WHO WROTE HEBREWS? Three common theories 1) Paul wrote it (perhaps still held by the majority) 2) An inspired writer could have written it (Paul / someone else) 3) An inspired writer other than Paul could have written it (current position held by virtually all modern scholars) 1
How can we determine who wrote Hebrews? 1. What did early Christian writers think? 2. How were early copies of the New Testament ordered? 3. Does the internal evidence give us any clues? 2
What early Christian writers thought Origen of Alexandria (a.d. 240), quoted by Eusebius (330) "That the character of the diction of the epistle entitled To the Hebrews has not the apostle s rudeness [plainness??] in speech, who confessed himself rude in speech [1C2.1,4 I did not come proclaiming to you [the Word] with lofty speech or wisdom ; also, 2C11.6], that is, in style, but that [Hebrews] is better Greek in the framing of its diction [than Paul s writings], will be admitted by everyone who is able to discern differences of style But as for myself, if I were to state my own opinion, I should say that the style and composition belonged to one who called to mind the apostle s teachings [rather than belonging to Paul] and, as it were, made short notes of what [Paul] said. If any church [on the other hand] holds this epistle as Paul s, let it be commended for this also. For not without reason have the men of old handed it down as Paul s. But who wrote the epistle, in truth God knows. (P46 ~same time) Others: Eusebius (~330) wrote: some say [Hebrews was written by] the evangelist Luke, others... [by] Clement [of Rome] Clement of Alexandria (210) considered the writing style is to be substantially different from that of Paul's authentic epistles. Tertullian (160-220) Believed Barnabas was the author. Modern scholars agree with the ancient scholars, considering the evidence against Pauline authorship of Hebrews indisputable. Donald Guthrie (New Testament Introduction - 1976) wrote that "most modern writers find more difficulty in imagining how this Epistle was ever attributed to Paul than in disposing of the theory. Few modern supporters of Pauline authorship remain. Richard Heard (Introduction To The New Testament) wrote: modern critics have confirmed that the epistle cannot be attributed to Paul and have for the most part agreed with Origen s judgment 3
Where was Hebrews placed in the manuscripts? Manuscripts (MSS) are categorized by those written on papyrus (earliest MSS), those written in uncials (4 th & beyond), and the minuscules (9 th & beyond). Here are the only known manuscripts (9 of them), 6 th century or before, with enough of the Bible to tell: P46 (175-225) After Romans Vaticanus (325-350) After 2 Thessalonians (pastoral epistles and Philemon missing) Sinaiticus (330-360) After 2 Thessalonians Vaticanus 2061 (5 th century) After all Pauline epistles Alexandrinus (400-440) After 2 Thessalonians Ephremae (450) After all Pauline epistles Freerianus (5 th century) After 2 Thessalonians Claromontanus (550) After all Pauline epistles Coislinianus (6 th century) After all Pauline epistles (Hebrews is all over the map but always among Paul s letters as though scribes didn t really know what to do with it. Was it written by Paul, or a close companion of his, therefore included after or among his works?) 4
So, the manuscripts seem to lean toward Pauline authorship in terms of where it was placed in the canon. But the ancient scholars, even before these manuscripts, weren t sure who wrote Hebrews, and several leaned away from Pauline authorship. 5
This leaves us with the internal evidence 6
Internal evidence why scholars reject Pauline authorship (1) This letter is anonymous (or at least lacks the author s name on the recto side of the papyrus scroll), which goes contrary to the practice in all of Paul s canonical letters (next slide); [the recto side was the 'front' side of a papyrus, which would be on the inside when rolled up (horizontal fibers). The verso side was the opposite, or back side, where fibers ran vertically, usually only written on when the recto side was completed. ] The use of the masculine participial form (diêgoumenon) implies the author is a man (Heb 11:32). [www.mycrandall.ca/courses/ntintro/heb.htm] (2) The style of writing is distinctly different (scholars claim it is dramatically better than that of Paul. Origen (~240) also noted this. Early church writers (eg, Tertullian) were also said to have noted the different approaches to the ordering of theological and doctrinal topics. I believe Paul s known writings are more logically complex than Hebrews [in comparable doctrinal writings e.g., comparing Hebrews to Romans]. Also, the sentences don t seem as unending as with Paul s known writings. Also, why wouldn t the Holy Spirit have the apostle to the Jews writing this instead of the apostle to the Gentiles? [For an analysis of stylistic differences, see www.mycrandall.ca/courses/ntintro/heb.htm] (3) Paul received his message directly from Jesus Christ, but the author of Hebrews had it confirmed to him by those who heard Jesus (compare Gal 1:12: I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ with Hebrews 2.3: This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him ). [Author apparently not an apostle or direct eyewitness.] again unlike Paul, the author only once refers to himself in the first person (10:32). [mycrandall.ca] 7
The manuscript starts with Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ meaning Paul the apostle of Christ earliest know copy of Ephesians, and several other Pauline epistles as well. Papyrus 46 (~AD 175-225) Public domain via Wikimedia Commons 8
ἀσπασμός = a salutation / greeting (used 10x in NT) 1Co 16:21 I, Paul, write this greeting [ἀσπασμός] with my own hand. Col 4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting [ἀσπασμός] with my own hand. 2Th 3:17 I, Paul, write this greeting [ἀσπασμός] with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in EVERY letter of mine; it is the way I write. NOTE: The fact he wrote it in his own handwriting is apparently what distinguished it. Obviously, we don t have the originals to see the change of writing technique. So, the endings are really not as conclusive as one might think. Again, it comes back to the style of the writer, generally speaking. But again Paul s style was to open with his name. ---------------------- Mar 12:38 Beware of the scribes, who like greetings [ἀσπασμός ] in the marketplaces Luke 1:41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting [ἀσπασμός ] of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb 9
Internal evidence supporting Pauline authorship Paul omitted his name because he, the apostle to the Gentiles, was writing to the Jews. They conjecture that Jews would have likely dismissed the letter if they had known Paul to be the source. Paul s stylistic differences are due to his writing in Hebrew to the Hebrews, and that the letter was translated into Greek possibly by Luke. (If it was the HS s intent for Hebrews to be transmitted in Greek, why would it start off in Hebrew? Also, where are the Hebrew copies? They should be as common as other Greek manuscripts. Indeed, Pauline authorship seems to hinge on this speculation.) Hebrews contains Paul's classic closing which proponents call a greeting (but is better described as a farewell a greeting is defined as a polite word or sign of welcome or recognition ; ie., something you do when meeting someone, not leaving someone s presence). It closes with the words "Grace be with you all" (Hebrews 13:25), which is found among closing remarks in each of Paul's known letters (see Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 16:23; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 6:18; Ephesians 6:24; Philippians 4:23; Colossians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:22; Titus 3:15; and Philemon 25). However, it should be noted that Peter (1 Peter 5:14; 2 Peter 3:18) used similar though not identical closings. Possibly that it was simply customary to close letters like this with the words "Grace be with you all" during this time period. Hebrews quotes extensively from the Old Testament, which Paul often did. However, in the unquestioned Pauline epistles he takes his quotes from the Masoretic Text (the original Hebrew) or paraphrases it. But in Hebrews, all quotes come from the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament). And when quoting, Paul usually says something like As it is written or It is written (R3) while the Hebrew writer would say: God says (H1) 11
The Bottom line is Hebrews was always included in the New Testament manuscripts from the earliest times, and its authenticity is unquestioned by both early church writers and modern scholars. 12
13 THE END