Personal I vehemently believe that Luke wrote Hebrews physically while Paul dictated the ideas to him, the writing style is almost certainly Luke's, it's written almost exactly like the Gospel of Luke. But the ideas of Hebrews were exactly like Paul's
Isaiah, with that approach you'd be in good company: that's exactly what Clement of Alexandria held (according to Eusebius, HE 6,13): "He says that the Epistle to the Hebrews is the work of Paul, and that it was written to the Hebrews in the Hebrew language; but that Luke translated it carefully and published it for the Greeks, and hence the same style of expression is found in this epistle and in the Acts." It would also fit Origen's conviction, also through Eusebius (HE 6, 25): “That the character of the diction of the epistle entitled To the Hebrews has not the apostle’s rudeness in speech, who confessed himself rude in speech, that is, in style, but that the epistle is better Greek in the framing of its diction, will be admitted by everyone who is able to discern differences of style. But again, on the other hand, that the thoughts of the epistle are admirable, and not inferior to the acknowledged writings of the apostle, to this also everyone will consent as true who has given attention to reading the apostle…. But as for myself, if I were to state my own opinion, I should say that the thoughts are the apostle’s, but that the style and composition belonged to one who called to mind the apostle’s teachings and, as it were, made short notes of what his master said. If any church, therefore, holds this epistle as Paul’s, let it be commended for this also. For not without reason have the men of old handed it down as Paul’s. But who wrote the epistle, in truth God knows. Yet the account which has reached us [is twofold], some saying that Clement, who was bishop of the Romans, wrote the epistle, others, that it was Luke, he who wrote the Gospel and the Acts.” And, too, Luke is adept at a number of styles, as demonstrated in his introduction, the infancy narrative, and the speeches in Acts. Your conclusion would thus have the support of both ancient testimony and good sense behind it.
Lovely presentation. I believe it to be Peters words wrote down my Luke. Peter is the only NT writter to mention Jesus with Priesthood in his writings plus draws heavily on the OT much like Peters writings also.
Thanks for this, Stephen. Like you, I went into my study of Hebrews thinking the mainstream scholarship was right on this-we don’t know who wrote Hebrews, and it almost certainly wasn’t Paul. And like you, in my study I came to the conclusion that Paul is probably the author. It’s helpful to consider too, and I don’t think you mentioned this in your video, that it seems like a sermon that was transcribed. It’s called a “word of exhortation” in 13:22, a term used for a sermon in Acts 13:15. And there, in that sermon which Paul preaches, he quotes Psalm 2:7 in reference to the resurrection. Hebrews 1 and 5 also quotes Psalm 2:7 in reference to the resurrection, indicating a shared Pauline concept.
Hi, and thanks for sharing this note. Glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, the letter does have the feel of a sermon, and though I can't recall if I mentioned it in this video, there are a number of commentators that do highlight the rhetorical structure of the book. It definitely reads like a spoken exhortation. And the joint reference there and in acts to Psalm 2:7 is new to me! That's a very interesting commonality, and gives further indication Paul may have been its author. Thanks for sharing that here! God's many blessings to you today, friend.
That's a very interesting proposition! I have never heard that before, and is certainly possible. Thanks for sharing, and God's blessings to you today.
Personal I vehemently believe that Luke wrote Hebrews physically while Paul dictated the ideas to him, the writing style is almost certainly Luke's, it's written almost exactly like the Gospel of Luke. But the ideas of Hebrews were exactly like Paul's
Isaiah, with that approach you'd be in good company: that's exactly what Clement of Alexandria held (according to Eusebius, HE 6,13):
"He says that the Epistle to the Hebrews is the work of Paul, and that it was written to the Hebrews in the Hebrew language; but that Luke translated it carefully and published it for the Greeks, and hence the same style of expression is found in this epistle and in the Acts."
It would also fit Origen's conviction, also through Eusebius (HE 6, 25):
“That the character of the diction of the epistle entitled To the Hebrews has not the apostle’s rudeness in speech, who confessed himself rude in speech, that is, in style, but that the epistle is better Greek in the framing of its diction, will be admitted by everyone who is able to discern differences of style. But again, on the other hand, that the thoughts of the epistle are admirable, and not inferior to the acknowledged writings of the apostle, to this also everyone will consent as true who has given attention to reading the apostle…. But as for myself, if I were to state my own opinion, I should say that the thoughts are the apostle’s, but that the style and composition belonged to one who called to mind the apostle’s teachings and, as it were, made short notes of what his master said. If any church, therefore, holds this epistle as Paul’s, let it be commended for this also. For not without reason have the men of old handed it down as Paul’s. But who wrote the epistle, in truth God knows. Yet the account which has reached us [is twofold], some saying that Clement, who was bishop of the Romans, wrote the epistle, others, that it was Luke, he who wrote the Gospel and the Acts.”
And, too, Luke is adept at a number of styles, as demonstrated in his introduction, the infancy narrative, and the speeches in Acts. Your conclusion would thus have the support of both ancient testimony and good sense behind it.
Lovely presentation. I believe it to be Peters words wrote down my Luke. Peter is the only NT writter to mention Jesus with Priesthood in his writings plus draws heavily on the OT much like Peters writings also.
Great video. I believe that Luke wrote Hebrews, but he used the thoughts of many other early Christians authors and Paul to write it
Thanks for this, Stephen. Like you, I went into my study of Hebrews thinking the mainstream scholarship was right on this-we don’t know who wrote Hebrews, and it almost certainly wasn’t Paul. And like you, in my study I came to the conclusion that Paul is probably the author.
It’s helpful to consider too, and I don’t think you mentioned this in your video, that it seems like a sermon that was transcribed. It’s called a “word of exhortation” in 13:22, a term used for a sermon in Acts 13:15. And there, in that sermon which Paul preaches, he quotes Psalm 2:7 in reference to the resurrection. Hebrews 1 and 5 also quotes Psalm 2:7 in reference to the resurrection, indicating a shared Pauline concept.
Hi, and thanks for sharing this note. Glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, the letter does have the feel of a sermon, and though I can't recall if I mentioned it in this video, there are a number of commentators that do highlight the rhetorical structure of the book. It definitely reads like a spoken exhortation.
And the joint reference there and in acts to Psalm 2:7 is new to me! That's a very interesting commonality, and gives further indication Paul may have been its author. Thanks for sharing that here! God's many blessings to you today, friend.
Gamaliel, who was exceptionally scholarly, sympathetic to the Apostles, and whose most famous student was Paul.
That's a very interesting proposition! I have never heard that before, and is certainly possible. Thanks for sharing, and God's blessings to you today.
God wrote Hebrews.