Date
4-7-2026
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)
Chair
Timothy Cochrell
Keywords
Hebrews, Apostasy, Apathy, Son, Scripture, Warning, Passages, Hearing, Drifting, Perseverance, Exhortation
Disciplines
Religion
Recommended Citation
Mann, Daniel D., "From Apathy to Apostasy: The Danger of Dullness in Hearing God’s Word" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8161.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8161
Abstract
This dissertation contends that the issue of apathetic hearing among some of the audience in the book of Hebrews is a pivotal aspect in the threat of apostasy. The central theme of Hebrews is that God has spoken in the last days by his Son (Heb. 1:2). Thus, God speaking (1:1–2, 5, 13; 2:3; 3:10; 4:3, 4, 8; 5:5; 10:15, 30; 12:25; 13:5) and man hearing (2:1, 3; 3:7, 15, 16; 4:2, 7; 5:11; 12:25) emerge as twin pillars of emphasis throughout Hebrews. The author’s overarching emphasis is that God has spoken definitively in His Son and that Word deserves and demands the earnest attention of God’s people.
Each of the five warning passages in Hebrews focuses on the need to hear God’s word. In four of the warnings, this emphasis is explicit (2:1–4; 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:12; 12:25–29). Although Hebrews 10:19–39 does not contain the same explicit appeals to hearing that the other four passages possess, this theme is still implicit, especially in Hebrews 10:23–25. When one examines the warning passages individually and collectively, it becomes apparent that apathetic hearing poses a gradual danger that can eventually lead to apostasy. The warnings intensify in the book of Hebrews as apostasy is presented as being downstream from ears that are dull of hearing and hearts that are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
This work explores the theme of apathetic hearing from the warning passages and how the danger escalates for the Hebrew audience. The significance of this work lies in its analysis of hearing and apathy in Hebrews as the leading catalyst moving the audience to apostasy, not a return to Judaism or persecution. Also, it is proposed in this work that the remedy against apostasy is faithfully hearing and God’s word.
