Did Paul write Hebrews?

i don't think Paul wrote it as the author hardly ever writes about himself (unlike in the other epistles of Paul).


Steve

brinny said:

There seems to be differing view points on who wrote the book of Hebrews. Any thoughts on this?

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There are several is what I have to say about it. In my survey class of Hebrews, the evidence given is that Paul did not write it. How he talks and the words he uses do not match the books he did write.

1. He never Identified himself in the book. He always said who was writing the letter.

2. His language and the way that the author spoke did not match the way he spoke int he other books.

3. His knowledge and what he spoke about did not match at all to the other books. He was Pharisee but he never really spoke much to the Law except in Romans. ( as in the depth and extensive reasoning that the Author of Hebrews uses, does not match the depth that Paul brings the law into his books.)

4. Paul was a missionary to the gentiles and spread the gospel primarily to the gentiles. He did talk with the Jews but he did primarily to the gentiles.

what we know about Hebrews...

1. The author has extensive knowledge of the Law. Not just like he talked to someone about it. He lived it and breathed it.

2. The Audience of the book is to Jews. While the Book is useful to all the christian body the book was written to the Believing Jews at that time. Just like the book of Luke and Acts was written by Luke to Theopholis.

3. The Author of Hebrews while, incredibly learned in the law was also incredibly educated in writing. The Book of Hebrews other then Luke and Acts is one of the most Gorgeous books written language wise.


So In my opinion I would say the author of the book would be 1 of f a few people.

1. Barnabas, he perfectly fits the criteria of the author. He was learned and educated in the law, He was also preaching to the Jews after the split with Paul.

2. One of the Women at Lystra or the Two ladies talked about a lot about in the New testament(dont remember their names). they also fit. (the Reason the women fit, is that about half way through the way the author speaks, changes. Leading to the thought that two different people wrote it. Thus the two ladies the ministered to Paul quite often...Still don't remember their names. My church is studying through acts and for sunday school we doing Judges so I am not read up on them at this moment.)

3. Gamileal, Paul's teacher. He also fits and we dont know if he became a believer or not. It is quite possible.

4. Nicodimus, the pharisee Jesus talked to. He could have become a believer and wrote it.

5. The only other person I could see writing it is Timothy. Paul taught him and he could have possibly wrote it as his mother was Jewish and could have taught him the law and his Father was greek so education could have been in his past before he left with Paul.

So that is my opinons on it.


Lastly I don't think it really matters who wrote it. Hebrews is still Authoritative, and inspired by God.

I have heard that it was probably someone in Paul's inner circle.

Paul did not write the letter to the Hebrews IMO.

brinny said:

Thank you Tiredknight and Steve. It IS a beautiful contemplation on who possibly wrote it. I shall continue reading it and meditating on it. Its depth is awesome. The "discoveries" in readiing it are of eternally never-ending proportions.

I'm starting with chapters I through III today. I'm gonna munch on it like manna from heaven.

In the meantime, if anyone has thoughts on Hebrews, please share.

Thank you

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Don't get hung up on Chapter 6. It is a very heavily Debated chapter and know can really agree upon.

I don't believe that you can lose your salvation so The chapter has to mean something else.

I suspect that it was Peter given the similarity of these verses:

1 peter 1:2, 22-23; 1 peter 3:21; heb. 10:22; heb. 9:14 NASB; - according to the foreknowledge of God - Bible Gateway

so we are undecided as to who wrote it... what I want to know is why so many in the early church would not permit it within their canon.


Steve

brinny said:

There seems to be differing view points on who wrote the book of Hebrews. Any thoughts on this?

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If it mattered God would have told us.
Don't get hung up on whether he did or whether he didn't.

brinny said:

Thank you Deut 5:29; i was sorta wondering out loud, because it says it's the epistle of Paul the apostle to the Hebrews, at the top of the page.

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Yea I understand, but that stuff at top of the page is not inspired it's just the tradition of some men.

cyberlizard said:

so we are undecided as to who wrote it... what I want to know is why so many in the early church would not permit it within their canon.

Steve

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Good question!

Deut 5:29 said:

If it mattered God would have told us.
Don't get hung up on whether he did or whether he didn't.

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Let's look at the first verse of Hebrews. Who are the fathers symbolizing and how would a Jew today reading this view it in relation to the OT and Gosepels/Revelation
Interesting that this word is mentioned 6 times

http://www.christianforums.com/t7426625-43/#post53776624
Hebrews 1:1

NKJV) Hebrews 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past/palai <3819> to the fathers by the prophets,

Why does Jesus mention these 2 cities where that greek word #3819 is also used? Is he speaking about the Jews He preached to in those cities? Just curious

NKJV) Matthew 11:21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago/palai <3819> in sackcloth and ashes

NKJV) Luke 10:13 " Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago/palai <3819>, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon
Strong's Number G3819 matches the Greek &#960;&#8049;&#955;&#945;&#953; (palai), which occurs 6 times in 6 verses in the Greek concordance

3819. palai probably another form for 3825 (through the idea of retrocession); (adverbially) formerly, or (by relatively) sometime since; (elliptically as adjective) ancient:--any while, a great while ago, (of) old, in time past.

cyberlizard said:

so we are undecided as to who wrote it... what I want to know is why so many in the early church would not permit it within their canon.

Steve

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brinny said:

i wasn't aware of that.....do you know why it wasn't permitted?

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Me neither

Someone else who might qualify as an author -- Apollos. The philosophical way he approaches the history of the Jewish people seems very reflective of the tiny bits of Apollos' history in Acts. And he fits all the other items.

Barnabas' letter, which is also First Century, if (big if) it's reflective of Barnabas' actual position, is a further afield still from Hebrews, asserting a much bigger allegorical break with Judaism that doesn't appear in Hebrews. Accepting Barnabas' authorship would mean to me, rejecting Barnabas' authorship of the Epistle of Barnabas. Not that that's impossible.