Distributions of the Holy Spirit: Hebrews 2:2-4

In the second chapter of the letter to the Hebrews, the author gives evidence as to how we can know that the message being preached is truly from God. He writes, “For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will” (Hebrews 2:2-4 NASB). We know the Gospel is true, not only because it is contained within the canon of scriptures, but we know it is true because God himself testifies of its truth. Even today, God is testifying to his word through signs, wonders, miracles, and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit. All over the World, God is moving in miraculous power. Part of the reason for these miracles is to give continued evidence to the truth of his word.

One thing that is of interest in the original Greek text is the phrase, “gifts of the Holy Spirit.” The Greek word translated here as “gifts” is used only twice in the New Testament and only by this author. While it can mean divisions, here, it should more accurately be translated as “distributions.” What is important to see is that what we receive is not just some gift from the Holy Spirit. Rather it is a distribution of the Holy Spirit himself. Miracles, signs, and wonders work through us, not because of some gift that resides within us, but because the Holy Spirit himself lives within us! Paul puts it this way, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NASB). The reason we can manifest the Holy Spirit is that he lives within us. Because he lives in us, we can manifest him in various ways. Paul goes on to say, “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of  miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the  distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:8-11 NASB). As we share the Gospel with people around us, God wants us to be aware of the indwelling of his Holy Spirit within us and to be willing to that same Holy Spirit manifest his presence and power through us. We not only have a message to share, we also have the presence and power of God to make known to the world around us and to give evidence, or testimony, to his word.

David Robison