Hebrews 2:3
Verse
Context
Salvation Confirmed
2For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,4and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
How shall we escape - If they who had fewer privileges than we have, to whom God spoke in divers manners by angels and prophets, fell under the displeasure of their Maker, and were often punished with a sore destruction; how shall we escape wrath to the uttermost if we neglect the salvation provided for us, and proclaimed to us by the Son of God? Their offense was high; ours, indescribably higher. The salvation mentioned here is the whole system of Christianity, with all the privileges it confers; properly called a salvation, because, by bringing such an abundance of heavenly light into the world, it saves or delivers men from the kingdom of darkness, ignorance, error, superstition, and idolatry; and provides all the requisite means to free them from the power, guilt, and contamination of sin. This salvation is great when compared with that granted to the Jews: 1. The Jewish dispensation was provided for the Jews alone; the Christian dispensation for all mankind. 2. The Jewish dispensation was full of significant types and ceremonies; the Christian dispensation is the substance of all those types. 3. The Jewish dispensation referred chiefly to the body and outward state of man - washings and external cleansings of the flesh; the Christian, to the inward state - purifying the heart and soul, and purging the conscience from dead works. 4. The Jewish dispensation promised temporal happiness; the Christian, spiritual. 5. The Jewish dispensation belonged chiefly to time; the Christian, to eternity. 6. The Jewish dispensation had its glory; but that was nothing when compared to the exceeding glory of the Gospel. 7. Moses administered the former; Jesus Christ, the Creator, Governor, and Savior of the world, the latter. 8. This is a great salvation, infinitely beyond the Jewish; but how great no tongue or pen can describe. Those who neglect it, αμελησαντες, are not only they who oppose or persecute it, but they who pay no regard to it; who do not meddle with it, do not concern themselves about it, do not lay it to heart, and consequently do not get their hearts changed by it. Now these cannot escape the coming judgments of God; not merely because they oppose his will and commandment, but because they sin against the very cause and means of their deliverance. As there is but one remedy by which their diseased souls can be saved, so by refusing to apply that one remedy they must necessarily perish. Which at the first began to be spoken - Though John the Baptist went before our Lord to prepare his way, yet he could not be properly said to preach the Gospel; and even Christ's preaching was only a beginning of the great proclamation: it was his own Spirit in the apostles and evangelists, the men who heard him preach, that opened the whole mystery of the kingdom of heaven. And all this testimony had been so confirmed in the land of Judea as to render it indubitable; and consequently there was no excuse for their unbelief, and no prospect of their escape if they should continue to neglect it.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
we--who have received the message of salvation so clearly delivered to us (compare Heb 12:25). so great salvation--embodied in Jesus, whose very name means "salvation," including not only deliverance from foes and from death, and the grant of temporal blessings (which the law promised to the obedient), but also grace of the Spirit, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of heaven, glory, and eternal life (Heb 2:10). which--"inasmuch as it is a salvation which began," &c. spoken by the Lord--as the instrument of proclaiming it. Not as the law, spoken by the instrumentality of angels (Heb 2:2). Both law and Gospel came from God; the difference here referred to lay in the instrumentality by which each respectively was promulgated (compare Heb 2:5). Angels recognize Him as "the Lord" (Mat 28:6; Luk 2:11). confirmed unto us--not by penalties, as the law was confirmed, but by spiritual gifts (Heb 2:4). by them that heard him--(Compare Luk 1:2). Though Paul had a special and independent revelation of Christ (Gal 1:16-17, Gal 1:19), yet he classes himself with those Jews whom he addresses, "unto us"; for like them in many particulars (for example, the agony in Gethsemane, Heb 5:7), he was dependent for autoptic information on the twelve apostles. So the discourses of Jesus, for example, the Sermon on the Mount, and the first proclamation of the Gospel kingdom by the Lord (Mat 4:17), he could only know by the report of the Twelve: so the saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Act 20:35). Paul mentions what they had heard, rather than what they had seen, conformably with what he began with, Heb 1:1-2, "spake . . . spoken." Appropriately also in his Epistles to Gentiles, he dwells on his independent call to the apostleship of the Gentiles; in his Epistle to the Hebrews, he appeals to the apostles who had been long with the Lord (compare Act 1:21; Act 10:41): so in his sermon to the Jews in Antioch of Pisidia (Act 13:31); and "he only appeals to the testimony of these apostles in a general way, in order that he may bring the Hebrews to the Lord alone" [BENGEL], not to become partisans of particular apostles, as Peter, the apostle of the circumcision, and James, the bishop of Jerusalem. This verse implies that the Hebrews of the churches of Palestine and Syria (or those of them dispersed in Asia Minor [BENGEL], Pe1 1:1, or in Alexandria) were primarily addressed in this Epistle; for of none so well could it be said, the Gospel was confirmed to them by the immediate hearers of the Lord: the past tense, "was confirmed," implies some little time had elapsed since this testification by eye-witnesses.
