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Who wrote the Epistle to Hebrews?

Alex2165

Active Member
WHO WROTE TO HEBREWS?​

Hebrews 1.
It is unknown who wrote the letter to Hebrews. Perhaps it was Apollos. According to Acts 18.24-28, he was a well-read Hellenistic Jew from Alexandria in Egypt.
Martin Luther guessed that he wrote it.

Tertullian (150-230 AC) said that Hebrews was a letter of Barnabas.
Adolf Harnack and J.Rendel Harris speculated that it could have been written by Priscilla (Prisca).
William Ramsey suggested that it was done by Philip.
However, the traditional position is that the Paul wrote Hebrews.
Eusebius (263-339?AD) also believed that Paul wrote it.

About the end of the second century, Clement of Alexandria thought that the Paul originally wrote the letter in the Hebrew language, and it was later translated by Luke, or someone else into Greek.

The New International Dictionary of the Bible. J. D. Douglas, Merrill C. Tenney

~ Apollos according to Paul and to Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos was quite untrained in the Word of GOD and was in need of guidance from mush more experienced Christians who know and understood the Gospel of Christ much better than just ordinary believer. Certainly, Apollos is not the author of Epistle to Hebrews.

~ Barnabas, while being good supporter and great help for Paul in his missionary journeys, he is not known for his preaching of the Gospel, and it seems did not wrote anything to anyone as John, Paul, and Peter did.

~ Aquila and Priscilla are very well educated in the Word of GOD and certainly have good knowledge and understanding of the Gospel of Christ, but again, they couldn't possibly write the Epistle to Hebrews, because they are also not known for any of their teachings, preaching, or writings about Christ and His Gospel.

~ Concerning Philip (Acts 8.5-8.12.26-40), as a author of Epistle to Hebrews, this suggestion has a certain possibility. About Philip is written very little, but he was actually very well known in the city of Samaria in which he teaches Gospel and performed miracles. Philip is one of those who was taken by the Holy Spirit to meet Ethiopian eunuch whom he converted to Christ. Philip was taken by the Holy Spirit to "Azotus (Ashdod) and as he passed through, he kept preaching the Gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea." (Acts 8.40, 21.8-9).

Philip is certainly very well educated in Gospel, he is the one of Apostles of Christ who has been with Christ from the beginning, preached and performed sings by the Holy Spirit, and very well could write about the life of Christ, but he did not. If he wrote the Epistle to Hebrews, he is certainly would be well known for such great work and well praise for such wonderful and exceptional writing.

According to the style and the spirit of the Book to Hebrews, it is closely matching the writing and the style of Paul in all its variety and diversity of thoughts and deepness of the meanings. And who else knows Paul's people the Jews, better than Paul himself?

The Book to Hebrews is very special Book like no other. The message to Hebrews is not the same as to Gentiles, because Gentile insufficient in the knowledge and understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures, and cannot link together the Old and the New Covenants of GOD with His people. And so, at the very beginning of His writing to Hebrews, Paul carefully started from the very beginning, from the GOD Father and His Son (the Messiah, for Whom the Jews are waiting for), through Whom the GOD Father created all things, the world, and Whom the GOD Father appointed over the world (2).
(John 1.3) (Acts 2.22) (1Corinthians 8.6) (Colossian 1.16-17) (Hebrews 1.2).
 

Ascetic X

Well-Known Member
The message to Hebrews is not the same as to Gentiles, because Gentile insufficient in the knowledge and understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures, and cannot link together the Old and the New Covenants of GOD with His people. And so, at the very beginning of His writing to Hebrews, Paul carefully started from the very beginning, from the GOD Father and His Son (the Messiah, for Whom the Jews are waiting for), through Whom the GOD Father created all things, the world, and Whom the GOD Father appointed over the world (2).
There were many Gentiles knowledgeable about the Old Testament and the ways of Israel at the time of the writing of Hebrews. Proselytes came to the temple in Jerusalem. Wise men from eastern lands, possibly Persia, came to baby Jesus to worship Him and bring gifts.

Chapter 3 begins with “Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling…” indicating Hebrews was addressed to all Christian believers.

Thus, in my view, the message in Hebrews is for Jews and Gentiles, although the Jewish people would have a deeper understanding of it.

Great topic! Thanks.
 

37818

Well-Known Member
Hebrews 2:3, How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

What our Lord Jesus taught His Apostles during His ministry. The author of Hebrews was not under that ministry of Jesus. This is a reason why the Apostle Paul can be historicly thought to have authored Hebrews.
 

rockytopva

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I would say the Apostle Paul while in custody in Rome...

23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen. - Hebrews 13
 

SovereignGrace

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I have often wondered who it was, but I don't think Paul is the one who wrote it. In all the other 13 books he wrote, he always made it known he was the author. The writer of Hebrews did not mention his name.

I just don't get wrapped around the axle as I know that whoever wrote it, it was written under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that is good enough for me.
 

Believeth

New Member
The original Greek is characteristic of Luke, while the theology is characteristic of Paul. One theory is that Luke transcribed it as a sermon given by Paul during his time in prison.
 

SovereignGrace

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
The original Greek is characteristic of Luke, while the theology is characteristic of Paul. One theory is that Luke transcribed it as a sermon given by Paul during his time in prison.
I heard Dr. James White take that approach on a DL a year or two ago....maybe longer?
 

Ben1445

Well-Known Member
I have often wondered who it was, but I don't think Paul is the one who wrote it. In all the other 13 books he wrote, he always made it known he was the author. The writer of Hebrews did not mention his name.

I just don't get wrapped around the axle as I know that whoever wrote it, it was written under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that is good enough for me.
Acts 22:18
And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

This is a good enough reason to leave your name out if you want people to listen to you.
 

37818

Well-Known Member
There are numerous reasons to accept the Paul authorship.
Upfront the KJV translators did. It's foot note, "Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy." To have transcribed it.
Paul is the earliest to cite Psalm 2:7. Acts 13:33. Used in Hebrews 1:5.
 

Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
The Lord knows whose handwriting the original manuscript was written in, but we know the author is the Spirit of Christ.
 
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