Hebrews 2:3-4

Hebrews 2:3-4

[3] How  escape,  if we neglect  so great  salvation;  which  at the first  began  to be spoken  by  the Lord,  and was confirmed  unto  by  them that heard  [4] 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? 

What does Hebrews 2:3-4 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus Christ spoke of salvation during His earthly ministry (e.g, Matthew 4:17; Matthew 19:28; Luke 12:31-32; Luke 22:29-30). The apostles taught the same truth and by doing so confirmed His word. This is the gospel, in its widest meaning.
"By speaking of "the hearers" (ton akousanton), all interest is concentrated on the message, not the office, of those who had brought the word of redemption to the community ..." [1]
God testified to His approval of Christ"s preaching and the apostles" preaching about Christ by providing authenticating miracles that showed God was with them (cf. Acts 2:43; Acts 4:30; Acts 5:12; Acts 6:8; Acts 8:6; Acts 8:13; Acts 14:3; Acts 15:12; 2 Corinthians 12:12). "Signs" emphasizes that the miracles signify something. "Wonders" emphasizes the reaction of awe that the miracles produced in those who observed them. "Miracles" emphasizes their supernatural origin and "gifts" the graciousness of God in providing them. The writer intended that reference to these miracles would bolster the readers" confidence in the gospel that they had received.
This statement does not force us to date the epistle after the apostles had died.
"It is too much to read into this verse that the writer and his readers belonged to a second generation of Christians ..., though Hebrews 5:12 shows that they were not new converts ..." [2]
The original readers seem to have been people who had heard the apostles" preaching and had observed the miracles that accompanied that preaching. Guthrie believed the writer had not heard Jesus firsthand. [3] This verse does not say that the signs and wonders had already ceased. They may have, but this statement does not say that. The prediction that they would cease occurs in 1 Corinthians 13:8. Ephesians 2:20 implies the temporary duration of apostolic ministry that included signs and wonders. [4]
"Hebrews" references to the Holy Spirit are generally incidental; much of the space occupied in Paul"s theology by the Spirit is filled in Hebrews by the exalted Christ." [5]
I think signs and wonders are less common in developed countries today because most of these countries have the complete Word of God. God now typically validates the gospel through His Word (cf. Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:1-13). Occasionally we hear reports of miracles that validate the gospel, but they are usually in places where the Word of God is not as available.
This is the first of five warnings in Hebrews (cf. Hebrews 3:1 to Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 5:11 to Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-29). It is the shortest and mildest one. These five warnings deal with drifting from the gospel, disbelieving the gospel, dullness toward the gospel, despising the gospel, and defying the gospel.
"The warning of Hebrews 2:1-5 is linked by dia touto ("for this reason") with the entire argument of Hebrews 1. Because of the Son"s superiority to angels ( Hebrews 1:1-5), the angels" worship of and service to Him at His coming ( Hebrews 1:6-7), His future rule and sharing of joy with His companions ( Hebrews 1:8-9), and His future subjugation of His enemies ( Hebrews 1:10-14), the readers would do well to heed these eschatological teachings. Neglect of this eschatological salvation (cf. Hebrews 1:4; Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 2:5) may result in individual temporal discipline similar to that experienced under the Old Covenant ( Hebrews 2:2). The "salvation" of Hebrews 2:3 is the same as that in Hebrews 1:4. Hebrews 2:5 clarifies that the soteria under discussion is eschatological." [6]
"One of the greatest dangers of the Christian life is losing interest in what is familiar ( Hebrews 8:9; Matthew 22:5). The entire Epistle lays stress on steadfastness at almost every stage, and this is one of the essential marks of the true, growing, deepening Christian life ( Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 4:2; Hebrews 4:12-13; Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 6:19; Hebrews 10:26; Hebrews 12:27-28; Hebrews 13:8)." [7]
". . . the doctrines the epistle presents, the warnings it delivers, and the exhortations it gives all were intended to prevent regression and to encourage continuous dynamic development toward spiritual maturity." [8]