, a Jew, like Paul. The doctrine is Pauline.
The timing of the writing was also Pauline. The writing was likely during the sixties A.D. There is no mention of the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.
The writer was either writing from Italy or to Italy, as one who had been there (Heb. 13:24). Paul was imprisoned in Italy two different times during the sixties, and left the country in between the two imprisonments.
The writer only mentions one other brother by name, Timothy, who was like a son to Paul (Heb 13:23). The fact that Timothy was referred to as a brother (in Christ), and not a son could have been a contribution from the amanuensis.
The early Eastern Church (Dionysius and Clement, both of Alexandria), from the very beginning, claimed Paul was the writer. The Western Church later agreed.
Other suggested writers were Luke, Apollos, or Barnabas. None of these carry the weight of evidence as the writer that Paul does, however.
The classical Greek language and heavy use of the Septuagint could have been provided by Luke. Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment and was his amanuensis during Paul’s final days (2 Timothy 4:11). It is logical to assume that Luke was also Paul’s amanuensis for this letter.
Luke, also, translated the letter to the Hebrews into Greek, according to Clement of Alexandria in the second century. So, the Gentile Luke was familiar with the Hebrew language, as well as his native Greek. Thus, lending credence to Luke’s possible contributions to the letter.
The anonymity of the letter could have been on purpose, because of Luke’s (and possibly Timothy’s and Mark’s) contributions. Or, the anonymity may have been because of Paul’s unpopularity among Jews, or as a result of the persecution of Paul and other Christians by Nero in Rome.
This conclusion is that Paul was the writer with help from Luke and possibly Timothy and Mark who were also with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:11). The letter was written to Paul’s new Christian converts in Rome for the purpose of strengthening their faith.
The Book of Hebrews addresses two main subjects: the superiority of Christ and exhortations of obedient living. Mixed in with these two subjects are five warnings to the Hebrews to whom this letter was written. Each warning addresses a specific issue with the Hebrews, of which Paul would have been personally aware.
This passage is the first of the five warnings given to the Hebrew Christians to whom this letter is addressed. These warnings are just as relevant to Christians today as they were to the Hebrew Christians in the sixties, A.D.
Paul begins this passage with “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (v. 1). The literal Greek translation of verse one is: “Because of this ought more earnest us to give heed to the things having been heard, lest we should slip away.”
“Therefore” refers to the previous passage, in this case to salvation. This sentence gives two references to ships, to which Paul commonly referred.
The word translated “give heed” is from the Greek word “prosecho”, which was commonly used of bringing a ship to land. The word translated “we should slip away” is from the Greek word “pararreo”, which was commonly used to indicate a ship drifting away.
Therefore, the meaning of this verse is that because of our salvation we should give careful attention to the gospel and not slip away from its teachings, or from our salvation. This subject of “slipping” or falling away is discussed in more detail in the third warning (5:11-6:20).
Paul continues with “For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward” (v. 2). Here, Paul moves his argument from the lesser to the greater.
The lesser (v.2) is the Law of Moses, the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. It is the system of rules and regulations. It is the call to obedience, by turning from sin.
It was “the word spoken through angels” (v. 2a), a reference to the burning bush where Moses was called to ministry. It was the “steadfast” (v. 2b) agreement.
The word translated “steadfast” is the Greek word “bebaios”, a word used in the papyri in a technical sense for a legal guarantee. It means a contract, in this case a contract with God. When we break that contract, it is called sin, or “transgression”, and we receive “just rewards” (v. 2c).
Next, Paul writes “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (v. 3). So, the greater is “salvation”.
Salvation comes from the gospel, the good news of Christ, and is greater than the Law because it redeems us from the Law. It is our means of “escape” (v. 3a) from the “just rewards”, in this case punishment, of the Law.
Since salvation, through the gospel, is our means of escape, we should not “neglect”, or ignore, it (v. 3b). We should be constantly studying and learning the gospel, the Bible. This is the message of this passage.
Salvation was first “spoken by the Lord” (v. 3c). Christ’s announcement was “confirmed” to Paul, and others, by the first generation of Christians who heard Christ’s message directly from Him (v. 3d).
Verse three identifies the writer as being a second-generation Christian, such as Paul. Paul did not become a Christian until his Damascus Road experience, which occurred after Christ’s earthly ministry.
Paul closes this passage with “God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (v. 4). Christ’s announcement was authenticated through signs, wonders, miracles, and the Holy Spirit, all of which we find in the Bible.
Giving more attention to the Bible is essential. Once we walk out the door of the church, we typically forget ninety percent of the message.
We should take heed of this and be reading and studying our Bibles frequently throughout the week. Sunday morning service, by itself, is not enough.
The Lord warns us in this passage. Do not ignore the Bible.