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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
2:1-4 Warning against Neglecting Salvation. This warning calls the reader to pay heed to the greater salvation which was declared by the Lord himself, attested by human eyewitnesses, and authenticated by God's power. Following standard Jewish argumentation (see 9:14; 10:28-29), the argument proceeds from the lesser (retributions under the Mosaic law; 2:2) to the greater (the danger of neglecting the greater salvation; 1:3-4).
2:1 Therefore. Since Jesus is superior to the angels, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard because this message of the Son of God is also superior to prior revelation, which came through angels (cf. v. 2). To drift away results in dangerous "neglect" of the message (v. 3).
2:2 The message declared by angels is the Mosaic law, which was given by angels (deduced in Jewish tradition from Deut. 33:2; see Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19). reliable. Even though the revelation in Christ is superior (Heb. 1:2; 2:3-4), the author does not diminish the importance of the Mosaic law, which was "reliable" and which bears just retribution (Gk. misthapodosia, "reward, recompense"; here conveying legal sanctions). every transgression or disobedience. Two words here express both a refusal to follow (Gk. parabasis) and a refusal to heed (Gk. parakoē) the law. Every act of disobedience merits retribution--all sin merits punishment.
2:3 how shall we escape? If the Mosaic law came with retribution for failure to follow and obey it (v. 2), then surely the greater salvation announced by the Lord comes with more dangerous retribution for those who neglect it (cf. "showed no concern," 8:9; see also 10:28-29; 12:25). salvation. See note on 1:14. declared. Jesus himself (the Lord; cf. 1:10; 13:20) first announced this salvation, and his superiority proves the superiority of this revelation. attested. The Greek verb (bebaioō) also conveys a sense of assurance and confirmation. by those who heard. Eyewitnesses to Jesus' life and teaching. Apparently the audience (and probably the author) of Hebrews were not eyewitnesses of Jesus, but received the testimony from others.
2:4 God also bore witness. God's witness came through miracles performed alongside the gospel's proclamation, confirming it. The three terms signs, wonders, and miracles overlap in meaning and thus should not be finely distinguished (they appear together in Acts 2:22; 2 Cor. 12:12; cf. 2 Thess. 2:9; and elsewhere "signs and wonders" are often connected). gifts. "Apportionings," "distributions" (Gk. merismos) from the Holy Spirit. distributed according to his will. This probably refers not just to the distribution of spiritual gifts (see, however, 1 Cor. 12:4-11, esp. v. 11) but also to all the works of God in Heb. 2:4; these are works done according to God's will, not of human volition (cf. Gal. 3:5).
