The reason to celebrate “the Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20 NIV) is because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, commanded that his disciples should. Notice:
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you'”—Luke 22:19,20 NIV
The Bible says there is only ‘one mediator between humans and God.’ Who, or what, is that?
“This, then is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven . . . “—Matthew 6:9 NIV.
“No one comes to the Father except through me”—John 14:6
“There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus”—1 Timothy 2:5 NIV
While they all give ‘lip service’ (Mark 7:6-13) to the principles that the scriptures above express, Christian denominations have differing views on the exactly how the mediatorial relationship between them and God operates. So, yes, they all “say” that Jesus is the mediator, but in actual practice things are not exactly the way the Bible says they should be. For example, Catholics teach that Christians must go through their priesthood and their hierarchy, including their Pope, to have a relationship with God. Others teach that one can only have a relationship with God through their particular denomination, organization, or church. Some have even thought, or taught that a relationship with God was only possible through one particular pastor. Trinitarians often simply ignore this vital relationship. Let’s make clear what the scriptures say about this:
“The true worshippers will worship the Father”—John 4:23
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved”—John 10:8 NIV.
The Father of Jesus, Almighty God, is the only one who should be worshipped, according to the scriptures. But we must go through his Son, Jesus Christ, to have this relationship. Why?
“Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here”—Hebrews 9:11 NIV
Do people have approach to God only through a clergy class, priests, an organization, a certain denomination, or is approach to God directly through Jesus Christ, and him alone? What is the priesthood of the believer?
“We do not write you anything you cannot read or understand”—2 Corinthians 1:13 NIV
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved . . . who correctly handles the word of truth”—2 Timothy 2:15 NIV
In our series about what is stated concerning God the Father, his Son Jesus, and the holy Spirit in the various books of the New Testament, we examine all the relevant scriptures of each particular book. In this article, we will examine the Letter to the Hebrews, and discover powerful testimony about whether or not the doctrine of the Trinity is in Hebrews.
All quotes from NIV, unless noted otherwise.
Hebrews 1:1,2 – “In the past God spoke through our ancestors the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoke to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe”. “God” is the subject of this sentence. God has now spoken to people by using his Son, similar to the fact that he formerly spoke by others such as prophets. – Who is the superior one, the one who is in control? Obviously God! Certainly not Jesus. No equality, either!
Hebrews 1:3 – “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being . . . After he had made purification for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” – Jesus radiates God’s glory and perfectly represents his Father. A mirror image is not the person, obviously. Statements like Hebrews 1:3 are never made about the Father perfectly resembling the Son, which would be true if the Trinity was in Hebrews. This metaphor proves there is no equality of God and Jesus. Jesus “made purification for our sins” by dying, which is something that God cannot do (Habakkuk 1:12; 1 Timothy 1:17). He sits “at the right =&0=&, that is, God, so he cannot be God.
Hebrews 1:5 – “To which one of the angels did God ever say ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father?'” – Clearly a Father-Son relationship – separate and distinct individuals. But notice the key point, “God” is identified as the “Father”, not the Son!
Hebrews 1:6 – “When God brings his firstborn into the world” – We see here that “God” is someone other than the “firstborn”, Jesus. “God”, who is superior, brings Jesus, “his firstborn”, into the world – Separate and distinct; with Jesus being inferior. “Firstborn,” indicates he had a beginning to his life, which indicates he was created, had an “origin” (Micah 5:2 NRSV), and is a proof the Trinity is not in Hebrews.
Hebrews 1:6 – “Again, when he brings his First-born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God pay him homage [Greek, proskyneo]” (NJB). Proskyneo basically means “to bow down to”, “do homage to”, and can include worship, but doesn’t intrinsically mean worship. Due to Trinitarian bias, many translations render proskyneo as “worship” here, but Jesus said, “You will worship the Father” (John 4:21).
Hebrews 1:6 – “Again, when he presents his firstborn to the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s pay him homage'” (REB). “he says, ‘And let all God’s angels bow before [Greek, proskyneo] him'” (AAT). Jesus is given great honor, but not worship. In fact, Jesus himself said that “the true worshippers will worship the Father” (John 4:24), so worship is not the accurate rendering of proskyneo here.
Hebrews 1:8 – “About the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever'”. This is quoted from Psalm 45:6, which refers to the Israelite king as “God”. The footnote on this verse in the NAB (Psalm 45:7) explains: “O God: the king, in courtly language, is called ‘god’, i. e., more than human, representing God to the people”. Like the Israelite king, Jesus is called “god”, due to the fact that he represents God to the people.=&1=&Hebrews 1:8 (NRSV margin; AAT). Separate and distinct, with God superior. Quoted from Psalm 45:6 – “God has enthroned you for all eternity” (Psalm 45:6 REB), predicts the Son of God, Jesus Christ as God’s king upon God’s throne. “Your throne is from God forever and ever” – Psalm 45:6 NJB
Hebrews 1:9 – “God, your God, has set you above your companions.” – God, the controller, made Jesus the focal point, but not equal. Jesus has “God” over him, as his “God”, which eliminates Jesus from being “God”.
Hebrews 1:8,10-12 NRSV – “But, of the Son he says . . . ‘In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the =&2=&This quote from Psalm 102:25-27 is applied to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, so it is claimed by Trinitarians that this makes Jesus God. However, since it is stated just a few verses earlier that it was “the Son” “through whom he [God] created the universe” (1:3 NAB), this could not be the case. Since, “it was through [the Son] God created everything” (Colossians 1:15,16 NLT), Jesus could be said to have “founded the earth, and the heavens.”
Hebrews 1:13 – “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” – In this quote from Psalm 110:1, God speaks to Jesus, and gives him the #2 position in the universe, but no equality. We notice that “Yahweh declared to my Lord” (NJB). This unequivocal declaration could only be made by Almighty God, who has no equal, not even Jesus.
Hebrews 2:4 – “God added his testimony by signs, wonders, various acts of power, and distribution of the gifts of the holy Spirit, according to his will” (NAB). Notice that God operates through the holy Spirit, and ‘distributes the gifts of the holy Spirit according to his will.’ A person cannot be ‘distributed.’ Thus, the scriptures make clear that the holy Spirit is not a person. Without the holy Spirit being a person, the Trinity doctrine is not in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 2:9 – “We do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Since “=&3=&is “my holy God, who never dies” (Habakkuk 1:12 NJB), Jesus cannot be “Yahweh”. Also, God has never been less than anyone else, so Jesus cannot be God.
Questions on Hebrews 2:9 – Who made Jesus lower than angels? Who crowned Jesus? Who brought Jesus back to life? Why does Jesus taste death for everyone? What role did God the Father play? The answers to these questions uncover the truth that the Trinity is not in Hebrews.
Hebrews 2:10 – “God, for whom and through whom everything exists.” (NAB). – Sounds like God is Almighty, doesn’t it? “Should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.” (Hebrews 2:10 NIV)– God made Jesus perfect. God is not a “pioneer”. “Pioneer” refers to Jesus, not God.
Hebrews 2:11 – “Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters” – Jesus has brothers and sisters (Matthew 25:40), God has sons and daughters (Galatians 3:26), but does not have brothers and sisters. This means that Jesus cannot be God.
Hebrews 2:12 – “My brothers and sisters,” – Jesus says it again, as the book quotes Psalm 22:22, thus emphasizing the point above.
Hebrews 2:13 – Quoting from Isaiah 8:18 – “I, and the children God has given me.” – The God the Father’s children are given to the Son to be his brothers and sisters. Obviously, the God the Father is in control.
Hebrews 2:14 – “Because God’s children are human beings… the Son also became flesh and blood” (NLT) – God was in heaven; Jesus was on earth. Since “God is not a human being” (Numbers 23:19 NAB), the Son could not be God. Without Jesus, the Son of God, being God, the Trinity is not in Hebrews.