John Gill Bible Commentary
God also bearing them witness,.... The apostles of Christ; God testifying to their mission and commission, and the truth of the doctrine they preached: both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles; such as taking up serpents without hurt, healing the sick, causing the lame to walk, and raising the dead, and casting out devils, and the like; all which were for the confirmation of the Gospel preached by them: a sign, wonder, or miracle, for these signify the same thing, is a marvellous work done before men, by the power of God, to confirm a divine truth; God is the sole author of miracles; and they were done in the first ages of Christianity, when they were necessary, to give evidence of the truth of it, and to establish men in it; and these were various, as before observed: and gifts of the Holy Ghost; such as besides gifts of healing and working miracles, gifts of foretelling things to come, discerning of spirits, speaking with divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, Co1 12:8 according to his own will; either according to the will of God, who bore testimony by these miracles and gifts; or according to the will of the Holy Spirit, who distributed them to men severally as he pleased, Co1 12:11.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:3 So what makes us think we can escape? Here the author presses the full force of the danger of turning away from Christ and his salvation. There is no escape from punishment for those who walk away, and the punishment will be of the greatest severity (cp. 6:4-12; 10:26-31; 12:29; Rom 2:5; 1 Thes 2:16). • Salvation refers to God’s acts on behalf of his people. For example, God saved his people through the exodus from Egypt (Deut 26:5-9). In the New Testament, salvation primarily refers to Christ’s work of rescuing people from the penalty of sin and giving them new life by his sacrificial death on the cross (Heb 5:9-10). This salvation was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself (e.g., Matt 4:17; 9:35; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:1-5). He then delivered (or validated) the message through those who heard him speak (e.g., Mark 6:12; Acts 2:38; 3:19-20).
Hebrews 2:3
Salvation Confirmed
2For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,4and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(Hebrews) 1-Overview-1
By Leonard Ravenhill50K47:07HebrewsROM 1:16GAL 3:10HEB 1:1HEB 2:3HEB 3:1HEB 10:19HEB 10:38In this sermon, the preacher begins by discussing the book of Revelation and its portrayal of the end times. He expresses sorrow over the degradation and perversion in society, emphasizing the need for a revival. The preacher acknowledges the sacrifices made by martyrs and urges the congregation to follow in their footsteps. The sermon then transitions to a discussion of the epistle to the Hebrews, particularly focusing on the importance of faith as demonstrated by the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.
The Burdens of Ravenhill - Part 5 (Compilation)
By Leonard Ravenhill17K49:20Compilation1CH 4:10PSA 119:32HEB 2:3In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of repentance and restoration in the Christian faith. He highlights the need for individuals to acknowledge their sins and seek forgiveness from God. The preacher also emphasizes the power of God's mercy and grace to cleanse and restore believers. He encourages listeners to fully surrender to God and allow Him to work in their lives, leading to a renewed joy, peace, and passion for worship. The sermon references various Bible verses, including Psalm 51:7 and Hebrews 2:3-4, to support the message of repentance and restoration.
