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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Theologically speaking, scholars generally regard the book of Hebrews to be second in importance only to Paul's letter to the Romans in the New Testament. No other book so eloquently defines Christ as high priest of Christianity, superior to the Aaronic priesthood, and the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. This book presents Christ as the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). However, both the authorship and audience are in question.
The title, "To the Hebrews," which appears in the earliest known copy of the epistle is not a part of the original manuscript. There is no salutation, the letter simply begins with the assertion that Jesus, the Son of God, has appeared, atoned for our sins, and is now seated at the right hand of God in heaven (Hebrews 1:1-4).
The letter closes with the words "Grace be with you all" (Hebrews 13:25), which is the same closing found in each of Paul's known letters (see Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 16:23; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 6:18; Ephesians 6:24; Philippians 4:23; Colossians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:22; Titus 3:15; and Philemon 25). However, it should be noted that Peter (1 Peter 5:14; 2 Peter 3:18) used similar"though not identical"closings. Possibly that it was simply customary to close letters like this with the words "Grace be with you all" during this time period.
Church tradition teaches that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews, and until the 1800s, that issue was closed. However, though a vast majority of Christians"both and scholars and the laity'still believe Paul wrote the book, there are some tempting reasons to think otherwise.
First and foremost is the lack of a salutation. Some sort of personal salutation from Paul appears in all of his letters. So it would seem that writing anonymously is not his usual method; therefore, the reasoning goes, Hebrews cannot be one of his letters. Second, the overall composition and style is of a person who is a very sophisticated writer. Even though he was certainly a sophisticated communicator, Paul stated that he purposely did not speak with a commanding vocabulary (1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:1; 2 Corinthians 11:6).
The book of Hebrews quotes extensively from the Old Testament. Paul, as a Pharisee, would have been familiar with the Scripture in its original Hebrew language. In other letters, Paul either quotes the Masoretic Text (the original Hebrew) or paraphrases it. However, all of the quotes in this epistle are taken out of the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), which is inconsistent with Paul's usage. Finally, Paul was an apostle who claimed to receive his revelations directly from the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:23; Galatians 1:12). The writer of Hebrews specifically says that he was taught by an apostle (Hebrews 2:3).
If Paul didn't write the letter, who did? The most plausible suggestion is that this was actually a sermon Paul gave and it was transcribed later by Luke, a person who would have had the command of the Greek language which the writer shows. Barnabas is another likely prospect, since he was a Levite and would have been speaking on a subject that he knew much about. Martin Luther suggested Apollos, since he would have had the education the writer of this letter must have had. Priscilla and Clemet of Rome have been suggested by other scholars.
However, there is still much evidence that Paul wrote the letter. The most compelling comes from Scripture itself. Remember that Peter wrote to the Hebrews (that is, the Jews; see Galatians 2:7, 9 and 1 Peter 1:1). Peter wrote: "...just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him [emphasis added]" (2 Peter 3:15). In that last verse, Peter is confirming that Paul had also written a letter to the Hebrews!
The theology presented in Hebrews is consistent with Paul's. Paul was a proponent of salvation by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8, 9), and that message is strongly communicated in this epistle (Hebrews 4:2, 6:12, 10:19-22, 10:37-39, and 11:1-40). Either Paul wrote the epistle, or the writer was trained by Paul. Although it is a small detail, this epistle makes mention of Timothy (Hebrews 13:23), and Paul is the only apostle known to have ever done that in any letter.
So, who actually wrote Hebrews? The letter fills a needed space in Scripture and both outlines our faith and defines faith itself in the same way that Romans defines the tenets of Christian living. It closes the chapters of faith alone and serves as a prelude to the chapters on good works built on a foundation of faith in God. In short, this book belongs in the Bible. Therefore, its human author is unimportant. What is important is to treat the book as inspired Scripture as defined in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Holy Spirit was the divine author of Hebrews, and of all Scripture, even though we don't know who put the physical pen to the physical paper and traced the words.
