Hebrews 1.2.
In the New International Version, the book of Hebrews begins like so.
Hebrews 1.1-2 NIV - 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
The English Standard Version translates it similarly.
Hebrews 1.1-2 ESV - 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Other translations also present the similar idea: In the past God spoke through the prophets, but in the present he speaks through his Son.
So the argument goes whenever
I do agree Jesus has the last word on every controversy, disagreement, or discussion among his followers. He’s our Lord, so of course he has final say.
But what this title implies—and what cessationists totally mean—is prophecy stopped: There are no more prophets. We’re done with that. We don‘t even need them; we have a bible. That’s all the revelation we’re gonna get from God; he doesn’t see fit to add to it; and we’d better not claim we have further revelations from him. (And when they interpret what the bible means, and insist we gotta live by their
Doesn’t matter that there are New Testament prophets, particularly John of Patmos; doesn’t matter that Paul encouraged the Corinthians to prophesy; doesn’t matter that Christian history is dotted with prophets. Their proof text for why there aren’t prophets any more—one of many—is how the very book of Hebrews begins by saying God used to speak through prophets, but in the last days it’s just Jesus. And
Thing is, the whole basis of this argument hinges on one little word in their proof-text: “But.” In bible times God spoke through prophets, but now it’s just Jesus. Do we find this word in every bible translation? Nope.
- WYCLIFFE: “…at the last in these days he hath spoken to us by the Son…”
- GENEVA BIBLE (includes it in verse 1): “…in these last days he hath spoken unto us by his Son…”
- KJV: “…hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…”
- ASV: “…hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son…”
- CSB: “In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.”
- DARBY: “…at the end of these days has spoken to us in the person of the Son…”
- ISV: “…has in these last days spoken to us by a Son…”
- MEV: “…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…”
- NASB: “…in these last days has spoken to us in His Son…”
- NET: “…in these last days he has spoken to us in a son…”
- NKJV: “…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…”
- NLT: “And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.”
Obviously that’s not every translation. A number of translations include “but,” though you’ll also notice an equal number of ’em have not. Including the oldest English translations.
’Cause cessationists, and those who lean in that direction, added “but” to the bible. And in pinning their arguments to the word they’ve illegitimately inserted into the scriptures, are they riding that “but” hard.