Except Ye Repent
By Paris Reidhead16K45:32RepentancePSA 7:11MAT 5:20ROM 10:9HEB 2:3In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the dire plight and desperate need of humanity by contrasting it with the Beatitudes. He asks the congregation if they have ever been lost, and only a few hands go up. However, when he asks if they are saved, all hands go up. This leads him to reflect on the words of Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost. The preacher then highlights the importance of recognizing the authority of Christ and having a genuine heart-felt faith, rather than just a superficial agreement or emotional response. He concludes by urging the audience to consider their own salvation and the salvation of their loved ones, emphasizing the need to not neglect the great salvation offered by God.
2006 Heart-Cry - Question Answer Panel
By Paul Washer14K1:18:13Question AnswerPRO 29:23MAT 6:33HEB 2:3JAS 4:101PE 5:6In this sermon, the preacher criticizes the current state of preaching in evangelicalism, stating that the gospel being preached is not the true gospel. He argues that the message has been reduced to a simplistic formula of "five things God wants you to know" or "four spiritual laws," which does not encompass the full message of Christ's sacrifice and the call to repentance and belief. The preacher emphasizes the importance of studying the Bible and understanding the true gospel. He also encourages pastors to obtain CDs and DVDs of baptisms to witness the transformative power of God in people's lives. Additionally, there is a question raised about confessing sins and seeking a closer walk with God, to which the preacher advises seeking wisdom from an elder and being genuinely burdened for the souls of others.
Elijah - He Prayed
By Leonard Ravenhill10K1:26:13ElijahMAT 4:18HEB 2:3In this sermon, the preacher discusses the life of the prophet Elijah and emphasizes the power of prayer. He compares Elijah to other influential figures in history, such as William Booth and Hudson Taylor, highlighting the impact they had through their work. The preacher also addresses the state of the nation during Elijah's time, describing it as flooded with impurity, idolatry, and evil. He then challenges the audience to examine their own level of discipline and commitment to God, urging them to prioritize their relationship with Him through tithing and disciplined living.
(So Great a Salvation) Faith-New Birth-Witness of the Spirit
By Paris Reidhead8.9K50:40Witness Of The SpiritMAT 6:33JHN 16:7ROM 10:9HEB 2:3HEB 11:1In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the topic of faith, using Hebrews 11:1-6 as the key scripture. The sermon emphasizes that everything in the Christian life follows a process, starting with a crisis and leading to further steps. The preacher encourages listeners to understand where they are in their own spiritual journey and to take the next step towards faith. The sermon also highlights the importance of the understanding, faith, new birth, and witness of the spirit in one's relationship with God.
Hell - Part 2
By David Wilkerson7.6K20:27HellISA 47:7MAT 6:33MAT 7:22HEB 2:3REV 3:5REV 20:12REV 20:15In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not neglecting salvation. He highlights how people often neglect prayer and the word of God, instead spending their time on worldly pursuits. The preacher warns that these actions will be recorded in the book of judgment. He shares a personal story of a young man who had a powerful encounter with God and was delivered from the fear of hell. The preacher challenges the audience to prioritize seeking God and praying for the salvation of their loved ones, reminding them of the reality of a Godless, eternal hell.
Revival Series 2
By Leonard Ravenhill7.2K54:24RevivalHEB 2:3HEB 3:1JUD 1:17JUD 1:19In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of immersing oneself in the Word of God. He shares his personal experience of realizing that he needed to be obedient to God and disciplined in his study of the Bible. The speaker criticizes those who prioritize money and entertainment over spiritual matters, stating that the only solution to the world's problems is a spiritual one found in the Church of the Living God. He also highlights the significance of memorizing scripture and warns against neglecting the little things that can have a big impact on our lives.
Complete Salvation and How to Recieve It - Part 1
By Derek Prince6.5K28:17PSA 78:21LUK 8:35JHN 1:11EPH 2:8EPH 3:18HEB 2:3HEB 10:14This sermon by Derek Prince Ministries focuses on the concept of complete salvation and how many Christians may only experience an incomplete version of what God has provided. The speaker emphasizes the vastness and depth of God's salvation, urging believers to fully embrace and comprehend its width, length, depth, and height. Through various biblical examples, the sermon highlights the importance of not limiting God's salvation and the ongoing process of being saved in different tenses: perfect, simple past, and continuing present.
