Hebrews 2:3

Hebrews 2:3

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

a. NLT: So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?

b. NIV: How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

c. YLT: How shall we escape, having neglected so great salvation? which a beginning receiving -- to be spoken through the Lord -- by those having heard was confirmed to us,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: How shall we escape [appropriate retribution] if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation [as is now offered to us, letting it drift past us forever]? For it was declared at first by the Lord [Himself], and it was confirmed to us and proved to be real and genuine by those who personally heard [Him speak].

e. Worrell Translation: How shall we escape, having neglected so great salvation; which indeed, having at first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard.

f. Wuest Translation: How is it possible for us to escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which salvation is of such a character as to have begun to be spoken at the first by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.

1. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation…”

a. How [Strong: 4459 pos poce adverb from the base of 4226; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way? (sometimes the question is indirect, how?); also as exclamation, how much!:--how, after (by) what manner (means), that. (Occasionally unexpressed in English).]

b. [shall] we [Strong: 2249 hemeis hay-mice' nominative plural of 1473; we (only used when emphatic):--us, we (ourselves).]

c. escape [Strong: 1628  ekpheugo ek-fyoo'-go from 1537 and 5343; to flee out:--escape, flee.] [Vine: To flee out of a place.]

d. neglect [Strong: 272 ameleo am-el-eh'-o from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3199; to be careless of:--make light of, neglect, be negligent, no regard.] [Zodhiates: a-without; melei-to show concern, to care) To show no concern. In Matthew 22:5, “made light of”; 2 Peter 1:12, “be negligent”; Hebrews 8:9, “regarded them not”; In Jeremiah 4:17, the Septuagint, “rebellious”.]

1). The instances of how the Greek word ameleo is translated in other verses sheds much light on it. Could it mean that if we fail to take advantage of God’s full meaning of salvation we may be sinning against God? Yes!

a). Matthew 22:4, 5 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

b). 2 Peter 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

c). Hebrews 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

d). Jeremiah 4:17 As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.

(1) We must not “make light of”, “be negligent”, nor be “rebellious” toward the great salvation, this great Covenant.

e. so great [Strong: 5082 telikoutos tay-lik-oo'-tos, or feminine telikaute tay-lik-ow'-tay from a compound of 3588 with 2245 and 3778; such as this, i.e. (in (figurative) magnitude) so vast:--so great, so mighty.]

f. salvation [Strong: 4991 soteria, so-tay-ree'-ah; feminine of a derivative of 4990 as (properly, abstract) noun; rescue or safety (physically or morally):--deliver, health, salvation, save, saving.] [Thayer: deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation, deliverance from the molestation of enemies, in an ethical sense, that which concludes to the soul's safety or salvation, of Messianic salvation, salvation as the present possession of all true Christians, future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.] [Scofield Reference Bible: “The Hebrew and Greek words for salvation imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing and soundness. Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification.”]

1). There is no escape if we neglect so great salvation. This great salvation is received through believing.

a). Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

b). Mark 9:23 Jesus saith unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

(1) Believing, having faith in the message of the gospel brings the power of God to bear on any situation in our lives.

(2) As we shall see when we combine Hebrews 2:3 & 4, what this great salvation consisted of was preached by Jesus, by them that heard Him and was backed up by God. This great salvation consists of being born again, having a relationship with God but also includes signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost.

2). Institute Of Creation Research Daily Devotional 8/18/14 One of the greatest words of the Bible is “salvation,” and one could expound its glories at length. Our salvation is so costly that its price was nothing less than the shed blood of the Son of God. “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18, 19). Nevertheless, there are only three verses in the New Testament in which the word is preceded by an adjective. These three descriptive terms are, therefore, very significant. The first of these is the one in our text—“so great” salvation. The adjective here is used only one other time in the New Testament, where it is translated “so mighty” (Revelation 16:18), describing a cataclysm so great that every island and mountain will disappear from the earth! Not only is our salvation infinitely costly, but unlike everything else in our lives, it is unending: “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). Salvation is not merely the impartation of a better life in this life; it is everlasting life in the future life, in the presence of its divine “author” (or “cause”). The third adjective is quite different. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation” (Jude 3). Our salvation is also common! This same word is applied by Paul to “the common faith” (Titus 1:4). Basically, it means “ordinary.” Thus, despite the infinite and eternal values associated with our great salvation, it is also very common and ordinary! Salvation is for anyone, and whosoever will may come! HMM

2. “…which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord…”

a. which [Strong: 3748  hostis hos'-tis, including the feminine hetis hay'-tis, and the neuter ho,ti hot'-ee from 3739 and 5100; which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same:--X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever).]

b. at the first [Strong: 746 arche ar-khay' from 756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank):--beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate)], magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.]

c. began [Strong: 2983 lambano lam-ban'-o a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas 1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while 138 is more violent, to seize or remove)):--accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).]

d. to be spoken [Strong: 2980 laleo lal-eh'-o a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.]

e. by [Strong: 1223 dia dee-ah' a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.]

f. the Lord [Strong: 2962 kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

1). There are numerous examples in Scripture of Jesus speaking of this “great salvation”.

a). Healing: Matthew 8:5-13; Matthew 9:20-22.

b). Miracles: Matthew 14:25-33; Matthew 8:23-27.

c). Casting out devils: Matthew 15:21-28; Matthew 17:14-21.

3. “…and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. was confirmed [Strong: 950  bebaioo beb-ah-yo'-o from 949; to stabilitate (figuratively):--confirm, (e-) stablish.] [Zodhiates: To make firm or reliable so as to warrant security and inspire confidence, to strengthen; make true, fulfill.]

c. unto [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

d. us [Strong: 2248 hemas hay-mas' accusative case plural of 1473; us:--our, us, we.]

e. by [Strong: 5259 hupo hoop-o' a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.]

f. that heard [him] [Strong: 191akouo ak-oo'-o a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

1). Luke 1:1, 2 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

2). Acts 1:1-3 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to do and teach,

1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto those apostles whom he had chosen;

1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: