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 the particular book. In this article, we will examine the Letter to the Hebrews, 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.
Hebrews 1:6 – “When God brings his firstborn into the world” – 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, 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
Hebrews 1:6 – “Again, when he presents his firstborn to the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s pay him homage'”—REB
Hebrews 1:6 – “he says, ‘And let all God’s angels bow before him [Greek, proskyneo]'” – 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).
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.
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.” – God speaks to Jesus, gives him the #2 position in the universe, but no equality.
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.’ Thus, there is no indication that the holy Spirit is a person.
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?
Hebrews 2:10 – “God, for whom and through whom everything exists.” – Sounds like God is Almighty, doesn’t it? “Should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.” – God made Jesus perfect. “Pioneer” is 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.
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 Father’s children are given to the Son to be his brothers and sisters. Obviously, 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.
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 obviously 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 Father and the Son is made abundantly clear.
Hebrews 3:1 – “Jesus . . . our apostle and high priest”. Apostle and high priest do not describe God. “Apostle” means “one who is sent.” Jesus said that no “messenger” is “greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:17).
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 Father to lead his people.
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,” not his own house, with God 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 on Atonement Day passed from the sight of the people into the Most Holy, Jesus passed from the sight of his disciples, ascending into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). “Jesus, the Son of God.” – Not God the Son, a term never used in the Bible..
Hebrews 4:15 – “We . . . have a high priest=&4=& – James 1:13 says God cannot be tempted, thus Jesus cannot 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. “God said to him, ‘You are my Son.'” Could the difference between God and Jesus, Father and Son, be any clearer?
Hebrews 5:6 – “You are a priest =&5=& Almighty God appoints Jesus as priest.
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 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.
Hebrews 5:8 – “Son though he was, he learned obedience” – If Jesus was God, he would know all things. 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 suffered.
Hebrews 5:9 – “Once made perfect” – this statement could not, and has not, ever been made about God.
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 7:1-3 – “Melchizedek . . . priest of God Most High . . . resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever” – This “priest of God Most High,” does not resemble God, but “the Son of God.”
Hebrews 7:17 – “It is declared: ‘You are a =&6=& Who declared this? Yahweh did. Who was he 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 God’s “oath” that made Jesus a priest.
Hebrews 7:22 – “The very fact that it occurred with the swearing of an oath makes the covenant of which Jesus is the guarantee all the greater” (NJB) – Jesus is God’s guarantee of a better covenant.
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 – Jesus and God are separate, and not equal. Jesus is the intercessor to plead people’s case with God.
Hebrews 7:28 – “The oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever” – Whose “oath”? – God’s! — “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”.
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, 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. 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 he going through? – To get to 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 – “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.
Hebrews 9:14 – “Christ . . . offered himself unblemished to God . . . so that we may serve the living God” – The offerer of a sacrifice is always inferior to and subservient to the God he offers it to.
Hebrews 9:15 – “Christ is the mediator of a new covenant” – The go-between humans and God. Obviously, Christ is separate and distinct from both. “He has died as a ransom”. Since “God . . . will never die” (Habakkuk 1:12), Jesus Christ cannot be Almighty God.
Hebrews 9:24 – “Christ . . . entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence”. – Christ goes to heaven to appear before God on behalf of Christians. Both God and Christ have their distinctive roles to play.
Hebrews 9:28 – “Christ was sacrificed once” – By whom? – Obviously, 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.
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, meaning God is superior to Christ. The expression, “My God,” indicates that Jesus has a God over him, namely, his Father, a powerful clue the Trinity is not 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).
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 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=&