Hebrews 11 - Part 4
By Leonard Ravenhill5.5K47:38MAT 6:33ACT 17:281CO 15:452TH 1:1HEB 2:3HEB 12:2JUD 1:3In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need to prove the preaching of the word of God through action. He encourages believers to open the door and boldly proclaim the truth to a world that is scared and threatened. The preacher references the powerful impact of the Azusa Street revival, where people were convicted and filled with fear upon approaching the church. He also highlights the lack of God's presence in many churches today and calls for a return to a genuine manifestation of God's glory. The sermon concludes with a reminder of the greatness of salvation and the importance of sharing the message of Jesus Christ.
What Is Your Life?
By J. Vernon McGee5.0K44:45GEN 1:1JOB 9:2JHN 1:29ACT 16:30HEB 2:3JAS 4:14In this sermon titled "What Is Your Life?" Dr. McGee explores the brevity and uncertainty of human life. He emphasizes that life is a place of decision and preparation for eternity. Using the example of a rich man in a parable, Dr. McGee warns against the dangers of placing too much importance on worldly success and neglecting spiritual matters. He encourages listeners to acknowledge their dependence on God and to live in accordance with His will.
A Few Sighs From Hell (Reading)
By John Bunyan4.6K36:41ISA 28:16ISA 53:1MAT 6:33LUK 16:24JHN 3:16ROM 10:16HEB 2:3In this sermon transcript, the preacher warns the listeners to consider the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and not to delay in accepting it. He emphasizes the consequences of rejecting this grace, stating that those who do will eventually find themselves in hell, crying out in anguish. The preacher highlights the foolishness of choosing worldly pleasures and sin over the offer of salvation and eternal life. He compares the state of the ungodly to someone in a swoon, unaware of their surroundings until they wake up in hell. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's spiritual state and accepting God's grace before it is too late.
The Life of David Brainerd - Part. 3
By Jonathan Edwards4.1K1:10:06Audio BooksMAT 6:33ACT 2:1ACT 26:18ROM 1:16HEB 2:3The sermon transcript describes the preacher's physical weakness and pain, comparing it to a man losing all his possessions in a small boat drifting down a swift river. Despite his struggles, the preacher diverts himself with trivial matters to avoid sinking into despair. The preacher then proceeds to teach the congregation about the sacrifices and miracles of God, as well as the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ. He expounds on the Gospel of St. Matthew to provide a more detailed understanding of the teachings. The transcript also mentions the preacher's journey through difficult and dangerous terrain, where he experiences spiritual enjoyment and meditates on divine subjects. He encounters a Roman Catholic individual who shows concern for their soul. The sermon concludes with the preacher continuing his journey towards Newark, New Jersey.
Prayer in Revival
By Leonard Ravenhill3.9K1:12:15Revival1SA 1:31SA 1:6MAT 6:33HEB 2:3HEB 3:2In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of humbling oneself before God and coming to Him with a sense of helplessness and surrender. He shares a story about receiving letters from Africa and witnessing the violence and persecution that was happening there. The preacher encourages the congregation to not just rely on their knowledge or scholarship, but to seek God's voice through prayer. He also challenges them to be committed in their giving and to prioritize prayer over other activities. The sermon concludes with a discussion about revival and the need for it to have a lasting impact on the community.
The Normal Christian Life
By Paris Reidhead3.5K1:05:52Christian LivingJHN 3:16EPH 3:14EPH 3:20HEB 2:3In this sermon, the speaker tells the story of a young man who was despised by his brothers and sold into slavery. Despite facing great difficulties and spending years in prison, God began to work in his life. The speaker emphasizes that the answer to our problems and crises does not come from seeking approval or avoiding responsibility, but from recognizing that everything we do is for the glory of God. The sermon concludes with a reminder of the importance of allowing Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith and the potential we have to change the world for God's purposes.
