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AUTHOR: Since the first century, the authorship of the epistle to the Hebrews has caused much debate. On the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and near Alexandria the book is attributed to Paul. Origen (years 185-254 CE) considered the thoughts of the book to be Paul's, but the language and composition belonged to another author. In North Africa, Tertullian (AD 155-225) maintained that Barnabas wrote the epistle to the Hebrews. Although the letter was first known in Rome and in the West (I of Clement, dated around A.D. 95 quotes Hebrews frequently), the unanimous opinion in this region for 200 years was that Paul did not write the epistle to the Hebrews, they simply did not know. .
A careful examination of the Greek text tells us many things about the author. The book is written in brilliant Greek from the pen of an eloquent writer. It does not, then, resemble Paul's style. Often the apostle Paul follows the thread of a new thought before he has finished the previous one. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews never follows this process. The vocabulary, figures of speech and thought point to Alexandrian and Philonic influence (Philo, 20 BC to 50 or 60 AD). Paul does not have this intellectual background. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews quotes the Old Testament differently from Paul. Paul's phrases "as it is written", "the Scripture says", "good news of your faith and love" are never found in the epistle to the Hebrews, although the writer quotes the Old Testament profusely. Apollo seems to fulfill the conditions found in the book. It came from Alexandria. He was an eloquent and learned man. He was mighty in the Holy Scriptures. The following New Testament passages tell us about Apollos: [Acts 18:24-28], [Acts 19:1], [1Co 1:12], [1Co 3:4-6], [1Co 3:22] , [1Co 4:6], [1Co 16:12] and [Titus 3:13]. It is likely that we will never be sure of the author's name.
THEME: The initial objective of this epistle is to demonstrate to the Jews that Jesus, the son of Mary, was the Christ, the redeemer who had been promised to them in the Scriptures. The letter deals with the sufficiency and superiority of Christ. Hebrews is a magisterial document, written for Jewish believers as well as those evaluating Jesus or struggling with this newfound faith. There is no book of Holy Writ which so plainly speaks of the priesthood of Christ, so sublimely extols the virtue and dignity of that one genuine sacrifice which He offered through His death, which so richly treats of the use of ceremonies as well as of their removal. and, in a word, so fully explain that Christ is the fulfillment of the Law. The message of this book is that Jesus is the best, supreme and sufficient savior. The author carefully seeks to demonstrate the true identity of Jesus Christ, being superior to angels, religious leaders and any priest, a better sanctuary and a sufficient sacrifice for sins. Having established the superiority of Christianity, the writer moves on to the practical implications of following Christ. Readers are urged to hold on to their newfound faith, encourage one another, and look forward to Christ's return. They are warned of the consequences of rejecting Christ's sacrifice and reminded of the rewards of faithfulness. Then, the author explains how to live by faith, citing examples of faithful men and women in Israel's history, encouraging and exhorting them in everyday Christian life.
COMPILATION: This letter was probably written before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the most accepted date for the writing of this epistle oscillates between the years 68 and 70 AD. It consists of 13 chapters and 303 verses.
CHRONOLOGY (ESTIMATED) | |
A.D. 50 | The Council of Jerusalem |
AD 51 | Barnabas and Mark set out on a missionary journey |
AD 53 and 54 | Apollo preaches in Ephesus and Corinth |
AD 60 to 62 | Paul is Imprisoned in Rome |
AD 64 | Nero's persecution of Christians, Hebrews is written |
AD 67 | Peter and Paul are executed |
AD 70 | The temple in Jerusalem is destroyed |