Cessationists and Hebrews 2:1-4
A stained glass representation of confirmation in the Lutheran Church. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The point that cessationists try to make with this passage is that the word of salvation taught by the Lord was confirmed in the past by those who heard, referring mostly to the apostles . It is argued that the aorist tense ofejbebaiwvqh indicates a past completed act 48 or a "once for all" act. 49 They also argue that the sign gifts were given strictly for the confirmation of the gospel to unbelievers. 50 While it is correct that Heb 2:1-4 talks about the validation of the apostles message, it does not necessarily restrict the signs, wonders, and spiritual gifts to the apostles. The use of the aorist tense cannot be used to argue that this "confirmation" is restricted absolutely to the past. First, the aorist is probably constative, which views the action as a whole. It does not focus on the beginning or the end of the action. It merely states that the