Loved With Everlasting Love - Part 4
By Paris Reidhead3.2K47:33Everlasting LoveMAT 6:33ACT 17:30ROM 12:1EPH 1:15HEB 2:3In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of salvation and the role of each member of the Trinity in the process. The Father planned and purposed our salvation before the foundation of the world, while the Son provided and accomplished everything that the Father had planned. The Holy Spirit is responsible for perfecting and making real in us everything that the Father purposed and the Son provided. The ultimate goal of our salvation is to bring praise and glory to God. The speaker emphasizes the sovereignty of God and encourages the audience to trust in His plan and purpose for their lives.
Challenges in Hebrews 11
By Leonard Ravenhill2.2K1:27:50Christian LifeHEB 2:3HEB 4:1HEB 4:3HEB 4:8In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of rest and entering into God's rest. He emphasizes the importance of living a spiritually tall life and not coming short of the promise of entering into God's rest. The speaker also highlights the significance of being raised in a holy atmosphere and having a foundation of righteousness. He uses the example of the children of Israel coming out of Egypt and facing battles in the promised land to illustrate the need for obedience and fighting for victory in the spiritual life.
(2006 Heart-Cry) Prayer and Revivel Through History
By Bob Jennings1.7K48:23Revival PrayingHEB 2:3HEB 3:8HEB 4:12HEB 5:12HEB 10:26HEB 12:5In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of the word of God, describing it as living, powerful, and able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The preacher shares a personal experience of daily prayer and seeking fresh portions of grace. The sermon also highlights several warnings and problems faced by the audience, including being hardened by sin, immaturity in their faith, deliberate sinning, and not responding properly to discipline. The preacher concludes with two exhortations: to hold fast and to draw near to God.
Does It Pay to Pray
By William MacDonald1.6K1:09:30Prayer LifeACT 1:14ACT 2:42ACT 4:24ACT 6:1ACT 12:17HEB 2:3In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of prayer in the work of serving Christ. He refers to the Book of Acts and highlights the power of a united prayer. The speaker shares a conversation he had with a missionary who explained that living a life of faith in the United States requires complete trust in God. The sermon also mentions the story of Peter and John being released from prison and the prayer of the believers for boldness.
Streets (Compilation)
By Compilations1.5K09:47CompilationEXO 20:7JHN 14:6ROM 1:18ROM 2:52CO 5:20HEB 2:31JN 5:12In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of repentance and turning away from sin. He explains that sin is a transgression of God's law and that God will judge each individual based on the Ten Commandments. The preacher highlights various sins such as lying, stealing, adultery, and taking God's name in vain, stating that they are crimes against God. He emphasizes that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins. The preacher urges listeners to repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation.
Types in Hebrews 11
By Leonard Ravenhill1.5K1:28:00FaithHEB 2:3HEB 4:1HEB 4:3HEB 4:8In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power and significance of the gospel. He describes it as a dynamic and revolutionary message that should captivate the attention of its listeners. The preacher also highlights the importance of being raised in a holy atmosphere and having a foundation of righteousness. He shares a story of a young boy who willingly sacrificed himself for the sake of others. The sermon concludes with a discussion on the concept of rest and the promise of entering into God's rest through belief in Jesus.
Christian Maturity
By Peet Botha1.4K1:15:48MaturityHEB 1:1HEB 2:3HEB 3:1HEB 4:1HEB 9:11HEB 9:24HEB 10:18In this sermon, the speaker addresses the concern among some Christians that Jesus Christ has not yet returned. He emphasizes the importance of remaining steadfast in their faith and not turning back to Judaism. The speaker highlights the need to combine knowledge of Christ with personal faith in order to truly experience salvation. He urges the audience to fix their thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest, and to continue growing in their understanding of Christ and repentance from sinful acts.
Eternity to Eternity 03 Genesis 1:1
By Joseph Balsan1.4K55:15CreationGEN 9:5GEN 11:1ROM 1:24HEB 2:3HEB 3:12In this sermon, the preacher discusses the similarities between the days of Noah and the closing days of the church age and the tribulation period. He highlights that both eras were characterized by violence and corruption. The preacher also emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's creation and the consequences of neglecting His salvation. He references Romans chapter 1 and Hebrews 2 and 3 to support his points and urges the audience to not turn their backs on the light and knowledge of God.
