God the holy spirit many human writers only ever one author. Hebrewswritten by christians, to christians, and for christiansis loaded with theology accessible to any believer who wants to grasp the origin and meaning of faith. Because the jewish audience would have had a rich understanding of old testament history, the main purpose of hebrews is to show how christ fulfilled prophecies set. The book of hebrews begins with jesus christs work in creation, as does the book of colossians. However, since the third century this has been questioned, and the consensus among most modern scholars is that the author is unknown. Long along with the text says that paul is a possible author for the book of hebrews. Hebrews is one of the most significant books in the new testament for understanding the relationship between the old and new covenants.
No other book so eloquently defines christ as high priest of christianity, superior to the aaronic priesthood, and the. The grand purpose of the book of hebrews uk apologetics. Mar 29, 2020 after all, if we do not know who penned the book, how can we trust that its scripturally sound. Although the recipients were most probably jewish, it is not possible to be absolutely certain about which particular community of jews the letter was written. These folks knew about angels, the old testament heroes, the devil, and moses tabernacle, but someone thought they needed to know a little more. Most of the churches in the eastern part of the roman empire believed paul to have authored the book, leading to its early acceptance into the canon by the. The people being written to were true believers who had been persecuted because of their faith, were being seduced by teachers of false doctrine and were in danger of forgetting the true word that their first leaders had taught them. Paul didnt want to include his name in the book of hebrews since his relation with the gentiles making him unpopular with his native people. For example, the late secondcentury or early thirdcentury codex 46, a volume of pauls general epistles, includes hebrews immediately after romans while the assumption of pauline authorship readily allowed its acceptance in the eastern church, doubts persisted in. A superior worship and its requirements watchtower. Hebrews was written to christians who were wondering what was going on and what they could do about it.
Jun 01, 2010 a new volume in the new american commentary studies in bible and theology series, lukan authorship of hebrews explains why luke is the likely author of the book of hebrews. In our politically unstable day of wars and rumors of wars mark. However, doubt on pauline authorship in the roman church is reported by eusebius. Various church fathers and theologians down through the ages have speculated as to the writer of the book of hebrews. The best answer to this question is we do not know who wrote the book of hebrews. For some particular reasons, the writer of the book of hebrews did not pen his name on the book. I am aware that historiclly the english word for an item of correspondence was epistle and works dating from the medeival period, such as the kjv 1611 will use epistle, however i am not aware of any work penned in the last quarter century or so which describes hebrews as an epistle. Hebrews was written during the lifetime of timothy whom the author knew 30. This also means we know very little about when the book was written, the original audience, or where the author was when he. These both are not explicit, but certainly point to there still being a temple when they were written. The human author that penned the book of hebrews is equally not written in stone. The holy spirit was the divine author of hebrews, and of all scripture, even though we dont know who put the physical pen to the physical paper and traced the words. Who are the two famous halfbrothers of jesus in the nt and what did they write about and why.
The authorship of hebrews one can not be dogmatic or conclusive regarding the human author of the book of hebrews. The oncedisgraced, nowreturned pastor pointed out many similarities between the masterful epistle and the prose in his book real marriage. Anyone that is not saved must read this book because they too can have access to god the father but only through jesus christ john 6. There is a big difference between pseudonymous authorship and anonymous authorship. Wiersbe wrote over 170 books including the popular be series, which has sold over four million copies. Abraham, moses, angels, old covenant, ot priesthood, high priests. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. While we are not sure who wrote the letter to the hebrews, this is different than reading a letter like the gospel of thomas, which is a fraudulent author, trying to pass as an apostle. Hebrews speaks of the temple in jerusalem as an existing edifice. Since the present tense was used repeatedly when referring to the temple and the sacrifices, the letter appears to have been penned before the fall of jerusalem and. Wiersbe says the one major message of hebrews is be confident.
