Lessons From Hebrews – Who Wrote Hebrews
Who wrote Hebrews? Many of the books of the Bible clearly record the name of who wrote it. Not so with the book of Hebrews. However, when looking at the facts it is pretty clear that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews. There will be a few times where knowing who wrote the book will have an impact so let’s take a look at who wrote Hebrews.
1) There is internal evidence that Paul was the writer.
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that [our] brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Whoever wrote Hebrews knew Timothy. Paul says our brother Timothy. The writer knew Timothy in a personal way. That certainly fits with the writer being Paul.
2) The writer of Hebrews was in prison.
Heb 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
That certainly fits Paul. Someone who knew Timothy and was in prison.
3) The writer is writing from Rome.
Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Now we have someone who knew Timothy, was not only in prison but in prison in Rome.
Paul was in prison in Rome and knew Timothy. This fits.
But what about the time frame. Can we narrow that down?
4) Hebrews 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Paul writes in the present tense about the priests making sacrifices. Every priest standeth. This shows that the temple was not yet destroyed. If the temple was gone then it would have been written in past tense.
The book had to be written before 70 A.D. because it was written before the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.
So the timeframe of the book allows for Paul to be the writer.
So now you have a man that knew Timothy, and was in prison, and in Rome, and it was before 70 A.D. Paul certainly fits.
5) The salutation at the end is like Paul’s.
2Th 3:17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
2Th 3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen. <[The second [epistle] to
Who says that he has a token in every epistle? Paul does. What is Paul signature token?
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
I read that and decided to take a look.
Rom 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.
1Co 16:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you.
2Co 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen.
Gal 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen.
Eph 6:24 Grace [be] with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Phi 4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.
Col 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace [be] with you. Amen.
1Th 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.
1Tim 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace [be] with thee. Amen.
2Tim 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ [be] with thy spirit. Grace [be] with you. Amen.
Tit 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace [be] with you all. Amen.
Phm 1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen.
Look at Hebrews 13:25
Heb 13:25 Grace [be] with you all. Amen.
Then I looked at the other books that Paul did not write.
Matt – no
Mark – no
Luke – no
John – no
Acts – no
James – no
1 Peter – no
2 Peter – no
1 John – no
2 John – no
3 John – no
Jude – no
Rev 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.
Only one book that was not written by Paul has grace will you all at the end. None of the other N.T. writers closed their letters that way.
So we know, not speculation, we know the writer knew Timothy, the writer was in prison, and in Rome, and before 70 A.D. and the letter has Paul’s ending signature token.
The case is building, but that is not all.
7) The early eastern church accepted Paul as the writer. It was not until the 4th century that the writer was in doubt. The Christians just a few years after it was written believed that Paul was the writer.
Add it all up and Paul was the one who wrote the book of Hebrews.