In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways … - Hebrews 1:1

Today's Scripture Reading (May 8, 2021): Hebrews 1

The biblical book of Hebrews begins without a formal statement of authorship. The other letters all start with a declaration about who wrote or was supposed to have written the letter. Paul began his letters with some variation of "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1). James, Jesus's brother, began his letter with the words "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (James 1:1). The Apostle Peter begins his letters with "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:1) and "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:1). The point is that the letters of this period have a similar form; while we tend to attach a statement of authorship at the end of the letter, in the first century C.E., the letters began with that statement.

Hebrews breaks the convention. It begins by speaking of God and the prophets, but no mention of authorship. The result is that, for almost two thousand years, there has been an ongoing debate about who wrote Hebrews.

The earliest suggestion of authorship for Hebrews originates with Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215 C.E), who says that Paul wrote it in Hebrew, and then Luke translated the letter into Greek. But that doesn't explain why, for this letter, Paul decided not to attach his name. Clement argues that the original audience for the letter knew the author well. The letter includes the following request; "Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon" (Hebrews 13:18-19). This would seem to argue that the author and the letter's recipient were known to each other.

But it is not just a lack of authorship notes at the beginning of the letter that causes us to doubt Pauline authorship. Marcus Dods argues that the writing is different. It is evident that whoever wrote the letter was fluent in Greek and thought in Greek. Paul was not. While Paul wrote his letters in Greek, but he thought in Syriac.

Other suggestions include Barnabas (Tertullian) and Apollos (Martin Luther). But maybe my favorite proposal has been argued by Adolf von Harnack (1851-1930). Harnack suggests that Hebrews was written by Priscilla, the wife of Aquila and a partner in Paul's ministry. The suggestion of Priscilla as the author also comes with a reason for the anonymity of the letter; it would have been controversial because a woman wrote it. And if Priscilla wrote Hebrews, it would be the only book of the Christian Testament written by a woman.

But, ultimately, the authorship of Hebrews probably doesn't matter. Hebrews has been a much-loved possession of the Christian Church since the church first received it, and its inclusion in the Christian canon is based on that reality.  

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 2