Since the present tense was used repeatedly when referring to the temple and the sacrifices, the letter appears to have been penned before the fall of jerusalem and the destruction of the temple in a. Commentary on the book of hebrews by matthew henry. As early as 255 ad, church leaders concluded the author of the book was unknown. What is important is to treat the book as inspired scripture as defined in 2 timothy 3. Authorship of the epistle to the hebrews wikipedia. After all, if we do not know who penned the book, how can we trust that its scripturally sound. If so, john penned much of the new testament, with only paul and luke writing more than him. The extreme dilemma of the jewish christians especially while the temple was still standing. Some say it is paul, others say barnabas or apollos. The epistle to the hebrews, or letter to the hebrews, or in the greek manuscripts, simply to the hebrews. In hebrews chapter 10 verse 11 and in chapter verses 10 and 11, we see the mention of the temple. It is so hard to pin down only five life lessons from the book of hebrews. In a surprise revelation, pastor mark driscoll claimed tuesday at his new patheos blog space that he is in fact the author of the book of hebrews in the new testament. The message of hebrews for the global church is that jesus is better than every other thing believers are tempted to fall back into, such as their formers ways of sin, culturally comfortable patterns of thinking or living, or nonchristian ethical codes.
The person who penned the book of hebrews is also something we must guess at. Hebrews was written for christians who had been in the church for a while. Lukan authorship of hebrews new american commentary studies. He writes, in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control 2. As a result, although a few people today believe paul wrote hebrews, such as theologian r.
The epistle to the hebrews is one of the two greatest theological treatises of the new testament. Hebrews, as one may guess from the title, is written to the hebrews, particularly jewish people who had converted to christianity during the first century, prior to the fall of jerusalem in 70 ad. Particularly those christians who had once been jews could fully appreciate the arguments paul adduces to show the superiority of the new christian system of things over the old. As the stability of the old was passing away, their faith was wavering. The book was almost certainly written somewhere between ad 6070 and, without doubt, some of these jewish believers will have been around for many years. Commentary on the book of hebrews by matthew henry new. Many have been suggested as possible authors of the book of hebrews, but it is not possible to be definitive in ones conclusion. Although scholars have not reached a unanimous, or nearunanimous, conclusion about who authored the book of hebrews, this article will endeavor to explore some of the possible writers who contributed to this book. A sermon on the let us phrases mentioned in the book of hebrews a message from the book of hebrews text heb. Nehemiah has a very transparent writing style, often breaking from his story to record a prayer he made to god 4. Mark driscoll claims authorship of hebrews the babylon bee.
Hebrews 1 commentary new testament matthew henry st. Lukan authorship of hebrews new american commentary. The letter itself does not state it is to the hebrews, but it obviously is, given its content. Nov 02, 2016 the book of hebrews begins with jesus christs work in creation, as does the book of colossians.
Penned from ephesus when paul stayed in the city during his third missionary journey. Hebrews 1 full chapter the supremacy of gods son long ago, at many times and in many ways, god spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. T he epistle of hebrews was written to demonstrate to jews that as great as the mosaic law was, as great as the temple was, as great as the levitical sacrifices were, christ was superior hebrews 1. The ramifications of this possibility are then detailed in depth, including the way hebrews informs the interpretation of the books of luke and acts. First, in the earliest manuscript editions of the new testament books, hebrews is included after romans among the books written by the apostle paul. Intro to hebrews biblica the international bible society. We might not know who penned it, but we do know who inspired it.
Each bible book is revealed in simple understandable steps that outline and underscore the focal points and personalities of the biblical text. Book of hebrews overview insight for living ministries. Challenging monte judahs assertion that the book of hebrews. For centuries, church fathers and biblical scholars have sought to identify the author of hebrews. Monte judah of lion and lamb ministries is a hebrew roots teacher with a huge following, who has, in the past, made some false prophecies i. Wiersbe 19292019 was an internationally known bible teacher, author, and conference speaker. The book of hebrews says jesus is superior to the several thingsother people etc name them abraham, moses, angels, old covenant, ot priesthood, high priests who are the two famous halfbrothers of jesus in the nt and what did they write about and why. While there were skeptics, even early on, about the authorship of the text most. The book presents christ as the final high priest and eloquently explains the old testament sacrificial system in light of the atonement of christ. There are a couple reasons why this might be the case. Shepherds notes helps readers learn about the inspired authors of the bible books and when and where they were first penned.
