Monday, December 16, 2019

Jesus Christ "yesterday, and today: the same forever" (Hebrews 13:8)


Many critics of LDS theology abuse Heb 13:8 as a “proof-text” against our theology. For a discussion of this and other passages, see


In reality, this text is speaking of the immutability of the gospel, and that, while the preachers change, the preaching must remain the same; it is not a commentary on the ontological nature of the person of Jesus.

As one Traditionalist Roman Catholic commentator put it:

yesterday, and today: and the same forever”: Gr: εχθες και σημερον ο αυτος και εις τους αιωνας, which is appropriate at this point since the quotes from vrs. 5-6 come from the Old Testament and show how God (Jesus in the Second Person of the Trinity) never forsook his faithful people but was always with them, helping them out of perilous situations (e.g., Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, et al); and he is doing so now in the Church, and he will certainly do so “unto the ages” (“forever”) to come. God has not changed. He always acts the same no matter what time in history it is. The problem is that the Christians want things done immediately, but God always takes his time and does his bidding when it is most appropriate. (Robert A. Sungenis, The Epistles to the Ephesians and Hebrews [Catholic Apologetics Study Bible VIII; State Line, Pa.: Catholic Apologetics International Publishing, Inc., 2019], 138 n. 450)