See http://www.gotquestions.org/author-Hebrews.html
D W
Supporter
Kenneth Wuest, perhaps the world's most blessed Greek Bible scholar holds to Paul as the writer and the fact that the Book of Hebrews is aimed at the non-Christian Jews who had the full testimony about the Messiah and the coming Kingdom of God. However, they did not fully understand the deity of Christ. Paul warned them about staying with Judaism while rejecting Jesus. The author of Hebrews speaks a lot about the promised land of Israel, and the fact that the Jews, beginning with Abraham, were looking for the Jerusalem that would be re-established by the Lord in the Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew) on earth. These verses can be overlooked if the reader does not carefully read them in context. Hebrews clearly establishes the first and second coming of the Jewish Messiah. The second coming is about the restoration of the Kingdom of God on earth and the anointing of Saul to become the Apostle Paul, revealing salvation by Grace through Faith to Gentiles and to all those Jews who would accept Grace without the works of the Law. Paul writes: "So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him" (Hebrews 9:28). The "eagerly awaiting Him" will be those Jews awaiting the establishment of the Holy City of Jerusalem and His reigning in the land under the Davidic Covenant. Christians will be in Heaven long before that, through the Rapture of the Christian church, the Body of Christ, or at normal death. What is Paul talking about when he speaks of the Jews waiting to "receive what was promised" in the Hebrew Bible? It is the Kingdom of God on earth (NOT the Christian heavenly destination), though Paul doesn't have to say that because it is understood by Jewish readers. Paul addresses the persecution of the Jews, "knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. … You need endurance so that you may (emphatic, not conditional) receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay" (Hebrews 10:34-37). The "possession" and the "promise," and the "great reward," has to do with His Second Coming, establishing His millennial reign, with Jerusalem as the center of the earth. Caution! Paul declares, "In a very little while!" In context, Paul actually believed that the Jesus who rose above after the 40 days would return again in his lifetime! In truth, the Jews continued to reject Jesus as the Christ, right up through the stoning of Stephen, at which point the promised Kingdom was placed on hold. But that precious promise will be carried out following the Tribulation / Armageddon, in the Kingdom of God on earth. Abraham "died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance …" He, along with those who came after him, "made it clear that they are seeking a country of their own." "But they desired a better country, that is, the "Kingdom FROM Heaven," or the "Kingdom FROM God," on earth. "God prepared a city for them." Jacob (Israel) ordered the sons of Israel "You shall carry my bones up from here, from this land (of Egypt) to the land which God promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob." Which land? Israel. 300,000 square miles. On that glorious day when the Kingdom is established on earth, the 12 plus the 70 and more will come forth out of their graves, along with ALL those who died in FAITH, not having received the promise in their day, but now being blessed upon blessing upon blessing by "entering in to their rest!" Glory Hallelujah, sing praises to His Name! He leaves no stone unturned!!
Mark Vestal
Supporter
We do not know definitively who wrote the book of Hebrews. However, we can discern that it was most likely not Paul, primarily due to Paul's promised salutation (2 Thes 3:17) missing from the book of Hebrews, but found clearly in the first verse of the first chapter of all thirteen of his known epistles (Romans through Philemon). It is also clear that Hebrews was written directly to Hebrews. Although not entirely out of the question, as Paul was indeed a Jew prior and had great love for his past Jewish brethren, it is unlikey that the newly appointed "apostle to the Gentiles" (Rom 11:13) would break from this God given appointment to address a future time that will require those believers to 'endure chastening' (Heb 12:7), and who are outside of the revealed dispensation of God's 'grace' (Eph 3:2) as given to Paul for us today. He would have been addressing a people who are separate from the church, the body of Christ (Eph 1:22-23, 1 Tim 1:16, Col 1:24). It would be contrary to what the all-inclusive messenger Paul was appropriated to be, as there is currently no difference in Jew or Gentile regarding who may partake in the filling of Christ's body of believers. There is, however, a stark contrast between the current all-encompasing church, the body of Christ (directly addressed in Paul's thirteen epistles), compared to those of prophetic Israel, yet future (directly addressed in Hebrews through Revelation).
