ARTICLES BY DAVID WILBER
Peter’s Warning Against Antinomian Interpretations of Paul’s Letters (2 Peter 3:15–17)
In 2 Peter 3:15–17, Peter warns his readers against those who twist Paul’s letters, and he associates their misinterpretations with “the error of lawless people.” In this article, I examine both the immediate and broader context of this passage as well as the specific language Peter uses to characterize those who twist Paul’s letters. I argue that 2 Peter 3:15–17 constitutes a warning against antinomians who misinterpret Paul’s letters to justify and encourage transgression of the Law of Moses.
The Holy Spirit’s Divine Nature and Personhood in Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews offers biblical evidence that the Holy Spirit is both fully divine and a distinct person. Within the epistle, the author identifies the Spirit as “eternal,” presents the Spirit as speaking God’s words as recorded in Old Testament quotations, and yet also distinguishes the Spirit as a separate agent from the Father and the Son. This article examines several references to the Spirit in Hebrews and shows how the author’s depiction is consistent with the Trinitarian understanding of the Holy Spirit as fully God and personally distinct from both the Father and the Son.
The Divine Son: Exploring the Messiah's Deity in Hebrews 1
Is the Messiah God? The first chapter of Hebrews presents compelling evidence that he is. In this chapter, the author highlights the Son’s role as the creator and sustainer of the universe, emphasizes the Son’s divine essence, proclaims that the Son is worthy of the worship that belongs only to God, and explicitly identifies the Son as “God” and “Lord/YHWH.” In order to demonstrate each of these points, this article conducts a detailed exegesis of Hebrews 1 and answers objections from unitarians.