THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS

AN ENQUIRY INTO ITS AUTHORSHIP

K.A.PHILIP, Mylapra.

E F Scott has rightly called HEBREWS "The Riddle of the New Testament'. Questions such as who wrote it, when and where it was written etc. have not been answered with any certainty. This uncertainty had even delayed its inclusion in the New Testament canon to as late as the middle of the fourth century. However, its doctrinal soundness and theological importance were never questioned, It is now a part of the Word of God as a great explanatory document on the transition of the Old Testament economy into the New.

While accepting the truth of Origen's famous remark, 'Who wrote the letter to the Hebrews only God knows for certain', the writer of this paper believes that it is possible to make a fresh attempt to address the question of authorship.

Who wrote the Epistle?       First of all let us enumerate the various answers put forward by scholars. It is Paul’s name that always comes first in any discussion on the question of authorship. Let us look at the possible reasons.

There are at least five reasons that lead us to believe in Pauline authorship, and their collective weight should not be overlooked.

1. Apostle Peter's reference to a letter to Hebrews by Paul: Peter writes his first epistle to "The elect, strangers in the world, scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia" (1 Peter 1:1). They are evidently Jewish Christians scattered all over the Roman world and therefore, the term Hebrews is applicable to them. When Peter writes a second letter to these "Hebrews” (2 Peter 3:1) he says, "Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:15, 16).

The above verses confirm that Paul had already written to some Hebrew-Christians a letter containing profound spiritual truths. There is every possibility that this is the 'Epistle to the Hebrews'.

2. The theme of the letter, to a great extent, is Pauline: Here are some of the Pauline ideas reflected in Hebrews.

1. "...Spoke in time past by prophets..." 1:1

"...Gospel of God promised afore by the Prophets," Romans 1:2

2, "who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person..." 1:3

"...who is the image of the invisible God..." Colossians 1:15-17, 2:9

3.".who is set on the right hand of throne of the majesty in the heavens:" 8:1

"...and set Him at His own right hand." Ephesians 1:20

4. "The word spoken by angels'".,2:2

"...ordained by the angels in the hand of a mediator." Galatians 3:19

5. ".. signs and wonders and with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost." 2:4

"... mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God." Romans 15:19

6. "The word of God a two edged sword." 4:12

"Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God’ Ephesians 6:l7

7. "...and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." 5:12

"I have fed you with milk." 1 Corinthians 3:2

8. "Impossible for God to lie." 6:18

"God that cannot lie." Titus 1:2

9. "He ever liveth to make intercession." 7:25

"Who also maketh intercession for us." Romans 8:34 

10."The just shall live by faith." 10:38

"The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11

11."The righteousness which is by faith..." 11:7

"The righteousness of God which is by faith..." Romans 3:22, Galatians 5:5

12.Hoping and believing (Abraham and Sarah) 11:11

Hoping and believing. (Abraham and Sarah) Romans 4:18-21

13. "Fruit of righteousness..." 12:11

"Fruits of righteousness..." Philippians 1:11

14. "Heavenly Jerusalem." 12:22

"Jerusalem which is above." Galatians 4:26

15.Looking for the eternal city. 13:14

Looking for things eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

1. Quotation from Habakkuk: Apostle Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 in Romans and Galatians. "The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11). Though the theme in the above verse is the same, the emphasis in Galatians is upon the just and in Romans upon faith. In other words, in Galatians Paul is saying that it is God's just or the justified ones, who shall live by faith and in Romans, it is by faith that God's just shall live.

If this is so, there is one more phase of the prophetic declaration that must receive emphasis and that is its "living" aspect. What shall the just do by faith? The answer is "He shall live". Has Paul dealt with this aspect of the statement? Yes, if he is the author of Hebrews- He says, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38. Here the writer is dealing with the practical side of faith and he marshals a long line of heroes of faith who did not draw back but lived a life of faith in a hostile world. So we have the emphasis shifted thus:- 'It is the daily living that the just shall do by faith.' Who else can present an exposition like this except Paul who has ably proved his other two points in Galatians and Romans respectively?

We shall linger a little while more over the 11th chapter. It is an accepted fact that in Pauline thought "Faith, hope and love" occupy a special place (1 Corinthians 13:13). He would never lose any opportunity to mention these subjects together. (Colossians 1:4-5, Thessalonians 1:3 etc.). In fact he has tried to elaborate upon these points whenever an occasion arose. He has composed a 'hymn' in praise of 'love' which he says, is greater than faith and hope. We read it in the 13^th chapter of 1 Corinthians.

Paul then takes up hope in the 15 chapter of 1 Corinthians. It is, indeed, a masterly exposition of this great Christian theme. He makes it clear that this eternal heavenly hope has a 'down-to-earth', present-day relevance which he brings out with a 'therefore'. ''Therefore, my dear brethren," says he, "stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves to the work of the Lord because you know that your labour in the. Lord is not in vain 1 Corinthians 15:58). In other words, convert your hope into service for the Lord.