A Manual for Prayer - Part 2
By William MacDonald1.4K1:31:28PrayerACT 2:42ACT 4:24ACT 6:3ACT 13:3HEB 2:3In this sermon, Mr. McDonald reflects on the early Christians and their cultivation of a godly life, which resulted in tremendous messages and effective impact. He shares a conversation with a young man who chose to give up his comfortable life in the United States to serve God overseas. The young man explains that living a life of faith in the US is challenging, but when one puts themselves in a position of complete trust in God, there is a power that manifests in their life. McDonald then highlights the story of Paul and Silas in jail, where they demonstrated prayer and praise, leading to an earthquake and the conversion of the jailer.
Sonship With the Father - Part 2
By Art Katz1.3K1:19:08SonshipPSA 8:3MAT 6:33LUK 15:11JHN 1:12ROM 8:15HEB 2:3HEB 5:8In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the church taking responsibility for the well-being of their fellow human beings, particularly those who are marginalized and mistreated. He urges the church to assert itself and confront those in power who neglect and dehumanize others. The speaker also highlights the need for the church to remain active, alive, and dynamic, rather than becoming stagnant and complacent. He discusses the danger of halting and resting in our relationship with God, emphasizing the importance of humility, love, and active engagement. The sermon also touches on the concept of gratitude and reverence towards God, highlighting the ungrateful and disobedient nature of humanity and the need for repentance and salvation.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
How shall we escape - If they who had fewer privileges than we have, to whom God spoke in divers manners by angels and prophets, fell under the displeasure of their Maker, and were often punished with a sore destruction; how shall we escape wrath to the uttermost if we neglect the salvation provided for us, and proclaimed to us by the Son of God? Their offense was high; ours, indescribably higher. The salvation mentioned here is the whole system of Christianity, with all the privileges it confers; properly called a salvation, because, by bringing such an abundance of heavenly light into the world, it saves or delivers men from the kingdom of darkness, ignorance, error, superstition, and idolatry; and provides all the requisite means to free them from the power, guilt, and contamination of sin. This salvation is great when compared with that granted to the Jews: 1. The Jewish dispensation was provided for the Jews alone; the Christian dispensation for all mankind. 2. The Jewish dispensation was full of significant types and ceremonies; the Christian dispensation is the substance of all those types. 3. The Jewish dispensation referred chiefly to the body and outward state of man - washings and external cleansings of the flesh; the Christian, to the inward state - purifying the heart and soul, and purging the conscience from dead works. 4. The Jewish dispensation promised temporal happiness; the Christian, spiritual. 5. The Jewish dispensation belonged chiefly to time; the Christian, to eternity. 6. The Jewish dispensation had its glory; but that was nothing when compared to the exceeding glory of the Gospel. 7. Moses administered the former; Jesus Christ, the Creator, Governor, and Savior of the world, the latter. 8. This is a great salvation, infinitely beyond the Jewish; but how great no tongue or pen can describe. Those who neglect it, αμελησαντες, are not only they who oppose or persecute it, but they who pay no regard to it; who do not meddle with it, do not concern themselves about it, do not lay it to heart, and consequently do not get their hearts changed by it. Now these cannot escape the coming judgments of God; not merely because they oppose his will and commandment, but because they sin against the very cause and means of their deliverance. As there is but one remedy by which their diseased souls can be saved, so by refusing to apply that one remedy they must necessarily perish. Which at the first began to be spoken - Though John the Baptist went before our Lord to prepare his way, yet he could not be properly said to preach the Gospel; and even Christ's preaching was only a beginning of the great proclamation: it was his own Spirit in the apostles and evangelists, the men who heard him preach, that opened the whole mystery of the kingdom of heaven. And all this testimony had been so confirmed in the land of Judea as to render it indubitable; and consequently there was no excuse for their unbelief, and no prospect of their escape if they should continue to neglect it.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