Anonymous
Paul wrote the letter to the Hebrews.
Marvin Reynolds
Supporter
The author is not stated in this book BUT you can read the last chapter in Hebrews and by the names listed come the strong opinion that it was Paul who was the author but more than likely written by a scribe for nim.
Ed Besselman
Supporter
Although we will not know for sure on this side of eternity...I believe that the Epistle to the Hebrews was written by an associate of Paul (but not Paul himself). IMHO... the language is Pauline but not the same as Romans, Ephesians, Colossians or I & II Timothy. (We know it was not Timothy - Hebrews 13:23 but a friend and fellow minister). So, I believe that it was a disciple of Paul (using phrases that Paul used in instructing and teaching this believer (but it was not Paul).
John Appelt
Supporter
Many writers have been proposed as authors of Hebrews, but without success, and Paul has not been eliminated from being the author as considered in the first 200 years. The author of the letter is anonymous because he was primarily an apostle to the Gentiles and yet the Jews were on his heart. Only Paul would choose to be anonymous. The letter needed no introduction as he was presenting material to build the recipients up in new truth. The writer could not be a woman for Hebrews 11:32 contains a masculine participle, ‘diegoumenon,’ ‘telling/relating’ modifying ‘me.’ Paul best qualifies, as born, bred, and brought up a Hebrew of the Hebrews. Paul studied under the respected rabbi Gamaliel. Yet, the revelation of the excellence and exaltation of the Lord Jesus is expounded magnificently by Paul as one who met Him. Other writers did not have that depth or eloquence, Acts 14:12. Hebrews 2:3 does not eliminate Paul. While Paul did hear the Lord later, he was not there when the message of the gospel was first given. Acts 13:15-41, a speech by Paul, resembles Hebrews with a survey of Israel’s history and heritage, scriptural quotations and warning, and the gospel message. Both are the “word of exhortation,” Hebrews 13:22. The early canon placed Hebrews before the personal/pastoral letters. It is found at the end of them making bookends with Romans, the books arranged according to the level of maturity of understanding. Hebrews follows Paul’s structure model of three-quarters theology and one-quarter practical application. With Hebrews, the trilogy of faith, love and hope, and the trilogy of the ‘just shall live by faith’ is complete. The number 17 is used for lists in Romans 8:35-39 and Hebrews 12:18-24; certain words are unique to Paul such as ‘sons’ rather than ‘children’ and ‘so much more,’ ‘to whom be the glory,’ ‘forever and forever,’ ‘God of peace,’ ‘I beg you brethren,’ ‘pray for us,’ ‘complete in every good work,’ ‘conduct yourself,’ ‘Christ Jesus.’ Paul argues from the lesser to the greater in Hebrews as also in Romans 5 and 6, and Galatians 4. When Paul quotes a series of Old Testament texts he uses an adverb, ‘again,’ as he does in other epistles. David Alan Black stated, “…there is no teaching in Hebrews that is incompatible with that of the apostle Paul.” The writer alluded to Timothy who was not a fellow-worker to anyone but Paul, Hebrews 13:23. The author wrote of having been in bonds as he was in Caesarea. In Hebrews 10:34, Paul mentioned the sufferings that only he faced in Judea. In Hebrews 13:19, the writer indicated he hoped to be liberated, Philippians 2:19 and Philemon 22. Paul’s trademark signature as II Thessalonians 3:17, falls into this form: “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” Hebrews 13:25. Peter who wrote to scattered Hebrew Christians, mentions Paul writing to the same people, the Jews, II Peter 3:15, and writing things hard to understand, Hebrews 5:11.
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