The authorship of the Book of Hebrews remains uncertain and has been a topic of discussion among scholars for centuries. Traditionally, many believed that Paul the Apostle was the author, but modern scholarship generally considers the true author unknown.
Major Theories and Contenders
Pauline Authorship
Initially, Hebrews was attributed to Paul, primarily because early manuscripts linked it to him and due to stylistic similarities. However, differences in language and style from Paul's other writings led most modern scholars to doubt Pauline authorship.
Other Possible Authors
- Apollos : A highly educated Alexandrian Christian known from Acts 18:24, often suggested because of his familiarity with Greek and the Old Testament.
- Barnabas : Mentioned by Tertullian and characterized as a Levite and encourager, bearing thematic similarities to Hebrews.
- Priscilla, Timothy, Luke, and others : Various other candidates have been proposed, but there is little concrete evidence supporting these claims.
Modern View
Most scholars agree that the actual author is unknown, emphasizing that the Holy Spirit is ultimately the true divine author of the text. The writing demonstrates a high level of rhetorical skill and deep Old Testament knowledge, but without direct attribution, the authorship remains a mystery.
Summary
The definitive answer is that the authorship of Hebrews is unknown; it was probably written by a skilled Christian thinker familiar with the Jewish scriptures, but the exact identity remains uncertain.
