A LETTER TO THE HEBREWS

HEBREWS 11:32–40

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets

(Hebrews 11:32).

Who wrote Hebrews? The Holy Spirit has born witness throughout all the ages of the church that Hebrews is one of the God-breathed books of the Bible, but regarding the human author, we are not told. Therefore, it is not critical for us to know. Still, God has invited us to engage in scholarship, so an investigation of the question of human authorship is valid.

For many centuries it was believed that Paul was the author. During the Reformation, scholars pointed out many stylistic differences between Hebrews and the Pauline letters, concluding that Paul was not the author. Based on Paul’s strong testimony in Galatians 1, they also noted that Paul would not have referred to the Gospel as “being confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (Hebrews 2:3). This has not satisfied everyone, however, since (a) the subject matter of Hebrews is quite different from what we find in the signed Pauline letters, and this could account for a difference in style; (b) Paul might not have signed this letter because he knew how much the Jews and Judaizers hated him; and (c) the overall structure of Hebrews is like that of the Pauline letters: A doctrinal section followed by practical exhortations.

Other proposed authors include Luke, Barnabas, and Apollos. Each of these men was learned in the Old Testament, and each was close to Paul and would have absorbed the Christian perspective on the Old Testament. It has even been suggested that Priscilla might have written Hebrews. However, the masculine form of the verb tell in Hebrews 11:32 shows that the author was a man.

To whom was this letter addressed? Though entitled “Hebrews” or “The Letter to the Hebrews” in our Bibles, the book itself does not say to whom it was addressed. Some scholars have suggested a Roman destination, but the large majority believe it was sent to converted Jews living in Palestine before the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. The author uses the present tense when describing the temple and the sacrifices, indicating that they were still in use, and speaks of an approaching “day” that would be a time of judgment (Hebrews 10:25). They could “see” this day drawing near, and so the reference is to something shortly to take place.

CORAM DEO

Isaiah 22–23

Ephesians 3

One thing that stands out in Hebrews is that the new covenant does not replace the old covenant so much as it fulfills the meaning of it. Everything in the Old Testament is relevant and vital to new covenant living. Ask God to give you a renewed appreciation of His whole Bible and its blessings.

For further study: Matthew 5:17–19 • Galatians 1:11–17 • 2 Peter 1:15–21

friday

october