Hebrews (Appendix) (Bible Study)

Debate and Defense of Pauline Authorship of Hebrews.
The authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews is debated, with no conclusive evidence but several theories. Internal evidence suggests the author was a Greek-speaking Jew familiar with Jewish scriptures and Alexandrian thought, possibly a disciple of Paul. The epistle is more a treatise or sermon than a typical letter, written in refined Greek. The date is likely before 70 AD, before Jerusalem's destruction, and the audience was Jewish Christians, probably in Palestine. Various candidates for authorship include Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, and others, with early church traditions divided: Alexandrian tradition favored Paul, African tradition favored Barnabas, and Roman tradition saw it as anonymous. Defenses of Pauline authorship highlight similarities in theology and style with Paul's writings, the use of the Septuagint, and historical context aligning with Paul's imprisonment. The absence of Paul's name may be due to his role as apostle to the Gentiles or to avoid antagonism. Early church fathers like Origen and Jerome supported Pauline authorship, though some modern scholars dispute it. The summary concludes that while not dogmatic, the Pauline authorship remains a reasonable position.