Who wrote the book of Hebrews?

Answer 1

Other Answers

According to my Bible, the author of the book of Hebrews is unknown. Of the fourteen epistles ascribed to Paul, seven -- Ephesians, Colossians, Second Thessalonians, First and Second Timothy, Titus, and HEBREWS -- are conceded by nearly all critics to be spurious while three others -- Philippians, First Thessalonians, and Philemon -- are generally classed as doubtful.

The general verdict concerning the first seven is thus expressed by the Rev. Dr. Hooykaas: "Fourteen epistles are said to be Paul's; but we must at once strike off one, namely, that to the HEBREWS, which does not bear his name at all.... The two letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus were certainly composed long after the death of Paul.... It is more than possible that the letters to the Ephesians and Colossians are also unauthentic, and the same suspicion rests, perhaps, on the first, but certainly on the second of the Epistles to the Thessalonians" (Bible for Learners,Vol. III, p. 23).

That the Pastoral Epistles are forgeries is now conceded by all critics. According to the German critics they belong to the second century. HEBREWS does not purport to be a Pauline document. Luther says: "The Epistle to the HEBREWS is not by St. Paul, or, indeed, by any apostle" (Standing Preface to Luther's N.T.).

Source: see link on left "The Christ Chapter 3"

Four Epistles -- Romans, First and Second Corinthians, and Galatians -- while rejected by a few critics, are generally admitted to be the genuine writings of Paul. These books were written, it is claimed, about a quarter of a century after the death of Christ. They are the only books of the New Testament whose authenticity can be maintained. Answer Much discussion has been had about the Epistle to the Hebrews and there can probably never be a definitive answer seeing the author is not named either in the text or in a title as in for example, the four Gospels.

A number of people simply note that some of the passages contain terminology which is distinctly Pauline and they account for the complexity of the Greek - Hebrews being possibly the most complex Greek usage of the entire New Testament, in a number of ways. They note the complexity of some of the subject matter and detail of argumentation. In this connection it is noteworthy that Paul, while in prison in Rome called for 'the books, but especially the parchments' to be brought to him. This would have enabled him to work on this project while he was in prison (the first time) and would also explain differences in style occasioned by both the subject matter and the time for careful and complex construction, time he did not always have for other works.

Another significant difference is that if the author was Paul, then we know that all his other works were written for gentile audiences. So we do not know of any writing that Paul made to Jews with which to compare this, given that one would expect significant differences in style, subject matter etc. This letter, if it were Pauline would be expected to contain much different terminology to what Paul would use when writing to Jews. Hebrews certainly does. Paul having been a Pharisee certainly understood all of the subject matter which we find in Hebrews.

Examples of typically Pauline formulations occur in the end of the Epistle where the greetings so common at the end of Paul's letters appear.

It has also been suggested that he deliberately made the letter anonymous due to opposition from Jewish sources to him and his ministry, thinking that this may help the acceptance of the important messages contained in the book for the Jewish Christians he was addressing. Since he did not have a specific commission to minister to the Jews, although he often used to preach/speak in synagogues whenever he could, he may not have wanted to usurp the authority of others.

Even if it is stated that many believe it to be Pauline for a combination of the above reasons, this can never be known conclusively and does not detract from the great value of the teachings it contains.

The Book of Hebrews, or more formally the Epistle to the Hebrews, was attributed to the Apostle Paul in the second century, and because of that attribution was included in the New Testament. However, the theology and style are entirely different from those of Paul. The book merely has a few verses added to the end, in order to provide support for the attribution to Paul.

Answer

In fact, we do not know who really wrote Hebrews, but it is believed to date from around the middle of the first century.

It is unknown, but although the author does not give his name, it is believed to be Paul. In his Introduction to Hebrews, C.I. Scofield says:-

The authorship of Hebrews has been in controversy from the earliest times. The book is anonymous, but the reference in 2Pet.3:15 seems conclusive that Paul was the writer. See also Heb.13:23 . All agree that, whether by Paul or another, the point of view is Pauline. We undoubtebly have here the method of Paul's synagogue addresses... 2Pe 3:15-16 MKJV And think of the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation (as our beloved brother Paul also has written to you according to the wisdom given to him (16) as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable pervert, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction).

Heb 13:23 MKJV Know that our brother Timothy has been set at liberty, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.

Answer

Paul wrote the book of Hebrews.

Answer:

The author stated in Hebrews 2:3 that he and his readers had received the word of salvation second hand from those who had heard it from the Lord Jesus himself.

Paul, on the other hand, declared that he had seen the Lord and had received the word he preached directly from the Lord himself and not from other men (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 11:23; 15:8; Galatians 1:11,12)

So who wrote it, How could it be Paul unless this was translated wrong (2:3) Many believe it was Apollos, others Barnabas.

Answer 2

The King James translation calls it, "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews," but in truth, its authorship is uncertain. According to the "Analyses of Books" contained in the Thompson Chain Reference Bible (KJV), Hebrews "has been ascribed to Paul, Barnabas, Luke, Apollos and various other persons. The most that can be said is that the weight of opinion seems to favor the Pauline authorship."

Unlike the Pauline epistles, there is no salutation or greeting at its outset. Its style and use of the Greek language is also different, though Paul was certainly qualified by both background and training to provide its content.

Whoever the human writer was, its true author is God, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 3

A:

Tradition says that the Epistle to the Hebrews was written in Italy by Timothy, on behalf of the apostle Paul. However, few modern New Testament scholars would agree with that attribution. The strong consensus is that we do not know where Hebrewswas written, nor by whom.

Answer 4

A:The Book of Hebrews was at one stage attributed to Paul, but it is so clearly not an epistle, and the style and theology are so clearly not Pauline, that scholars no longer accept this attribution. However, some conservative Christians continue to attribute Hebrews to Paul, as does the King James Bible.
In the second century, the Epistle to the Hebrews was being attributed to Paul. We can see, in the version we now have, that the book ends as if written as an epistle rather than a sermon or encyclical, and refers to Timothy, all of which points to Paul as the author. However, biblical scholars say that Paul could not possibly have written the Book of Hebrews.

Answer 5

In the second century, the Epistle to the Hebrews was being attributed to Paul. We can see, in the version we now have, that the book ends as if written as an epistle rather than a sermon or encyclical, and refers to Timothy, all of which points to Paul as the author. However, biblical scholars say that Paul could not possibly have written the Book of Hebrews.

Answer 6

The author of the book of Hebrews is not at all mentioned. Francis A. Sullivan SJ (From Apostles to Bishops)says that while the letter was accepted into the New Testament canon largely because of its attribution to St Paul, modern scholars agree that its author is unknown.

Answer 7

The place of writing is unknown.