Hebrews 2:17 – “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people”. Who made him like them? – Obviously, God! Notice that Jesus was “fully human in every way“. He “became flesh” (John 1:14). However, “God is spirit” (John 4:24). “God is not a man” (Numbers 23:19). The Trinitarian “God-man” is proven to be unscriptural and does not exist. “That he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God.” – Obviously, high priest Jesus, who is serving God, cannot also be God.
Hebrews 2:18 – “He . . . suffered when he was tempted”. James 1:13 says “God cannot be tempted,” so the difference between the God the Father and Jesus, the Son of God is made abundantly clear.
Hebrews 3:1 – “Jesus . . . our apostle and high priest”. Apostle and high priest do not describe God. Yahweh God uses apostles and high priests represent God to the people. “Apostle” means “one who is sent.” Jesus is God’s “servant” (Acts 3:13,26; 4:30).
Hebrews 3:2 – “He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful”. – The greater (God) appoints the lesser (Jesus). “Just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.” – Jesus was like Moses, faithful. Both Moses and Jesus were sent by the God the Father to lead his people, to be ‘over his house’. Just as Moses was not equal to God, Jesus is not equal to God.
This is similar to Pharaoh and Joseph. “You shall be in charge of my household, and all my people will obey your command. Only in respect to the throne will I outrank you” (Genesis 41:40 NAB). Without equality, the Trinity doctrine collapses.
Hebrews 3:5,6 – “Moses was ‘faithful in all his house’ as a ‘servant’ to testify to what would be spoken, but Christ was faithful as a son placed over his [God’s] house” (NAB) – Moses was faithful as God’s ‘servant God’s house,’ but ‘Jesus was faithful as God’s Son.’ Fathers and Sons are entirely different individuals. Jesus is “placed over God’s house,” by God, and not over his (Jesus”) own house, with God the one doing the placing, which is additional proof that Jesus is not Almighty God.
Hebrews 3:7 – “Therefore, as the holy Spirit says, ‘Oh, that today you would hear his voice'” (NAB). Trinitarians sometimes use this verse to ‘prove’ the holy Spirit is a person, in support of the Trinity doctrine. However, Hebrews 4:4-7 indicates that God spoke through David, the writer of Psalm 95, which is quoted in Hebrews 3:7-11. Saying, “the holy Spirit says,” is simply an indiction that David, the writer Psalm 95, was “inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). As David himself said, “the spirit of Yahweh speaks through me” (2 Samuel 23:2 NJB). Thus, Hebrews 3:7 gives no evidence of anything about the Trinity doctrine.
Hebrews 4:14 – “Since we have a great high high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess”. – “We have a great high priest” – Jesus, not God – “who has ascended into heaven,” – As the Aaronic high priest did on Atonement Day, passing from the sight of the people into the Most Holy, Jesus the superior Melchezedekian High Priest, passed from the sight of his disciples, ascending into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). “Jesus, the Son of God.” – Not the Trinitarian “God the Son”, a term never used in the Bible..
Hebrews 4:15 – “We . . . have a high priest=&4=& – Jesus was “tempted” because he was “fully human in every way” (Hebrews 2:17 NIV). But “God is not human” (Numbers 23:19). Also, since James 1:13 says, “God cannot be tempted”, there is no way that Jesus can be God.
Hebrews 5:5 – “Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father'” – Jesus was appointed by his Father, “Yahweh”, as foretold in Psalm 2:7 (NJB) as “Son” in a special sense. “God said to him, ‘You are my Son.'” Could the difference between God and Jesus, Father and Son, be any clearer? “It is indisputable that a blessing is given by a superior to an inferior” (Hebrews 7:7 NJB). Thus, there is no equality between the Father and his Son, Jesus.
