I N D E X
62
The great salvation which began to be spoken by the Lord was as surely confirmed as was the first covenant. It
will be remembered that the word `stedfast' in verse 2 is but another grammatical form of the word `confirm'. The
first Covenant was confirmed in many ways, both Moses and those who followed after receiving abundant testimony
from God that their ministry was from Him. The second confirmation spoken of is `unto us by them that heard
Him'. The nature of this confirmation must now be considered.
First we observe that in giving the special blessing to Abraham, as related in Hebrews 6, God `interposed with an
oath'. This is spoken of as `an oath of confirmation' (bebaiosis).
The confirmation of the Lord's words by the apostle is explained in 2:4; `God also co-attesting, both with signs
and wonders and with divers miracles and distributions of holy spirit, according to His will'. `God hath spoken'
(1:1) and whoever the mouthpiece may have been, responsibility to hear follows. Yet an increased responsibility
comes with the fact that God hath at last spoken unto us in the person of the Son. God `co-attesting' must make
each miracle something more than a mere `wonder'. As a translation of sunepimartureo, Dr. E.W. Bullinger's
concordance gives:'To bear conjoint additional decided witness, to bear further or emphatic witness with'
It may be remembered how repeatedly the apostles are called witnesses' during the Acts:'ye shall be witnesses
unto Me' (Acts 1:8), but notice well what goes before, `but ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come
upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me'. `Ye shall receive' must come before `Ye shall be'. Acts 1:22; 2:32;
3:15; 5:32; 13:31, and 26:16 should be consulted. Notice 5:32, `and we are His witnesses of these things; and so is
also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him'.
This is a Scriptural exposition of the word `co-attesting'. So also Acts 14:3, `Long time therefore abode they
speaking boldly in the Lord, Who testified unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by
their hands. ` So again Acts 15:8:
`And God ... bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost'. Looking at the epistle to the Hebrews we see that
God testified to Christ (1) that He liveth (2) that He is a Priest for the age after the order of Melchisedec (Heb.
7:8,17). The elders were attested; Abel obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying over his gifts. Enoch
received this testimony that he pleased God; and so it was with Noah, Abraham and the rest, `these all, having been
attested by means of faith' (Heb. 11:2,4,5,39). In a special manner God co-attested the word of the Lord through the
apostles. The closing verses of Mark's Gospel seem to refer to Hebrews 2:3,4:
`And these signs shall follow them that believe; In MY name shall they cast out devils (demons); they shall
speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was
received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the
Lord working with them (co-operating), and CONFIRMING the word with SIGNS following' (Mark 16:17-20).
The parallel with Hebrews 2 is too obvious to justify any detailed comparison, but a word with regard to the
character of these confirmatory miracles may be of service.
(1) They were `signs following', not mere prodigies, or marvels, but signs, mighty acts that signified something.
(2) They were `the powers of the coming age' (Heb. 6). Into this present evil age of demonic control comes the
power of that age when such influences will be cast out.
Into this veritable Babel comes the power of that age with its new tongues; in that age the serpent will no longer
tempt and destroy; in that age deadly things shall do no hurt; in that age sickness shall flee away.
As an illustration of the miracle being a `sign', see the healing of the lame man by Peter, and his own application
of it to the salvation of the nation (Acts 3 and 4). To the Corinthians, among whom miraculous gifts abounded, the
apostle wrote:
`In every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony (marlurion)
of Christ was confirmed (bebaioo) in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming (revelation)
of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm (bebaioo) you unto the end' (1 Cor. 1:5-8).