What does Hebrews 2:4 mean?

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Hebrews 2:4

Explanation

The verse Hebrews 2:4 speaks to the authenticity and divine origin of the message delivered by Jesus Christ and his apostles. In this verse, “God also bearing them witness” indicates that God supported the messengers to validate that their teachings were from Him. He did this through various extraordinary means: “both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost.” These signs, wonders, and miracles were supernatural events that transcended natural laws and were designed to capture attention and authenticate the divine origin of their message. “Gifts of the Holy Ghost” refers to the spiritual gifts bestowed upon believers, such as prophecy, healing, speaking in tongues, etc. The phrase “according to his own will?” emphasizes that these events and gifts were not random or haphazard but happened according to God’s sovereign and purposeful plan.

Historical Context

Hebrews is a New Testament book that was most likely written for Jewish Christians before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The historical context is one where the early Christian community faced persecution and doubt. The believers, many of whom were Jewish converts, often struggled with the transition from the Mosaic Law to the new covenant of grace through Jesus Christ. The letter aimed to demonstrate the superiority of Christ over the old Jewish system and to encourage its recipients to remain steadfast in their faith. In this era, there was a need for validating the apostolic message as true, and such validation often came through miracles and the workings of the Holy Spirit.

Theological Insights

There are various theological viewpoints on this verse. From a traditional Christian perspective, this verse can be seen as a testament to the Trinitarian belief in the cooperation between God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It also underlines the concept that miracles and divine interventions serve to confirm the truth of the Christian message.

Some cessationists, who believe that the miraculous gifts ceased with the apostolic age, may view this verse as specific to that foundational period of the church, not expecting such miracles to occur today. On the other hand, continuationists argue that this verse supports the idea that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available and active throughout all ages of the church.

Practical Applications

Hebrews 2:4 can encourage believers to trust in the divine backing of the gospel message and to be open to the moving of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It can also motivate Christians to seek a deeper understanding of spiritual gifts and to use them responsibly and humbly for the edification of the church. Beyond that, it serves as a reminder that faith does not rest solely on human wisdom but is substantiated by the power of God.

Cross-References

• Acts 2:22: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”
• 1 Corinthians 12:4-11: “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
• Romans 15:19: “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”
• Mark 16:20: “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”
• 1 Thessalonians 1:5: “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

Language Study

In the original Greek text, several key words stand out:

• “Witness” (συμμαρτυροῦντος – symmarturountos) — This term implies a joint testimony or confirmation.
• “Signs” (σημεῖα – semeia) — These are events that convey a message or signify something beyond themselves.
• “Wonders” (τέρασιν – terasin) — This refers to something astonishing or amazing.
• “Miracles” (δυνάμεσιν – dynameis) — The word suggests acts of power that are supernatural.
• “Gifts” (μερισμοῖς – merismois) — Refers to distributions, implying the various gifts of the Holy Spirit. These terms collectively point to the extraordinary measures through which God communicated His approval of the message of salvation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of other ancient religions, miracles and divine signs were often viewed as indications of a deity’s power and favor, such as the miracles attributed to gods in Greek or Egyptian mythology. Compared to these, the miracles in the Christian tradition were tied directly to the revelation and truth claims about God’s nature and his plan for salvation, not just raw demonstrations of divine power.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific standpoint, the acceptance of miracles can be challenging because they cannot be tested or replicated under controlled conditions. Miracles, by definition, are extraordinary and do not follow the laws of nature as understood by science. Some scientists and philosophers maintain a naturalistic worldview and would interpret biblical accounts of miracles metaphorically or as the product of their historical and cultural context.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and commentators provide different insights into this verse:

• Matthew Henry’s Commentary emphasizes the importance of miracles in confirming the message of the gospel during its early proclamation.
• The Expositor’s Bible Commentary suggests that these signs and miracles are tokens of God’s testimony, which reinforce the spoken word of the apostles.
• The New Bible Commentary explains that the purpose of the signs and miracles was to confirm the new revelation in Christ, part of God’s redemptive history rather than independent acts of wonder.

These commentaries agree that Hebrews 2:4 speaks to the divine validation of the gospel message through supernatural means.