Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Pauline Epistles Background SERIES: HEBREWS

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets... Hebrews 1:1

"One of the great mysteries surrounding the Book of Hebrews concerns its authorship. For some unknown reason the author remains anonymous to us, though he was known to his original readers (13:23). Discussion of the author’s identity dates back to the second century, but convincing evidence was lacking even then. Indeed, the great critical scholar of the third century, Origen of Alexandria, had to concede that only God truly knows who the author of this epistle is.


Yet he does seem to be Jewish in that he apparently identifies himself with his Jewish readers by writing:Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp” (13:13). Ultimately, of course, the author was the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). The use of the present tense (in 5:1-4; 7:21, 23, 27-28; 8:3-5, 13; 9:6-9, 13, 25; 10:1, 3-4, 8, 11; and 13:10-11), would suggest that the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial system were still in operation when the epistle was composed. Since the temple was destroyed by General (Later emperor), Titus Vespasian (in A.D. 70), the epistle must have been written prior to that date. In addition, it may be noted that Timothy had just been released from prison (13:23), and the persecution was becoming severe (10:32-39; 2:4; 13:3). These details suggest a date for the epistle around (A.D. 67-69)."
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