Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Trinitarian Claim
Some Trinitarians seem to think this verse says that Jesus has always existed.
The Claim vs. The Facts
The facts show the verse is referring to the risen Christ who has not changed since the beginning of the Gospel.
The Problem with the Trinitarian Claim
1. Seeing things which are not there
For some reason, some people think the word "yesterday" means "eternally" or "since eternity" past or some similar idea. But it only takes a bit of common sense to see that we use the word "yesterday" in reference to our own ordinary human lives and it has nothing to do with how long we have existed.
2. Jesus is NOT the Same as he always was
Even in Trinitarian doctrine, Jesus is not the same. He is no longer only a divine person without a human nature. Jesus was also dead in a tomb and raised again. His humanity is no longer mortal but immortal. Trinitarians are contradicting their own doctrine to insist Jesus is the same as he always was.
Scripturally, the risen, exalted, and glorified Jesus, is not the same as he once was. A mortal human being of flesh became an immortal human when God raised him from the dead. "Flesh and blood" cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50) but Jesus' crucified body raised to be "life-giving Spirit" (1 Cor 15:5; cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17). For this reason, Paul explains that we no longer know Christ according to the flesh:
He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we know no one according to the flesh. Although we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him in this way no longer. 2 Corinthians 5:15-16 (see Heb 5:7).
Paul not only explains how Jesus is not the same as he once was, he says that we no longer know him as he once was. He is no longer the same as he once was.
Analysis of the Facts
The Context
All we really need to do is read the context, something which Trinitarians routinely disregard. The entire book of Hebrews is to exhort Hebrew Christians to remain steadfast in the Christian faith and refrain from returning to the Mosaic Law. Within this overall context, the writer reminds them of the days when the Gospel was first proclaimed to them:
Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
The writer is reminding these people of their own yesterday. "Yesterday" refers to that time when the Gospel was first proclaimed to them. And yes or course, the risen Jesus is the same as that yesterday, and today, and forever.
Conclusion
One simply needs to read the context to see that "yesterday" refers to that time these Hebrew Christians are to remember - those past days when the Gospel had first been proclaimed to them. Concerning that particular "yesterday," the risen Jesus has not changed. He has not changed since they heard the Gospel, and he will never change. The writer's point to them is that Jesus has not changed since you first heard the Gospel, so why would you consider changing and abandoning your faith? Rather, remember yesterday when you first received the Gospel and tasted the heavenly gift and became partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the word of God and have tasted the powers of the world to come(6:4). Remember yesterday and those who spoke the Gospel to you and imitate their faith. "Yesterday" refers to their relationship with Jesus when they first believed. Jesus has not changed and he is still the same.
Although we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him in this way no longer.
2 Corinthians 5:15-16.
Last Revision/Update: April 8, 2016
