1God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. 3His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs. 5For to which of the angels did he say at any time,
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your father?”
and again,
“I will be to him a Father,
and he will be to me a Son?”
6When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” 7Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his servants a flame of fire.”
8But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.
9You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”
10And,
“You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.
The heavens are the works of your hands.
11They will perish, but you continue.
They all will grow old like a garment does.
12You will roll them up like a mantle,
and they will be changed;
but you are the same.
Your years won’t fail.”
13But which of the angels has he told at any time,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”
14Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Proposed Authors for Hebrews: Arguments For and Against (also see Introduction to Hebrews, https://hvsb.app/WEB/HEB/intro) | ||
| Proposed Author | Arguments For | Arguments Against |
| Apostle Paul | - Early Tradition & Patristic Support: Many early church writers (as noted by House and Bruce) attributed Hebrews to Paul. - Theological Affinity: Some thematic parallels with Paul’s undisputed letters. | - Stylistic & Linguistic Discrepancies: The Greek style and vocabulary of Hebrews differ markedly from Paul’s recognized epistles (as emphasized by Davies & Allison and Hanson). - Absence of Personal Greetings: A hallmark of Paul’s letters is lacking in Hebrews. |
| Luke | - Literary Quality: Some argue that the polished Greek and narrative finesse in Hebrews are reminiscent of the Lukan style. | - Limited Traditional Attribution: There is scant early church support connecting Luke with Hebrews. - Theological and Stylistic Differences: The emphases in Luke’s known works do not clearly align with the content of Hebrews. |
| Apollos | - Eloquent Orator: Early accounts (cited by House) describe Apollos as an eloquent, learned preacher—a trait that might account for the sophisticated rhetoric of Hebrews. | - Lack of Direct Evidence: There is no strong internal or patristic testimony linking Apollos to Hebrews (a point noted by Hanson). - Stylistic Inconsistencies: The language of Hebrews does not conclusively match what is known about Apollos. |
| Barnabas | - Associative Evidence: His close association with Paul and early Christian communities has led some (including House) to consider him a potential candidate. | - Insufficient Markers: There is limited direct evidence or stylistic markers in Hebrews that would robustly support Barnabas’s authorship (as argued by Bruce and Davies & Allison). |
| Priscilla and Aquila (Priscilla dominant) | - Instructional Role: Hints in early tradition (highlighted by House) suggest that Priscilla may have played a significant teaching role, which could be reflected in the refined theology of Hebrews. | - Minority Position: This view remains on the fringe; most traditional attributions do not support a female author, and the evidence is largely reinterpreted from modern gender studies rather than from early testimony (cf. Bruce, Davies & Allison). |
| Clement of Rome | - Patristic Testimony: A few early sources have linked Clement with Hebrews, arguing that his theological style could be compatible with the epistle’s content (as discussed by House). | - Sparse and Ambiguous Evidence: The evidence for Clement is limited and his associations with Hebrews are not strongly attested in the broader patristic tradition (as noted by Hanson and Davies & Allison). |
Sources Consulted
For a more complete chart on the possible authors of the book of Hebrews, see: H. Wayne House, "Theories concerning the Authorship of Hebrews," Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament, 2nd ed., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981, 2009), pp. 145-149.