SUBJECT:  Book of Hebrews

QUESTION:  Who is the author of the book of Hebrews?  Is it Paul?

ANSWER:

First, commentary from Nelson's Dictionary:

HEBREWS, EPISTLE TO THE

 Authorship:

Other than 1 John, the Epistle to the Hebrews is the only letter in the New Testament with no greeting or identification of its author. Although the King James Version entitles the book "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews," this title stems from later manuscripts which came to include it. It is highly doubtful, however, that Paul wrote Hebrews. The language, vocabulary, and style of Hebrews differ from Paul's genuine letters. Such typically Pauline expressions as "Christ Jesus," "in Christ," or "the resurrection" are all but absent in Hebrews. When Hebrews and Paul treat the same subjects, they often approach them differently. For example, in Hebrews the "law" means the ritual law, whereas for Paul it means the moral law; "faith" in Hebrews is belief in the trustworthiness of God, whereas for Paul it is a personal commitment to a living Lord. The author of Hebrews sounds more like a Platonic philosopher than Paul when he speaks of the old covenant <8:5> and the law <10:1> as "shadows" of their originals.

There has been no shortage of suggestions concerning who the author may have been. The list includes Luke, Priscilla, Aquila, Clement of Rome, Silvanus, and Philip. Perhaps the two most likely candidates are Apollos and Barnabas. Both have characteristics which commend them, Apollos because he was an eloquent Alexandrian Jew who knew the Scriptures well <Acts 18:24>, and Barnabas because he was a Levite <Acts 4:36>. As with the others, however, this suggestion is only a possibility. The writer of the epistle remains anonymous. ~from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary

FROM MR. ARMSTRONG:

I have always believed Paul wrote Hebrews.  It is not vitally important either way, but the idea that Priscilla or Clement wrote it is ridiculous.  The authorship is not as important as the authenticity.  I know God does not necessarily always deal in numerology; but the 14 books, 2 x 7 is at least an indication.  Since Peter was the Apostle to the Jews, and Paul to the Gentiles, some have suggested Peter may have written it.  Those who talk about "Pauline" phrases and structure seem to completely forget that Paul wrote hardly ANY of the letters bearing his name; but that men like Tertius (See Romans 16:22), Aristarchus, Segundus, Gaius, etc., may have written them.  Look at I Cor. 16:21, where Paul interjects only one line (probably with "large letters" in an inimitable scrawl because of his partial blindness) of greeting as a testimony to authenticity.  Notice also Galatians 6:11, where he says "with large letters (margin: note in Bullingers)" he had written with his own hand.  I am personally satisfied Paul wrote Hebrews. But if he didn't, it does not set aside its place in the received text. 

Garner Ted Armstrong