Hebrews 5:6 – “You are a priest =&5=& Almighty God Yahweh, as foretold in Psalm 110:4, appointed Jesus as priest. “To show that Jesus has been called by God to his role as priest” (NAB note). This clearly shows that Jesus is not God. The superior appoints the lessor, which means that Almighty God the Father, Yahweh is greater than his Son, Jesus. “Unquestionably, a lesser person is blessed by a greater” (Hebrews 7:7 NAB). Without equality, the Trinity doctrine collapses.
Hebrews 5:7 – “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered prayers to and petitions with fervent cries and tears”. To whom? . . . Himself? . . . If Jesus was/is God, why would he need to pray to someone else for help? . . . “to the one who could save him from death” – If Jesus was God, then he could save himself. He would not be dependent on anyone else. This verse demonstrates his complete dependence on his Father, and the utter lack of scriptural support for “equality” of the Trinity doctrine . . . “and he was heard for his reverent submission” – If Jesus was equal to his Father, there would be no need for “his reverent submission.” Besides that, there is no place where the Bible says God the Father reverently submits to Jesus. The submission is entirely one way: Jesus to God the Father. The lesser subjects himself to the greater.
Hebrews 5:8 – “Son though he was, he learned obedience” – If Jesus was God, he would know everything. There would be nothing else for him to ‘learn.’ 1 John 3:20 says: “God . . . knows everything”. Since Jesus doesn’t, the difference is clear, . . . “from what he suffered” – Jesus suffered on earth, God never was on earth, nor has he ever suffered, because he’s never been “human” (Number 23:19 NIV).
Hebrews 5:9 – “Once made perfect” – This statement could not, and has not, ever been made about God, since God has always been “perfect” (Job 36:4).
Hebrews 5:10 – “Was designated by God to be high priest” – The superior, God, does the designating, and this is even after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Hebrews 6:19-20 – “The inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf” – In this word picture, Jesus, like the high priest of ancient Israel, on the annual Day of Atonement, enters the Most Holy of the spiritual temple into God’s presence. There is a clear distinction between the high priest and God, with God as the “superior” (Hebrews 7:7). Since Jesus ‘enters into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain’ where God is, the word picture makes it clear that Jesus is not God.
Hebrews 7:1-3 – “Melchizedek . . . priest of God Most High . . . resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever” – This “priest of God Most High,” Melchizedek, does not resemble God, but “the Son of God,” which h is fitting because the priest represents God to the people. Jesus said he was God the Father’s “representative” (John 5:43 WNT).
Hebrews 7:7 – “Without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater”. “It is beyond dispute, the inferior is blessed by the superior” NRSV). – Just as Jesus’ priesthood is superior to Melchizedek’s priesthood, this principle also applies to Yahweh God the Father as the greater than Jesus, because Yahweh installed Jesus as eternal high priest.
Hebrews 7:17 – “It is declared: ‘You are a =&6=& Who declared this? Yahweh did, in this quote from Psalm 110:1.. Who was Yahweh speaking to? . . . Himself? . . . No! . . . To Jesus.
Hebrews 7:21 – “He became a priest with an oath when God said to him . . . “ – Similar to above. It was Yahweh God’s “oath” as “superior” (Hebrews 7:7) that made Jesus a priest.
Hebrews 7:22 – “Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant” (NRSV) – Jesus is God’s guarantee of a better covenant. “God . . . guaranteed it with an oath” (Hebrews 6:17 NRSV). Yahweh God the Father is the guarantor, because he made the covenant. Thus, a real distinction is made between Yahweh God and Jesus, with God being “greater than” Jesus (John 14:28)..
Hebrews 7:24-25 – “Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” – People come to God through Jesus’ permanent priesthood, to be saved. Clear relationship is established – Jesus and God are separate, and not equal. Jesus is the intercessor, “the mediator” (Hebrews 9:15) to plead people’s case with Almighty God Yahweh, the Father.