we--who have received the message of salvation so clearly delivered to us (compare Heb 12:25). so great salvation--embodied in Jesus, whose very name means "salvation," including not only deliverance from foes and from death, and the grant of temporal blessings (which the law promised to the obedient), but also grace of the Spirit, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of heaven, glory, and eternal life (Heb 2:10). which--"inasmuch as it is a salvation which began," &c. spoken by the Lord--as the instrument of proclaiming it. Not as the law, spoken by the instrumentality of angels (Heb 2:2). Both law and Gospel came from God; the difference here referred to lay in the instrumentality by which each respectively was promulgated (compare Heb 2:5). Angels recognize Him as "the Lord" (Mat 28:6; Luk 2:11). confirmed unto us--not by penalties, as the law was confirmed, but by spiritual gifts (Heb 2:4). by them that heard him--(Compare Luk 1:2). Though Paul had a special and independent revelation of Christ (Gal 1:16-17, Gal 1:19), yet he classes himself with those Jews whom he addresses, "unto us"; for like them in many particulars (for example, the agony in Gethsemane, Heb 5:7), he was dependent for autoptic information on the twelve apostles. So the discourses of Jesus, for example, the Sermon on the Mount, and the first proclamation of the Gospel kingdom by the Lord (Mat 4:17), he could only know by the report of the Twelve: so the saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Act 20:35). Paul mentions what they had heard, rather than what they had seen, conformably with what he began with, Heb 1:1-2, "spake . . . spoken." Appropriately also in his Epistles to Gentiles, he dwells on his independent call to the apostleship of the Gentiles; in his Epistle to the Hebrews, he appeals to the apostles who had been long with the Lord (compare Act 1:21; Act 10:41): so in his sermon to the Jews in Antioch of Pisidia (Act 13:31); and "he only appeals to the testimony of these apostles in a general way, in order that he may bring the Hebrews to the Lord alone" [BENGEL], not to become partisans of particular apostles, as Peter, the apostle of the circumcision, and James, the bishop of Jerusalem. This verse implies that the Hebrews of the churches of Palestine and Syria (or those of them dispersed in Asia Minor [BENGEL], Pe1 1:1, or in Alexandria) were primarily addressed in this Epistle; for of none so well could it be said, the Gospel was confirmed to them by the immediate hearers of the Lord: the past tense, "was confirmed," implies some little time had elapsed since this testification by eye-witnesses.
John Gill Bible Commentary
God also bearing them witness,.... The apostles of Christ; God testifying to their mission and commission, and the truth of the doctrine they preached: both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles; such as taking up serpents without hurt, healing the sick, causing the lame to walk, and raising the dead, and casting out devils, and the like; all which were for the confirmation of the Gospel preached by them: a sign, wonder, or miracle, for these signify the same thing, is a marvellous work done before men, by the power of God, to confirm a divine truth; God is the sole author of miracles; and they were done in the first ages of Christianity, when they were necessary, to give evidence of the truth of it, and to establish men in it; and these were various, as before observed: and gifts of the Holy Ghost; such as besides gifts of healing and working miracles, gifts of foretelling things to come, discerning of spirits, speaking with divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues, Co1 12:8 according to his own will; either according to the will of God, who bore testimony by these miracles and gifts; or according to the will of the Holy Spirit, who distributed them to men severally as he pleased, Co1 12:11.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:3 So what makes us think we can escape? Here the author presses the full force of the danger of turning away from Christ and his salvation. There is no escape from punishment for those who walk away, and the punishment will be of the greatest severity (cp. 6:4-12; 10:26-31; 12:29; Rom 2:5; 1 Thes 2:16). • Salvation refers to God’s acts on behalf of his people. For example, God saved his people through the exodus from Egypt (Deut 26:5-9). In the New Testament, salvation primarily refers to Christ’s work of rescuing people from the penalty of sin and giving them new life by his sacrificial death on the cross (Heb 5:9-10). This salvation was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself (e.g., Matt 4:17; 9:35; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:1-5). He then delivered (or validated) the message through those who heard him speak (e.g., Mark 6:12; Acts 2:38; 3:19-20).