Jan 23, 2018 the book of hebrews is considered anonymous and there are many indicators that give us general ideas about the plausible author. The writer of hebrews teaches us that jesus christ is supreme over all things. First, in the earliest manuscript editions of the new testament books, hebrews is included. Clement of alexandria suggests that paul wrote the book originally in hebrew and that luke translated it into greek, though the greek of hebrews bears no resemblance to translation greek e. Challenging monte judahs assertion that the book of hebrews should be eliminated from the bible. The writer points to christ as the sustainer of all things, even the letter that he has penned.
Introduction the epistle of hebrews was written to demonstrate to jews that as great as the mosaic law was, as great as the temple was, as great as the levitical sacrifices were, christ was superior hebrews 1. There is no need for any to be in any doubt as to why the book of hebrews was written. There are a number of helpful commentaries on the book of hebrews, and the following are five of the best. Jesus is greater, so hold fast to him overviewbible. A new volume in the new american commentary studies in bible and theology series, lukan authorship of hebrews explains why luke is the likely author of the book of hebrews. The epistle to the hebrews was included in the collected writings of paul from a very early date. Although some include the book of hebrews among the apostle pauls writings, the certain identity of the author remains an enigma.
It is an anonymous book and the earliest suggested author paul is rarely defended today. The epistle to the hebrews of the christian bible is one of the new testament books whose. Penned at a time that was politically unstable, hebrews targets believers who were tempted to abandon their faith and slip back into the rules and regulations of judaism. For it is christ to whom we should look for all our answers. The book of hebrews contains more revelation knowledge than any other work that the apostle paul penned. How to really live by faith when the book of hebrews was penned, the ages were colliding and society seemed to be shaking. The epistle to the hebrews of the christian bible is one of the new testament books whose canonicity was disputed. Last week, we were challenged to think of our lord in much greater terms greater in power, in majesty, in love and mercy and grace. Church tradition teaches that paul wrote the book of hebrews, and until the 1800s, that issue was closed. When the book of hebrews was penned, the ages were colliding and society seemed to be shaking. In addition, the suggestion that the writer of this epistle relied upon knowledge and information provided by others who were actual eyewitnesses of.
Luther himself believed that paul wrote hebrews, but also suggested that apollos could have been the author. First, in the earliest manuscript editions of the new testament books, hebrews is included after romans among the books written by the apostle. Pantaenus died 190 ad, clement of alexandria, jerome. You grew up using the well known black and yellow striped cliffs notes to help you grasp everything from great literary works to algebra. Luke as the author of the third gospel and acts after having attributed information from numerous eyewitnesses, and the apostle paul as the. Tradition has long held that john the apostle, whom we have seen penned the fourth gospel and the three letters attributed to him, wrote the last book of scripture. Its purpose stands crystal clear i once started to completely lose confidence in a man whom i had previously looked upon with respect, as a christian minister, when i heard this man state that. The writer of this letter does not identify himself, but he was obviously well known to the original recipients. Penned at a politically unstable time, hebrews targets believers tempted to abandon their faith and slip back into the rules and regulations of judaism. Theologically speaking, scholars generally regard the book of hebrews to be second in importance only to pauls letter to the romans in the new testament. Missing is pauls customary salutation common to his other works. While many of the arguments could be weighed either way, it seems unlikely that paul was the writer of hebrews in view of hebrews 2. It revealed that judaism based upon the mosaic law, levitical sacrifices, etc. Traditionally, paul the apostle was thought to be the author.
Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole. The book of hebrews says jesus is superior to the several thingsother people etc name them. While it cannot be stated dogmatically that the title of this treatise or letter to the hebrews was penned by paul himself, it certainly is most fitting. The book is penned just before his short second visit to corinth. In the midst of adversity, believers are to fix their eyes on jesus, live by faith, and run the race that is. If it had already been destroyed, the author would have referred to that fact as an example of the less authoritative nature of the judaic system. Nehemiah wrote the book that bears his nameand he wrote it in first person. He served as the pastor of moody church in chicago from 1971 to 1978. I believe that a study of the book of hebrews may be the next step for us as a church as we seek to grow in our desire for greater intimacy with christ, greater faith, and bolder acts of service.