Hebrews 7:28 – “The oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever” – Whose “oath”? – God’s! — “God . . . guaranteed it with an oath” (Hebrews 6:17 NRSV). He “appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.” – the eternally perfect God appointed the resurrected Jesus, the lesser one, and made him perfect eternally. If Jesus was Almighty God, he would not have to be “made perfect”, which is yet another powerful reason why the Trinity is not in Hebrews.
Hebrews 8:1 – “We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven” – Jesus, the “high priest”, sat down at the right hand of God, the “Majesty”. Clear distinction here between Jesus and God, and no equality.
Hebrews 8:2 – “who serves in the sanctuary” – Jesus serves both God and humans as high priest, so he can’t either of the parties he serves . . . “the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by mere human beings” – God set up the place where Jesus serves. The lesser “serves” the superior!
Hebrews 8:6 – “The ministry Jesus has received . . . the covenant of which he is mediator” – Received from whom? – God, the superior. – “the covenant of which he is mediator” – Jesus is the mediator, or go-between, between Christians and God. The “mediator”, by definition, cannot be one of the two parties he mediates for. Therefore, the Trinity is logistically impossible, and, in fact, absurd.
Hebrews 9:11 – “When Christ came as mediator” – God never comes as high priest. “He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle” – Why was Christ going ‘through the tabernacle’? – To get to God! This means Jesus cannot be God.
Hebrews 9:12 – “He entered the Most Holy Place” – Jesus entered heaven to be with God “by his own blood” – Jesus :died: and was “resurrected” by God (Acts 2:32) – “obtaining eternal redemption” – Who did he obtain it from? – God. Why did he have to obtain it? – Because, he didn’t have it to give on his own. Almighty God has to grant it. Which, once again, means he’s not God.
Hebrews 9:14 – “Christ . . . offered himself unblemished to God . . . so that we may serve the living God” – The offerer of a sacrifice is always as an inferior, and subservient, to the God one offers it to. Notice, Christ offered his sacrifice to God, which means he’s not God.
Hebrews 9:15 – “Christ is the mediator of a new covenant” – The go-between humans and God. The “mediator,” by definition, cannot be either of the two parties in the covenant. Obviously, Christ is separate, and distinct from, both parties. He cannot be either God or part of the sinful human race. “He has died as a ransom”. Since “God . . . will never die” (Habakkuk 1:12), Jesus Christ cannot be Almighty God, because “Christ died” (1 Corinthians 15:3).
Hebrews 9:24 – “For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf.” (NAB). – Christ goes to heaven to appear “before God” on behalf of Christians. Both God and Christ have their distinctive roles to play. But it is clear that Jesus had to enter heaven to appear “before God”. If Christ was God, he wouldn’t have to go to heaven to appear “before God”.
Hebrews 9:28 – “Christ was sacrificed once” – Sacrificed by whom? – Obviously, by God! “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement” (Romans 3:25 NIV). Once again, the scriptures are very plain that Christ is not God.
Hebrews 10:5 – “When Christ came into the world . . . “ – God did not come into the world, his Son did. – “. . . a body you prepared for me . . . “ – God prepared for, or arranged, things for Jesus to die as a sacrifice for mankind. The superior, God the Father, is the master controller of all, even Jesus.
Hebrews 10:7 – “I said, ‘Here I am . . . I have come to do your will, my God'”. Christ came to do God’s will, not his own will, meaning God is superior to Christ. The expression, “My God,” indicates that Jesus has a God over him, namely, his Father, which is a powerful clue that the Trinity doctrine is not supported in Hebrews.
Hebrews 10:10 – “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” – Christ, not God, was sacrificed, because, “God . . . will never die” (Habakkuk 1:12 NIV).
Hebrews 10:12 – “This one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God” (NAB). Being “at the right hand of God” means Jesus is separate and distinct from, submissive to, and not equal to, God. His sacrificial death also means he cannot be God, because “Yahweh . . . God . . . never dies” (Habakkuk 1:12 NJB).
Hebrews 10:13 – “He waits for his enemies to be made his =&7=&